Auto open programs upon restart?

[DaveG]

Is there a way to set XP so that it automatically opens all the
applications, and the files in those apps, that I was using when I
shut it down?

(I know about the Start folder, but I'd have to manually put
everything into it.)

Basically, I'm asking for a way to restore the state of my computer
when I shut it off.

For whatever reason, Stand By won't come alive after an overnight
standing-by.

Thanks,
Dave

 

[M.I.5¾]

Is there a way to set XP so that it automatically opens all the
applications, and the files in those apps, that I was using when I
shut it down?

(I know about the Start folder, but I'd have to manually put
everything into it.)

Basically, I'm asking for a way to restore the state of my computer
when I shut it off.

For whatever reason, Stand By won't come alive after an overnight
standing-by.

Have you tried hibernate mode? This is essentially the same as standby
except that the contents of the RAM are written out to the hard disk. I
have come across one or two PCs that don't standby too well. I have a
laptop that works OK off AC, but it fails to standby when run from
batteries.

 

[Mark M Morse]

Hi Dave:

I agree with M.I.5¾. I use Hibernate on desktops and laptops, but I
always save any important changes in open applications first, just
in case! (Hibernate is at least as foolproof as Windows XP.)

In general, hibernation works great. I use it a lot when I cannot
get web content to save properly when away from a printer; after the
system comes out of hibernation, I'm able to print the web page
content in each of the open browsers. (I shipped a laptop in
hibernation, and it worked after two weeks.) I know people
sometimes use Standby for hours at a time; for me, Standby versus
Hibernate is fast session resumption versus substantial battery-life
extension . I use Hibernate on the desktops mainly when shifting
stuff around my cramped office.

Every once in awhile, a system does not properly come out of
hibernation. In these cases, the system is either comatose (rare),
mildly to severely cosmetically-impaired (eg: screen corruption),
limping a little or a lot, or just funky -- behavior very similar to
a continuous Windows XP session that's beginning to deteriorate
after a few days.

I do not know exactly what your system does when resuming from
Standby overnight; what happens? Does Standby resume after a much
shorter interval?

If anybody needs help finding Hibernate, then press shift at the
Shutdown dialog box and the Standby icon will change to the
Hibernate icon.

~ Mark



DaveG wrote, in part:

 

[DaveG]

Have you tried hibernate mode?

Totally forgot this - the last time I saw the option was the last time
I powered down Win98, several computer centuries ago.

A search of the Help file pointed me to where I could enable it, and
I'll be trying it...

Thanks!

 

[DaveG]

I do not know exactly what your system does when resuming from
Standby overnight; what happens? Does Standby resume after a much
shorter interval?

~ Mark

Thanks for the detail.

My system is an old, used IBM Intellistation with an
industrial-strength Intel network utility whose bells and whistles I
cannot grasp -- I think that's the problem, that something is enabled
or set there that I don't from Adam.

Short standby is fine. Anything over a few hours, and it won't wake
up. I have to hold the power button 15 sec., punch it again, and then
wait while XP scans & fixes my motley collection of old SCSI drives,
Word nags me about restoring files, etc. etc. Changes to Wake on LAN
in the BIOS setup has no effect, and I"m not waking it via the network
anyway.

 

[Unknown]

After in standby for a few hours, does the power light go off on the
computer? If so it went into hibernation. If that is the case, only the
power on button will bring it on.