An update is already available from Microsoft to resolve this issue

Sep 29, 2011 13:31 GMT  ·  By

In certain scenarios, early adopters testing the Windows Developer Preview can find that their devices have drained the battery even if they put Windows 8 Build 8102 Milestone 3 (M3) to sleep. Microsoft has confirmed an issue with Windows 8 Developer Preview in which the operating system keeps on consuming battery power despite testers putting their devices to sleep.

While some early adopters running the Windows 8 Developer Preview might experience this issue, not all testers can come across it.

I had the chance of playing with the Samsung Windows Developer Preview PC for a few days, and fact is that I only put the device to sleep, but never had any issues with Windows 8 draining the battery.

Still, another tester of the Samsung Windows Developer Preview PC told me that he had found the battery drained completely on his device after putting it to sleep.

“Consider the following scenario: you turn on the hybrid sleep feature in Windows Developer Preview (codenamed "Windows 8"); Windows Developer Preview enters sleep mode (S3); Windows Developer Preview wakes up from S3 mode and tries to enter hibernation,” the software giant said.

“In this scenario, Windows Developer Preview unexpectedly remains awake. This causes Windows Developer Preview to continue to consume battery power.”

Microsoft has already gotten to the bottom of this glitch. Here’s how the Redmond company explains the source of the problem:

“This problem occurs because of a timing issue that prevents Windows Developer Preview from entering hibernation (S4).”

Microsoft is already providing an update to Windows 8 testers affected by the issue described in this article. All that early adopters need to do is make their way to Windows Update and download KB 2617868, which will prevent Windows 8 from continuing to drain the battery when switching from sleep to hibernation.

Windows 8 Developer Preview Build 8102 Milestone 3 (M3) is available for download here.