key combination to hibernate

[prender]

My new keyboard does not have a dedicated key labeled "sleep" which activates
hibernation like my old keyboard did. Is it possible to configure a key or
key combination to initiate hibernation?

 

[Tim Meddick]

Hi,
The only way to program key-combinations in Windows, is to use the
'Shortcut key' box on the properties page of a shortcut. Create a new
shortcut on your desktop and place the following into the 'command line'
box:

RUNDLL32.EXE PowrProf.dll,SetSuspendState

(Use 'copy and paste' so at to include all the important 'spaces')
Then right-click upon it and choose 'properties'. Go to the 'Shortcut' tab
and the box marked 'Shortcut key' and choose your key combination. I'm not
sure how reliable these key-combinations for shortcuts are in Windows but
why not give it a go? Post a reply how you got on...

 

[prender]

Tim,

Thank you for your suggestion. Alas, I don't understand how to copy your
command into the "command line". I created a shortcut on my desktop called
Hibernate. When I right click on properties I don't see a command line text
box on any of the tabs. I can see where to enter a key combination though.

Ed

 

[Tim Meddick]

Hi prender,
Sorry, someone mentioned it in a post the other day and I
didn't check but it's called that in Win98. I was referring to when you
create a shortcut by right-clicking on the Desktop and choosing 'New' >
'Shortcut' the box has "Type the location of the item:" on it in XP. If
you're going to change an existing shortcut, then it's the box marked
"Target" that you want to paste it into. If you're having problems with the
'copy and paste' operation then just type it into the "Target" box but,
remember to keep the space - I've doubled it here to make it more obvious
where it is...

RUNDLL32.EXE PowrProf.dll,SetSuspendState

 

[prender]

Great, it runs just the way I wanted.
many thanks.

Ed

 

[Tim Meddick]

I am genuinely happy that I could be of [some] help to you. You're welcome!

 

[Roger]

Sleep and hibernate are two different things.
Sleep keeps RAM alive. Shuts down all possible hardware except RAM. If
you use S3 mode, rather than S1, your CPU and fans turn off as well.
Hibernate put a dump of ram into a .sys file and shut down the machine.

 

[Tim Meddick]

You are correct in what you say. However, what the OP said was not in error
either. You can easily program the 'sleep' button on the keyboard to put
the computer into hibernate instead. This is what he said his old computer
did AND this is what he wanted the [new] shortcut to do. If he wanted
something different I'm sure he would have said so.
For more information on sleep states, please go to:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms798270.aspx