The timer also resets if any system software polls the hardware for activity. For example, the Auto insert function in Windows 95 keeps a constant watch on the CD Drive. This prevents the timer from ever reaching zero and effectively disables Standby and Rapid Resume. Software polling is the cause of most Standby and Rapid Resume headaches.

IBM has developed a fix for this problem for the owners of certain early C and S Aptivas. You can get this patch here. DO NOT use this patch on any other Aptiva model. Trust me; I speak from experience.

Newer Aptiva Series (2161/2162) come with an updated BIOS and Rapid Resume II. The new BIOS allows user modification of the hardware that is polled by the Rapid Resume, which effectively solves the history of problems hardware polling has caused. Overall, if you have a newer system, you don't need this page. If you have problems with Rapid Resume, modify certain settings in the ADVANCED section of the Rapid Resume section in your BIOS. Test combinations until your problem is solved.

Rapid Resume Resurrection
Try the following steps to enable Rapid Resume and Standby. They are in no particular order so skip around as you see fit.

1. Assure that Auto Insert Notification for the CD drive is turned off. The check box is accessible from the Device Manager in control panel.
2. Turn off your screen saver. Some Savers access the Hard Drive and defeat Rapid Resume.
3. Change or disable your default printer. Some printer drivers poll the printer port, which resets the Rapid Resume timer.
4. Methodically uninstall recently installed programs. Obviously, this means choosing between the program and Rapid Resume operability.
5. Make sure that your C: drive contains free space at least 1 meg larger than your installed memory. If Rapid Resume cannot write an image of all your memory to your C: drive, it will not work.
6. Check to make sure you have a C: hard drive. If you have modified your system in some way as to remove the C: drive designation, Rapid Resume will not work. The Rapid Resume program must have a C: drive to write to.
7. Assure that the CONFIG.SYS entries C:\PS1TOOLS\RESUME.EXE and C:\PS1TOOLS\PS1PFILE.EXE are not REM'd out.

One last procedure that has worked for me before, although I have no idea why, is to re-initialize the Rapid Resume system. This is completed as follows:

1. Turn Rapid Resume and Standby off.
2. Restart your system.
3. Delete the hidden _PS1SAVE.DAT file from root directory of the C: drive. It will be about 1meg larger than the amount of memory you have installed.
4. Restart your system.
5. Turn Rapid Resume and Standby on.
6. Restart your system.

The Following Applications and/or Hardware Has Been Found to be Incompatible With Rapid Resume:

1. Seagate and HP Direct Tape Access
2. Exabyte PnP Accelerator card for use with the TR-3 QIC/Travan tape drive.
3. Some Lexmark printer drivers.
4. Some Cannon printer drivers.
5. Some HP printer drivers.

If your experience is otherwise or you have something to add, please let me know.