Program to turn monitors off by time of day?

  • Thread starter Thread starter imapeppertoo
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imapeppertoo

I'm working on a flat panel monitor aray for use as a store display.
Ideally, the computer (winXP) would switch the monitors off from say
10pm to 6am, but the built in power management seems to be "after XX
hours only" and doesn't have any features to wake the monitors up
unless there is user input.

Are there any programs available that could reference the computer
clock, then power on/off monitors according to time of day?

Thanks,
Corey
 
A monitor that has been turned off needs a physical push of a button to turn
it back on. I know of no software that will simulate this action. Just allow
the monitors to blank out (go to sleep). Search Google for such software
that may work by the real time clock in the computer.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!
 
I'm working on a flat panel monitor aray for use as a store display.
Ideally, the computer (winXP) would switch the monitors off from say
10pm to 6am, but the built in power management seems to be "after XX
hours only" and doesn't have any features to wake the monitors up
unless there is user input.

Are there any programs available that could reference the computer
clock, then power on/off monitors according to time of day?

Thanks,
Corey
Click to expand...

Why not just get a mechanical/electrical power-outlet switch to do it
for you?
 
That will not simulate the push of the power button on the monitor. A
monitor that is truly off needs this action.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!
 
Thanks for the quick input. I guess my terminology is lacking. By
"turn off" I guess I really mean "go to sleep". Like when the windows
power options say "Turn off monitor after -" " - the LED on my
monitor changes to yellow and the power is off to the backlights (ie -
the screen is truely black, not just the computer displaying a black
screen) but all I have to do is move the mouse or click the keyboard to
get it to power back on.

I had thought about a timer or switch, but there may not be anyone
around to flip the switch, and if the timer looses power, it may get
out of synch with real world time, plus it is just another chunk of
hardware to add. I was hoping to make this as hands off as possible
and ideally have the time adjustable remotely.

Have been trying to search google for software, but all I have been
finding is threads of "should I turn my monitor off" not how to do it.
But I will keep looking!

Thanks again,
Corey
 
Richard said:
That will not simulate the push of the power button on the monitor. A
monitor that is truly off needs this action.
Click to expand...

Rubbish - if the power is disconnected it's OFF!
 
Best read what I have posted again!

Exactly as I have said. If the power is truly off, there is no way to turn
it on without PUSHING the power switch. Having it on a timer switch is NOT
going to do that little trick! Were you thinking maybe of wedging a
toothpick in by the power button to keep it depressed - so the timer switch
would turn it on?



--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!
 
BTW: If you read the O/P again, you will see that he wants to turn it ON
automatically. This is what I am addressing!

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!
 
Richard said:
Best read what I have posted again!

Exactly as I have said. If the power is truly off, there is no way to turn
it on without PUSHING the power switch. Having it on a timer switch is NOT
going to do that little trick! Were you thinking maybe of wedging a
toothpick in by the power button to keep it depressed - so the timer switch
would turn it on?
Click to expand...

It works for many monitors. We used to have to do it for banks of them
in a bank trading room.
 
You are wrong.

Removing the power is the same as switching off, it removes the power
completely. It is switching back on again that is the issue. However even
this may be possible if the power is returned to the monitor depending on
how the monitor power switch works. It does work with my natcomp LCD
monitor. I tried it.
 
I'm working on a flat panel monitor aray for use as a store display.
Ideally, the computer (winXP) would switch the monitors off from say
10pm to 6am, but the built in power management seems to be "after XX
hours only" and doesn't have any features to wake the monitors up
unless there is user input.

Are there any programs available that could reference the computer
clock, then power on/off monitors according to time of day?

Thanks,
Corey
Click to expand...

Yes, perfectly possible. Whether there is any freeware available to do
precisely what you want, I don't know, but the required code, to turn a
monitor on and off, is certainly around on the web. Linking that to a
computer clock, or a scheduled task would be a simple extra step.

Check out some of these threads

http://www.google.com/search?as_q=&...as_dt=i&as_sitesearch=&as_rights=&safe=active

Jon
 
Andy - Yes, that works exceptionally well. Just schedule a start of
the "wizmo.exe monoff" task at the required time and end it XX hours
later at the required time. I had originally been playing with wizmo
and macro scheduler which works too, but macro scheduler is $60! So
your solution is much more simple, and cheaper, too!

Thanks
Corey
 
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