Brian said:
That's all very useful information for me too.
Thank you.
Personally I don't see the point of scheduling a low-power mode
transition for the host. It could be the host is running at that time
either because you or another authorized user, including an admin, might
be using the host. A scheduled event might be running during this time.
If in a domain, it's possible a backup client is pushed by the server to
commit a backup of the host at the time you have the host try to go into
low-power mode. Moving into Standby mode probably won't hurt because
it's easily exited; however, coming out of hibernate mode may not
succeed for a particular process that expects to run. Also, on some
hosts, trying to go into hibernation mode this way ends up bouncing the
host: it hibernates and then reboots. When pushing the host into a
low-power mode this way, you can actually accomplish just the opposite.
If your power options has your hard disk spin down after a configured
interval of being idle, this command may end up spinning them back up
and you just blew your power savings.
Rather than try to shove the host into a low-power mode using a command
line and perhaps a scheduled event, I prefer just lock the workstation
and rely on a well-defined power scheme to accomplish a low-power mode
transition (which waits for the idle time to expire rather than try to
jerk the host away). To lock the workstation, run the command:
"%windir%\system32\rundll32.exe" user32.dll,LockWorkStation
Notice the use of double-quotes since the path includes spaces. You can
schedule this command as an event in Task Scheduler (where you also
specify that it runs only if the host has been idle some minimum time
interval). I instead define a programmable key on my keyboard to run
the command so I just press a button and it locks up. Obviously if you
leave your password blank than anyone can unlock the workstation (just
hit the Enter key at the login prompt). In fact, I wrote a batch file
that not only locks the workstation but also mutes the speakers. After
all, if I want to lockup the host because I'm not there then I don't
want the speaker blaring out some noise when I'm sleeping. So I create
a batch file that runs:
@REM - Mute the speakers
@"C:\Tools\Nirsoft\System Tools\NirCmd\nircmd.exe" mutesysvolume 1
@REM - Lock the workstation
@"%windir%\system32\rundll32.exe" user32.dll,LockWorkStation
I use Nirsoft's nircmd.exe program to mute the speakers (or whatever is
configured as the current or default audio device). I can even define a
scheduled event to run this batch file. I have another batch file that
only unmutes the speakers. That way, in the morning, if I get a VOIP
call (via MagicJack), I'll hear the phone ring through the speakers (but
the host remains locked). So at, say, 11PM a scheduled event could run
the above batch file and at 7AM it would just run the command:
"C:\Programs\Nirsoft\System Tools\NirCmd\nircmd.exe" mutesysvolume 0
Since these are scheduled events, I can specify not to run them unless
the host has been idle for awhile. I have the mutelock.bat run at 11PM,
wait for 20 minutes of idle time before it can run, and retry for up to
450 minutes. That way, if I'm up late playing a game, I don't suddenly
lose sound in the middle of some critical gameplay. If I leave the game
and go to bed, 20 minutes the speakers get muted. If I don't happen to
use my host when I awake, the speakers come back on at 7AM to let me
hear anyone trying to phone me via VOIP (my speakers are configured as
the ringing device).
At no time do I waste CPU cycles trying to put the host into low-power
mode via some command whether with a programmed key or a scheduled
event. Just doesn't make sense to me. I've been in the situation too
many times where the host just went into low-power mode but very soon
thereafter I ended up using the host. I just rely on a decent power
scheme to figure out when to go into low-power mode based on how long
the host has been idle. Locking the workstation is more important to me
to prevent someone from happening upon my host should I forget to hit
the programmed key that runs the mute & lockstation commands (and I use
the screensaver for short intervals of non-use). Personally I find that
repeatedly powering down and devices is not conducive to longevity.
Hardware expands with heat and contracts with cold. There are surges
when you apply power. A switch in power state always causes a spike
(just put an oscilloscope across the contacts to see). Hard disks
consume much more power when they have to spin up from a dead start with
the result that far more current is needed during spin up than to keep
the drive constantly spinning. Low-power mode is liked by some users to
reduce their power bill (yet they'll probably wipe out most of the
savings with just one extra use of their microwave to nuke a cup of
java).
I use a power scheme that turns off the LCD monitor after 1 hour of
inactivity (used to be 4, or more, hours when I had a CRT). The hard
disks spin down after 4 hours of inactivity, and which is the same
interval for going into Standby mode. The only time my host goes into
Hibernate mode is when I press the Power button (although I can't use
Hibernate anymore because of some programs that refuse to shutdown for
hibernate mode but do okay on a normal shutdown or to go into Standby
mode). I use the password-protected screensaver to keep out casual
intruders should I forget to hit the programmed key that does the
lockout when I leave the host. I used some scheduled events to mute the
speakers and lock the workstation at a particular time but only if the
host has been idle since obviously I'm not interested in the host
locking up when I'm trying to use it. The speakers get unmuted in the
morning (but only because I want to hear when I get VOIP calls;
otherwise, I'd just leave the host locked and muted until I return to
the host).
Most times the power schemes seem to satisfy the user's need to push the
crosswalk button that isn't connected to anything: it really doesn't
help but it placates the user. Constantly power cycling your computer
really isn't good for it, nor for your stereo, TV, blender, microwave,
and so on. Power cycling stresses the electronics but electrically and
thermally.
