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I Built this application to get around a problem with Windows 8.1 not going to sleep if a network cable was plugged into the PC.

I tried fixes recommended on-line but nothing worked. It seems that this is a long running Windows issue.

Pulling the network cable out of the PC was the only solution that guaranteed that the PC would go to sleep. Clearly not the best solution for a server that is supposed to wake on LAN access!

I use a PC plus Windows 8.1 as a home server for backing up document, images, video, music, code etc. As it is in my office, I also use it to play music while I work.

I decided to write a simple console application that started when Windows started and monitored network connection to other PCs on the LAN. It also looked for the Windows Media Player process. If the application detects an absence of connections and Windows Media Player for 15 consecutive minutes, Windows is asked to sleep.