auto shuhtdown

[Johnfli]

I have an XP Pro machine at home. My kid keeps leaving the computer on for
hours without using it.
Is tehre a way to have teh system auto shutdown after 1an hour or 2 of no
use?

I know Laptops can do this, but what about desktops?

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I have an XP Pro machine at home. My kid keeps leaving the computer on for
hours without using it.
Is tehre a way to have teh system auto shutdown after 1an hour or 2 of no
use?

I know Laptops can do this, but what about desktops?

You could create a scheduled task that launches a batch file at boot time.
The batch file would check once every minute for the presence of the screen
saver. When present, it will shut the system down.

Note that there are some repercussions in doing this. If one of your
children leaves an unsaved assignment open while being called away then that
assignment will be lost forever.

Post again if you need more details.

 

[Unknown]

Have you thought about hibernating??

 

[Nepatsfan]

I have an XP Pro machine at home. My kid keeps leaving the computer on for
hours without using it.
Is tehre a way to have teh system auto shutdown after 1an hour or 2 of no
use?

I know Laptops can do this, but what about desktops?

You could set up a power scheme in Control Panel -> Power Options that would
cause the computer to hibernate after an hour of idle time. That way any
files that the kids have open would not be lost.

Good luck

Nepatsfan

 

[Johnfli]

didn't notice the hibernate option.
that might work.

 

[Johnfli]

what is the commands for teh batch file? if I ran it as a task, how would
it be able to tell if the screensaver was on for 1 hour, or 1 min.?

 

[3c273]

Just go into the power section of the control panel and set it to stand by
after 1 hour and hibernate after 2 hours. This way no work will be lost. You
might have to enable hibernation if it is not already.
Louis

 

[Anthony Buckland]

I have an XP Pro machine at home. My kid keeps leaving the computer on for
hours without using it.
Is tehre a way to have teh system auto shutdown after 1an hour or 2 of no
use?
...

You could try
(1) educating your kid to do what (s)he is told;
(2) not worrying about the machine remaining on. Mine goes down
for occasionally necessary cold and dead cold (all components
off and power disconnected) reboots, and for power interruptions.
I don't count warm reboots as "off".

That said, you should certainly set your monitor to go dark when
unused for, say, 15 minutes.

All of the above IMHO. Your mileage may vary.