Laptop Problem

[SoundOfFaz]

My laptop always turns itself off after about 3/4 minutes if it is inactive for this period, I have looked on the control panel to see if there is some sort of screensaver set but there isn't. Can I stop this happening so it stays on all the time?

The reason it is pissing me off is because if its on but I don't use it for about 20 minutes, when it comes back on the whole bar at the bottom of the screen has gone No bar, no start button in the button left hand corner either. I then have to restart it and it is pissing me off.

Anyone know what the problem is?

by the way I'm running XP

[Shambles]

Have you checked power saver settings and (in particular) the hibernation settings? All in control panel power options iirc.

[MaxP]

power options in the control panel.

you ought to be able to tell the machine to stay on perm when on mains AC and set longer times for turning off when on batteries.

[SoundOfFaz]

I couldn't find the hibernation settings, where are the power settings in the control panel?

[SoundOfFaz]

Found the power settings and altered, cheers people