Power Schemes Do Not Save in Windows XP

Affected Products: Software, System CDs
Affected Operating Systems: Windows® XP

ISSUE: When attempting to create and save Power schemes in Microsoft® Windows® XP, the schemes may appear to save correctly but not show up the next time the Power Options Properties dialog box is opened. Additionally, some default schemes may not show up in the Power schemes list.

Incomplete list of Power schemes:

Incomplete list of Power schemes

Complete default list of Power schemes:

Complete default list of power schemes

RESOLUTION: The registry has been modified. To resolve this issue, use the following steps:

  1. Run System Restore to create a restore point.

  2. Run System Restore to revert to a previous date. If this does not resolve the issue, continue to the next step.

  3. Manually modify the registry.

    1. From the Start menu, click Run.
    2. In the Run dialog box, type: Regedit. Click OK.
    3. In the Registry Editor window, navigate to the following registry key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\PowerCfg.
    4. On the right side of the Registry Editor window, double-click CurrentPowerPolicy.
    5. In the Edit String dialog box, in the Value name box, verify that CurrentPowerPolicy is selected. In the Value data box, change the number to 0, and then click OK.

    Edit String dialog box

    1. In the Registry Editor window, navigate to the following registry key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\PowerCfg\PowerPolicies.

    Registry Editor dialog box

    1. The default registry keys under PowerPolicies are numbered 0 through 5. All other entries have been added separately. Delete all registry keys under PowerPolicies except for 0 through 5. Click to select the registry key, and then from the Edit menu, click Delete. The registry key numbered 0 through 5 corresponds to the following Power schemes:

      0 = Home/Office Desk scheme
      1 = Portable/Laptop scheme
      2 = Presentation scheme
      3 = Always On scheme
      4 = Minimal Power Management scheme
      5 = Max Battery scheme

    2. In the Registry Editor window, navigate to the following registry key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\PowerCfg.
    3. On the right side of the Registry Editor window, double-click CurrentPowerPolicy.
    4. In the Edit String dialog box, in the Value name box, verify that CurrentPowerPolicy is selected. In the Value data box, change the number to 0, and then click OK.
    5. In the Registry Editor window, navigate to the following registry key: HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\PowerCfg.

    Registry Editor dialog box

    1. The default registry keys under PowerPolicies are numbered 0 through 5. All other entries have been added separately. Delete all registry keys under PowerPolicies except for 0 through 5. Click to select the registry key, and then from the Edit menu, click Delete. The registry key numbered 0 through 5 corresponds to the following Power schemes:

      0 = Home/Office Desk scheme
      1 = Portable/Laptop scheme
      2 = Presentation scheme
      3 = Always On scheme
      4 = Minimal Power Management scheme
      5 = Max Battery scheme

    2. In the Registry Editor window, from the File menu, click Exit.
    3. Restart the computer. If this does not resolve the issue, continue to the next step.

    1. If these steps do not work, reinstall Windows XP.