Using the PC on a Timer switch / Timing applications on PC?

Freebyman

I dont know about the switching on automatically of a machine, but I used to leave the pc running till 7 in the morning and then the line rental got expensive so I used a program called switch off, I can recommend it, you just set the timer and it does the rest.

The link is http://yasoft.8k.com/eng/

however the link sometimes doesnt work so a google search might work better.

Micklebring

Easiest and cleanest way to turn off the PC at a set time under Windows XP (and 2003 should anyone be running that) is

open notepad.

Enter the following

shutdown -s -t 0 -f

and then save the file as "bedtime.cmd". Windows might append ".txt" to the file so right click on it and check its name.

Put the file somewhere safe. Then add it to task scheduler to run at the time you want to shutdown. Any decent program will detect the proper Windows shutdown and die cleanly and you won't risk trashing your hard disk with a head crash.

As for starting the PC at a set time, it'll depend to some extent on your BIOS. Some can be set to "ON after power loss" which will start the machine on the application of power. Some BIOS' also have the ability to start the machine at a certain time. Indeed, I had a friend who's PC would switch on at 2:30 every morning for ages before I realised what was doing it.

Then just copy a shortcut to your app to your startup folder.

Cantdance_2

Micklebring wrote:

As for starting the PC at a set time, it'll depend to some extent on your BIOS. Some can be set to "ON after power loss" which will start the machine on the application of power. Some BIOS' also have the ability to start the machine at a certain time. Indeed, I had a friend who's PC would switch on at 2:30 every morning for ages before I realised what was doing it.

Then just copy a shortcut to your app to your startup folder.

Thank you all for your continued devotion to saving me money!!!

Okay, so the issue is turning the PC on at a given time from being completely shut down - I can shut it down when I get up in the morning at 6 so that's fine but I want it to come on automatically at abut 1.30am every day.

Sounds to me like it's going to be a BIOS thing- I've never touched my PC's BIOS in my life so I will tread very carefully. Any pointers?!

Cheers

James

Micklebring

First thing. Get a pad and pen and make a note of anything and everything you change just in case

First job is to get into the BIOS. It depends what make of PC motherboard you have. When you boot your PC up you should see a message on screen really early in the boot sequence saying press "XX" to enter setup or similar. "XX" can be, depending on make, F1, F2, F10, DEL, CTRL+A or something else altogether. If it doesn't say what it is, try 'em all, one at a time.

You'll be presented with a menu screen and the settings we're looking for are invariably under the power options and are usually fairly self explanatory. You're looking for status on power restore or status after power cut type setting and also a possible start at certain time type setting. That's not so common though it would be the cleanest option.

Best thing if you're still struggling is to make a note of the various options and post them here and I/we can advise which ones to pick.

Cantdance_2

Okay then - been into the Bios and found the Power options, under "After AC Power Failure" I have 3 options - 'Stay Off', 'Power On' and 'Auto'.

I've set it to power On, so theoretically then when the timer switch kicks in the PC should boot up?

I guess this will only work if I don't shut the PC down properly.

One question though - isn't it really bad to have the PC turned off every day just by cutting the AC supply completely? Won't this affect the longevity of my PC's parts?

Cheers

James

wolfman

Yes, I wouldn't turn the pc off by cutting the power. Your options are:

Turning On
- Do so yourself in the morning before going to work.
- Use the BIOS to switch the pc on. You can usually set a scheduled time each day/week/month etc... for it to turn on at.
- If you router allows it, remote into the router, and send a Wake On Lan packet. I do this from work. It's the most technical of the three options.

Turning Off

1. Create a shortcut to C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\SHUTDOWN.EXE
2. Right click the shortcut, then click properties.
3. Add -s to the end of the text in the 'target:' textbox
4. Click ok
5. Run it and the countdown should begin.

Start > Run > type "cmd". A command prompt will appear. Type "shutdown /" for all the various shut down options.

You can run the shortcut via Scheduled Tasks.

Or as already mentioned use some sort of download manager that will shutdown the system once it has finished downloading everything in the queue.

Cantdance_2

Okay, I am sorted!!

Making that change in my BIOS means that when I flick the socket on, the PC automatically boots up, even if I have shut it down normally.

So if I use a timer switch, I should be able to have the PC come on at, say 1.25, and then set my programme to run at 1.30 using Task Scheduler.

Then I can shut the PC down at 7.30 when I go out to work.

Thanks so much!!

James