Question : Problem: Can my desktop be made to hibernate automatically via power options control panel?

I have a brand X box running XP. I am configuring it for my 80 year old father and would like to say,
"When you want to start, move the mouse. When you are done, walk away."
I have my mom's laptop set up to do just this via the power options control panel.
With the desktop though, the CPU fan continues to run in STANDBY and the system will not HIBERNATE automatically. It will HIBERNATE if I go about a normal shutdown and hold the SHIFT key down, which changes the STANDBY option to HIBERNATE. When the machine is placed in hibernation in this fashion, the CPU fan shuts down, but I have thus far been unable to accomplish this automatically via the POWER OPTIONS  control panel.

Answer : Problem: Can my desktop be made to hibernate automatically via power options control panel?

Then I would suggest that you try the free program.

On my system, I use Windows Vista and have a USB mouse - and that gives me the option to wake the PC using th mouse. SO it's either a Vista thing or USB mouse thing.