How many ways can a computer sleep?

Q. What is the difference between Standby and Hibernate? I have both options on my computer and I am not sure when to use what. HELP!

A. Standby and Hibernate are power management options included in Windows. They work similarly in Windows 98, ME, 2000 and XP. In each case, you can schedule power savings. These settings are particularly useful on notebooks, and they help conserve power on a desktop computer, too. They are really nice if you leave your computer on and cannot get back soon. The basic difference in these settings is time. Hibernate turns the computer off. Use this if you'll be away from the computer for a long period--for instance, overnight. Standby puts it into a low power state. This mode is typically used for shorter periods. Why use Standby? The computer rouses quickly when you return to work. But it has a disadvantage, too: Your files are not automatically saved. If there is a power failure while in Standby, your files go bye-bye. So, when you use this mode, save your open files first. Hibernate, on the other hand, takes much longer to reboot. However, it saves your files before shutting down. So your work is protected. And when it reboots, the desktop is returned to its previous state. That is its biggest advantage. If you used a normal shutdown, the computer would not boot with your files open. Both modes are under Power Options in Control Panel (Start>>Settings>> Control Panel in Windows 98, ME and 2000; Start>>Control Panel in Windows XP). Select the Power Schemes tab. In Windows 98 and XP, if you want to use one or the other of these modes at different times, set up power schemes. Select either Standby or Hibernate at the bottom of the window. The schedule is selected in the drop boxes. In Windows 2000 and ME, Hibernate is on its own tab. Computer manufacturers must set up the machines for Standby and Hibernate. If these modes are not available or do not work, check with your manufacturer.