Windows XP Laptop Won't Go Into Standby

Occasionally my laptop computer will not go into standby either with the normal timeout or by force through the "Start -> Turn Off Computer" menu path.  It just stays on like you didn't do anything.  So I figured some process that was running was preventing it from going into standby.  So I started experimenting with ending processes one at a time and seeing if the computer would go into standby.  After much trial and error I believe the problem process is "HP Wireless Assistant.exe" process.  I do not have my wireless network card enabled normally, because I don't have a wireless network.  Still this process always seems to be active on my laptop.  Not always does the laptop not go into standby, even though this process is running, but ending this process will allow the laptop to go into standby when it will not and does not seem to have any other adverse affects.