Thread: Comp question

Anyone one know if there is a program for a PC to make you computer startup automatically at a certain time every day?

How can a program work if the PC is off?

But I believe there are ways, I had a PC which used to power up everytime the phone rang, this was to allow the reception of faxes, but by the time the PC fully woke up, the caller had hung up.

Give me a little time to think... Look in your start-up BIOS for some clue. (it may be something like "enable external/modem wake-up) When I have a bit more time I'll investigate, but you will need a bit of hardware, even if it's only a timer socket.

EDIT:

just had a look in my bios settings and under the heading "Power management setup" I found a paramter named "AC BACK" which had the options 'on' 'off' and 'resume' .

When set of 'off' the PC powers up only when the PC power button is pressed.

When set to 'on' the PC powers up from the wall.

THis latter option suggests a wall power timer would work but do get one with an 'override' switch otherwise you'll have to replug your PC if you want to use it while the timer output is 'dead'.

Or there might be some other way, since there are about a dozen ways to power up a PC (serial port, modem, USB etc).


Personally though I hardly think if she has left you, her picture appearing on a screen as you wake up is giong to help...

Originally Posted by DaBOB

Anyone one know if there is a program for a PC to make you computer startup automatically at a certain time every day?

Jeez !! Too bloody lazy to even press a button ? :?

Why dont you just leave your PC on all the time ?
Problem solved.

Originally Posted by leohopkins

Originally Posted by DaBOB

Anyone one know if there is a program for a PC to make you computer startup automatically at a certain time every day?

Jeez !! Too bloody lazy to even press a button ? :?

Why dont you just leave your PC on all the time ?
Problem solved.

Very helpful Leo, but it would be a waste of electricity, unnesseccarily wear out the PC (fans HDD etc) the filters would clog up quicker as well..

Maybe he has a real reason for this such as a monitoring application, or some security issue. Or maybe he's got better things to do than wait 20 minutes for windows t opower up.

Originally Posted by Megabrain

Originally Posted by leohopkins

Originally Posted by DaBOB

Anyone one know if there is a program for a PC to make you computer startup automatically at a certain time every day?

Jeez !! Too bloody lazy to even press a button ? :?

Why dont you just leave your PC on all the time ?
Problem solved.

Very helpful Leo, but it would be a waste of electricity, unnesseccarily wear out the PC (fans HDD etc) the filters would clog up quicker as well..

Maybe he has a real reason for this such as a monitoring application, or some security issue. Or maybe he's got better things to do than wait 20 minutes for windows t opower up.

TWENTY minutes !!?!?!?!

I think you're in desperate need of a Quad-core chip !!

I keep my PC on all of the time, but that is only because my power butoon on my case is knackered so I had to rip the wires out and now when I need to turn my PC on i have to touch the two wires together. Will get myself a new case within the next few weeks, but for now i shall resort to this method. :?

Incidentally, does anyone know where in the UK I can buy a mercury switch from ?
I have tried Maplin's website, they dont seem to sell them.

Thanks for the pm megabrain, I forgot to set this topic to watched. I will look into that. I have a timmer that I use for a lizard cage, maybe I'll try it with that fist.

As for why: I don't have much time in the mornings and when i turn the computer on it often has some updates to check plus the ammount of time it takes just to turn on so it would be handy if it came one early.

One more thing: Is there in alarm clock that comes with windows? That would make this idea even better.

Yes (windows Timer details) or you could write a simple VB routine to monitor the timer and execute a process at the given hour.

http://www.acrovista.com/alarmwiz/tip1-n.html

Leo,

Try www.rswww.com they supply electronic components to the industry, I presume you mena a 'mercury tilt switch' - that is the proper term.

You relply to fast. :P

Thanks I'll let y'all know if this works.

-EDIT-

You may have to tell me what this VB routine is because that alarm program is a trial version.

VB is visual basic - if you have not got it then I could write a quick program for you, which will execute a 'batch file' - all you'd need to do is plonk the name of the process you want to run in that file (once only) and set the timer.

THis of course can only work if the computer is already switched on.

Damn!!!!

For Windows XP just go 'START' 'ALL PROGRAMS' 'Accessories' 'System tools' 'Scheduled tasks' ---- THis allows you to set up the time and program you wish to run!

Awesome... I got it all figured out then.

So I went in to the bios and, at least for my computer, it lets you turn it on a a specific time. I tried it and when I woke up this morning my comp was on so I guess that works. Now I'll try this schedular thingy and by the time I wake up my comp will be on and playing some music or whatever.... This will be sweet.

Thanks.

P.S.

WOW!!! You can do the option: "Wake the computer to run this task". Think that works if the comp is off? Not that I really need that but it's kinda cool.

Well all sorted then! - glad to be of help.