Setting ACPI power options.

[s.k.easley]

I want to configure the ACPI power options, either as a setting in TD
or via script in a new image. Getting the "Always On" setting was easy
enough, but setting the power and sleep button options to "Do nothing"
is not so easy.

Those options doen't appear in the ACPI components. I used inctrl5 to
find the registry values that setting those options in the Control
Panel Power Settings applet change, but when I use regedit to save
those values and import them later to see if they restore my desired
settings, they don't.

I've done searches on microsoft.com and the web in general and
newsgroups for some sort of scripting interface to the ACPI options,
but found nothing.

 

[KM]

s.k.easley,

You can either set up ACPolicy/DCPolicy registry values, or, better, use direct API calls to set whatever power policy you may need.

Or you can use PowerCfg ulitity.

Read more info about it in these threads:

http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.embedded/msg/2f88ca0f98e7d1ce

http://groups.google.com/group/micr...ac531823b8/5c8ab2167deb5f04?#5c8ab2167deb5f04

 

[s.k.easley]

Thanks KM,

I tried setting the desired settings in the Power Options control panel
applet, exporting the ACPolicy/DCPolicy registry values, then modifying
the setting in Power Options and then importing the registry values. I
expected that the next time I opened the Power Options applet it would
have reverted back to my desired settings but it did not. In the
threads you reference you indicate that modifying those registry values
should affect the power settings, but I haven't seen it.

The powercfg.exe utility doesn't appear to have any parameters for
setting the power button and sleep button settings. Too bad. That
would have been nice.

The CallNtPowerInformation API looks like it can do it. I'll have to
write a little C app and include it in my XP image to make it happen.

 

[KM]

Well.. ACPolicy/DCPolicy reg entries worked for me a while ago.

But nevertheless, the API approach would be better than anything else.
CallNtPowerInformation is the way to go The API is in fact really easy to use.
(some tools on www.xpefiles.com, like spindisk, were implemented with use of the API)

 

[s.k.easley]

Thank KM.

I'm really puzzled why those reg entries aren't working for me. I'll
keep toying with it, but I think you're right that the API is the way
to go. Thanks for getting me pointed in the right direction.

-- Stan