power off after 30 min inactivity?

  • Thread starter Thread starter ToddAndMargo
  • Start date Start date
T

ToddAndMargo

Hi All,

Is there a utility that will power off an
XP machine after a predetermined (30 min) period
of inactivity? (Not suspend of hibernate: a real
power off.)

Many thanks,
-T
 
ToddAndMargo said:
Hi All,

Is there a utility that will power off an
XP machine after a predetermined (30 min) period
of inactivity? (Not suspend of hibernate: a real
power off.)

Many thanks,
-T
Click to expand...

Hibernate is a real power off shut down. The only difference
between hibernate and shut down is that, with hibernate, the
system state is saved, then restored on power-on reboot. The
advantage of hibernate is a faster shut down and restart.
 
Ian said:
Hibernate is a real power off shut down. The only difference
between hibernate and shut down is that, with hibernate, the
system state is saved, then restored on power-on reboot. The
advantage of hibernate is a faster shut down and restart.
Click to expand...
While that's mostly true, there are issues.
Windows knows how to save its own state, but not the state
of other stuff. I've had Cardbus LAN cards that wouldn't recover
from hibernation.
Sometimes hibernation blocks with a system-modal dialog box
that requires user attention.
 
Scheduled Tasks and Shutdown.exe (native to XP.)
Click to expand...

How do I get this to happen after a period of inactivity? I am not
finding it under scheduled tasks. (I have all kinds of other choices,
but not after a period of inactivity.)

Many thanks,
-T
 
While that's mostly true, there are issues.
Windows knows how to save its own state, but not the state
of other stuff.  I've had Cardbus LAN cards that wouldn't recover
from hibernation.
Sometimes hibernation blocks with a system-modal dialog box
that requires user attention.
Click to expand...

This computer usually gets a BSOD after recovering from hibernation.
If it doesn't, nothing works correctly. I really want it powered off,
not
asleep in low power mode. No pushing and popping the stack.

Many thanks,
-T
 
Todd said:
This computer usually gets a BSOD after recovering from hibernation.
If it doesn't, nothing works correctly. I really want it powered off,
not
asleep in low power mode. No pushing and popping the stack.

Many thanks,
-T
Click to expand...
I thought about writing a little visual basic program to
shutdown my system. Problem is that I couldn't come up with a
definition for "no activity."
no keystrokes?
no mouse movements?
What about playing an mp3?
or downloading an antivirus update?
It gets complicated real quick.
mike
 
ToddAndMargo said:
Hi All,

Is there a utility that will power off an
XP machine after a predetermined (30 min) period
of inactivity? (Not suspend of hibernate: a real
power off.)

Many thanks,
-T
Click to expand...

Control Panel
Power Options

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico
 
spamme0 said:
I thought about writing a little visual basic program to
shutdown my system. Problem is that I couldn't come up with a
definition for "no activity."
no keystrokes?
no mouse movements?
What about playing an mp3?
or downloading an antivirus update?
It gets complicated real quick.
Click to expand...

You would have to capture a Win32 Power Management event, there are
third party utilities that will monitor these events.

John
 
It is NOT asleep in low power mode. It is powered OFF!
While that's mostly true, there are issues.
Windows knows how to save its own state, but not the state
of other stuff. I've had Cardbus LAN cards that wouldn't recover
from hibernation.
Sometimes hibernation blocks with a system-modal dialog box
that requires user attention.
Click to expand...

This computer usually gets a BSOD after recovering from hibernation.
If it doesn't, nothing works correctly. I really want it powered off,
not
asleep in low power mode. No pushing and popping the stack.

Many thanks,
-T
 
ToddAndMargo said:
Not find anything to power off the computer. Where
are you looking?

-T
Click to expand...

My bad...turn off monitor, yes; turn off hard drives, yes; turn off
computer, no.

If you wanted to turn off the whole works at a given time you could use
Scheduled Tasks and run
C:\WINDOWS\system32\shutdown.exe
with appropriate switches (I use -s -t 01) but I also use a shortcut with
the command line and just punch it when I quit.

Guess a scheduled task would be pretty unhandy if you happened to be working
on something at the scheduled time :)

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico
 
Todd said:
How do I get this to happen after a period of inactivity? I am not
finding it under scheduled tasks. (I have all kinds of other choices,
but not after a period of inactivity.)

Many thanks,
-T
Click to expand...


Settings Tab, Idle time.
 

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