Multiple Displays: Does ZBooks have a sensor to detect when I walk away?

[Mark265]

It is more than a coincidence, but multiple times I walk away from my laptop, my external monitors "recycle."  I have two external monitors connected to my laptop (USB on leftside) through a ThinkPad docking device.  While I am working, my displays are open/awake and I can move my windows apps from one screen to another.  The monitors never shut down or anything strange while I am seated or standing at my desk.  But when I stand up and leave, and within seconds (and feet away), both screens go blank and all my applications return to my laptop screen.  This is frustrating me and killing my productivity.  I am not locking my windows system, so there is no known tie to windows - how would it know I got up and walked away for a second?  Is this some stupid "power" saving feature? Ambient lighting checking (oh, the users shadow has changed, lets shut down the USB port)? A person sensor - that person is not working at his computer now, so why not kill his external displays?  Why does this happen?

Both monitors are different brands (AUS and Dell).  the ThinkPad doesn't really matter, this also happens with an HP thunderbolt docking device with a similar setup (and different brands of monitors).  It doesn't matter on the cables, I had two other external monitors at work (different cables) with the same defective laptop and it would do this periodically.  If it were a cable, my feet would have caused the disruption while I am sitting.  I can sit and watch presentations not touching anything so it isn't related to lack of keyboard activity.  And because it only does this when I stand up and walk away, I believe it is some kind of sensor.  So either the laptop is defective and/or possessed or there is some sensor that is using my camera all the time and turns off external displays when it thinks I am leaving (but I am not!)

Anybody else with this problem and how do I fix this other than buying a different brand of laptop?  Is there some sensor I can cover up?  Thanks in advance

[soccer_dan]

since you do not detail what ZBook you are asking about, can't really fully answer your request... However, in your case, this is most likely a sleep setting of some kind that you may need to manage. I recommend you install the HP System Default Settings softpaq first to enable an HP Optimized power profile, and then change sleep and display settings from that profile to suit your needs

[Mark265]

Zbook information (why can't a simple, included with windows command, show you this information without having to buy a special screwdriver to open the battery case......)

HP ZBook 15 G4

I'll download the HP Default Settings  Softpaq, if my company allows it, but it is NOT sleep related. As I explained, I can sit at my terminal, not touching a thing and the external displays remain awake.  It is only when I get up and move away, at the office or at home, does the laptop or the software on the laptop momentarily turn of both of the displays (from various vendors).   I've plugged in my displays to two different docking devices, so it is not the docking device.

[soccer_dan]

to answer your question: there are no 'presence aware' sensors on any ZBook to date... HP just introduced that feature in the new Elitebook 1030/1040 g8 platforms for 2021. Yours is certainly strange behavior, but the laptop is not likely doing that from anything i can find

[Mark265]

after update, still doing this.  I can just get up to stretch at the back of the room and it will close the displays.  Never while sitting and working or watching meetings.  Maybe a windows feature?  I will try putting tape over my camera and see if it happens.  Are there any motion sensors that might kick in when i push away from mu desk?   I have not encountered this on other machines but i may try my wifes

[Mark265]

Just had my first "reset" while sitting at my desk.  I had slid my chair to the left and touched my desk in sliding over.  Are there motion detectors that are sensing a quick jolt when I get up and move around?  My desk is not grounded or anything.  Could there be some kind of static discharge happening?  If that is a possibility, what is the best way to mitigate this?  Like I said - this happens will different external connects in different locations and the only thing common is the laptop and the user moving away.

[soccer_dan]

the only recommendation i can make is to do a Windows reset... hopefully Windows will reset lot of setting and get back its defaults... i have personally never heard of such an issue with any system i have ever worked or other people have worked with, so it's just odd