Has Windows Vista it’s own UPS (Un-interrupted Power Supply) softw

[colefordkid]

I have been enquiring about buying a UPS (Un-interrupted Power Supply) and
have been told that Vista comes with its own UPS software. I have Vista Home
Premium, does this version of windows have UPS software built in, and how do
I go about activatng it once I have my new UPS connected etc. Many thanks for
any help.

 

[Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]]

It detects UPS devices, but it does not include software to fully manage it,
you will see a battery icon appear in your Notification area when there is a
Blackout. But Companies like APC should include software that adds
additional functionality about Brownouts, Spikes, Noises and so on.

 

[colefordkid]

Hi Andre, Thanks for your reply. My question arose as I required confirmation
of what I was told by the salesman when I enquired if the UPS / software was
compatible with Vista. His reply was "Windows Vista has it’s own UPS software
built in. The UPS I mentioned is fully compatible with windows Vista". Glenn

 

[Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]]

I think he is mistaken, maybe he is confusing the Power Management features
in Windows Vista. But there is no dedicated UPS software like the one I
mentioned comes on a CD with all APC UPS devices. Vista won't tell you how
many Blackouts you have had over a period, the amount of Brownouts, Noises
and Spikes you have had for day.

 

[colefordkid]

Thanks Andre, that's clarified the situattion for me. glenn

 

[Steve Thackery]

I think he is mistaken, maybe he is confusing the Power Management

features in Windows Vista. But there is no dedicated UPS software like the
one I mentioned comes on a CD with all APC UPS devices. Vista won't tell
you how many Blackouts you have had over a period, the amount of
Brownouts, Noises and Spikes you have had for day.

Well, Vista *does* have some built-in capability to mangage a UPS, as did XP
and W2K. It should detect the UPS when it is plugged in to the USB or
serial port, and provides basic capabilities to interrogate the level of
battery charge, etc. It only supports a few of the more common UPSs,
although I can't seem to find out which ones.

To be honest, knowing how many brownouts and spikes you've had is almost
useless. I suspect that the basic functionality built in to the Vista UPS
management may well be adequate for the coleforkid.

SteveT

 

[Michael Walraven]

Vista has sufficient support for USB connected devices. Vista removed
support for serial port UPS devices.

The vista support is limited to sensing battery level, alarms on low battery
conditions, and shutting down gracefully.
If you get a name brand UPS it should include a software set that overrides
the Vista default UPS drivers and provides additional information on status
and history of the UPS system. (voltages, currents, peaks, times of failures
etc).

As a personal choice I removed the UPS supplied software and use just the
Vista drivers because the UPS software was another thing constantly writing
(logging) to the disk.

Michael
Vista Home premium, CyberPower 800VAR UPS (USB interface)

 

[Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]]

I did say Vista have 'some' degree of support, but its not at the same
sophiscated level of the software that is included with most UPS devices.

"To be honest, knowing how many brownouts and spikes you've had is almost
useless."

Thanks for proving that you don't work in IT or have little knowledge of
PCs, but even for the average home user, things like Power Surges, Spikes,
Brownouts, Blackouts, Noise are things you should know since they can
greatly affect your machines components.

 

[Dave]

And, AFAIK, Vista will only see a UPS connected via USB, not via serial
port.

 

[colefordkid]

Hey thanks guys, I appeciate all the support and advice given. In my original
post " . . . . how do I go about activatng it once I have my new UPS
connected etc." Is there anything I need to do to activate / use the VISTA
software for UPS?

 

[Michael Walraven]

If you want to use just the Vista default, simply plug it in. You should see
battery options now available when you check power plans.
Do not use the install CD if provided and do not down load any software. If
you do, that should override the Vista default drivers.

If you want to test the additional features of the provided software, the
installation should be reversible (I had to delete the driver after I
deleted the software to revert to Vista default).

Michael