Can you have power straight on PCs? Soon they receive power from the mains?

flashsnaps · 30-01-2008, 02:54 PM

We bought the little lovelys brand new computers at the beginning of term, but vandals have struck again - they're constantly pressing the power buttons in so much that the mechanism inside snaps. The button still works but just about.

Is there a setting in the bios, or something we can change - so that they power on straight away as soon as they receive power from the mains?

They have a foxconn motherboard, manufactured by Novatech.

tom_newton · 30-01-2008, 02:56 PM

Usually there's a "what to do after power outage" option - with choices "on" "off" and "last state". Choose "on", and I guess you're laughing.

30-01-2008, 03:49 PM

I'm not sure about that - sounds iffy to me - we have RM machines and I'm aware of a "power on when keyboard pressed" which we used at our old school and worked pretty well - planning to implement it here too.

chalkwellstu · 30-01-2008, 03:54 PM

use the wake on lan function? i am sure there are settings to shutdown and startup your machine somewhere in the BIOS - then you can glue/cover up the power on switch.

Andrew_C · 30-01-2008, 03:57 PM

All depends what options you have in the BIOS. They all seem different...

flashsnaps · 30-01-2008, 04:05 PM

Thats excellent guys thank you - changed the settings in the bios - so as soon as someone hits any key or moves the mouse, the machine powers on. genius!

dhicks · 30-01-2008, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flashsnaps

Is there a setting in the bios, or something we can change - so that they power on straight away as soon as they receive power from the mains?

Somebody somewhere must make/know of a simple widget to place over the two power switch pins on the motherboard to switch it on when main power comes on (would a simple HDD-style jumper do it, or would that confuse the PC into thinking it needed to switch itself off again?). A quick Google search doesn't produce much, but I get the impression the solution might involve the term "flip flop".

Edit:

Quote:

changed the settings in the bios - so as soon as someone hits any key or moves the mouse, the machine powers on. genius!

Oh yea. That too!

--
David Hicks

NickJones · 30-01-2008, 04:17 PM

The "on after power outage" thing won't do it - that only works if the PC was on at the time of the outage.

Wake-on-LAN is your friend in this situation.

strawberry · 30-01-2008, 04:23 PM

and if your looking to disable the power button it might be easier to yoink the cables from the mobo rather than physically fix it on the front.

chalkwellstu · 30-01-2008, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strawberry

and if your looking to disable the power button it might be easier to yoink the cables from the mobo rather than physically fix it on the front.

oh yeah .... well ..... course i thought of that was just offering a different perspective

NickJones · 30-01-2008, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strawberry

and if your looking to disable the power button it might be easier to yoink the cables from the mobo rather than physically fix it on the front.

That would make it impossible to turn the PC on manually though. At least with wake-on-lan, they wouldn't need to go near the power button (thus ensuring it doesn't get bust in a week) but could use it if they needed.

I'm thinking, for example, of after-school activities; we have a couple of groups who use some of the PCs in our IT Suite after school, when all the computers have turned off. They simply turn on whichever 3 or 4 they need; it would be a shame to have to run the whole room for another 2 hours just for those handful of PCs.

31-01-2008, 12:59 PM

That's where the mouse and keyboard power on function comes into play Nick. You move the mouse/press any key and hey presto! That way, if WOL isn't working either you still have a backup way of turning the PC on if the button is bust.

NickJones · 31-01-2008, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerrymoralee9280

That's where the mouse and keyboard power on function comes into play Nick.

Assuming the BIOS supports it yes, but it is far from universal.

31-01-2008, 01:49 PM

Well yes it is, but it works on the OP computers - he's already said that. So wouldn't you class that as a fix to his problem? If his BIOS supports that feature?

NickJones · 31-01-2008, 02:13 PM

Indeed it would, I hadn't seen his second post.

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30-01-2008, 02:54 PM	#1
flashsnaps Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Brighton, East Sussex Posts: 375 Thanks: 5 Thanked 13 Times in 11 Posts Rep Power: 4	Can you have power straight on PCs? Soon they receive power from the mains? We bought the little lovelys brand new computers at the beginning of term, but vandals have struck again - they're constantly pressing the power buttons in so much that the mechanism inside snaps. The button still works but just about. Is there a setting in the bios, or something we can change - so that they power on straight away as soon as they receive power from the mains? They have a foxconn motherboard, manufactured by Novatech.

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Can you have power straight on PCs? Soon they receive power from the mains?

30-01-2008, 02:56 PM	#2
tom_newton Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Leeds Posts: 1,083 Thanks: 19 Thanked 58 Times in 50 Posts Rep Power: 17	Usually there's a "what to do after power outage" option - with choices "on" "off" and "last state". Choose "on", and I guess you're laughing.

30-01-2008, 03:49 PM	#3
kerrymoralee9280 Guest Posts: n/a	I'm not sure about that - sounds iffy to me - we have RM machines and I'm aware of a "power on when keyboard pressed" which we used at our old school and worked pretty well - planning to implement it here too.

30-01-2008, 03:54 PM	#4
chalkwellstu Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Leigh on Sea Posts: 140 Thanks: 4 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Rep Power: 0	use the wake on lan function? i am sure there are settings to shutdown and startup your machine somewhere in the BIOS - then you can glue/cover up the power on switch.

30-01-2008, 03:57 PM	#5
Andrew_C Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Winchester Posts: 913 Thanks: 5 Thanked 25 Times in 22 Posts Rep Power: 13	All depends what options you have in the BIOS. They all seem different...

30-01-2008, 04:05 PM	#6
flashsnaps Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Brighton, East Sussex Posts: 375 Thanks: 5 Thanked 13 Times in 11 Posts Rep Power: 4	Thats excellent guys thank you - changed the settings in the bios - so as soon as someone hits any key or moves the mouse, the machine powers on. genius!

30-01-2008, 04:17 PM	#8
NickJones Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Reading, Berkshire Posts: 1,371 Thanks: 33 Thanked 20 Times in 20 Posts Rep Power: 12	The "on after power outage" thing won't do it - that only works if the PC was on at the time of the outage. Wake-on-LAN is your friend in this situation.

30-01-2008, 04:23 PM	#9
strawberry Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 751 Thanks: 22 Thanked 32 Times in 32 Posts Rep Power: 10	and if your looking to disable the power button it might be easier to yoink the cables from the mobo rather than physically fix it on the front.

31-01-2008, 12:59 PM	#12
kerrymoralee9280 Guest Posts: n/a	That's where the mouse and keyboard power on function comes into play Nick. You move the mouse/press any key and hey presto! That way, if WOL isn't working either you still have a backup way of turning the PC on if the button is bust.

31-01-2008, 01:49 PM	#14
kerrymoralee9280 Guest Posts: n/a	Well yes it is, but it works on the OP computers - he's already said that. So wouldn't you class that as a fix to his problem? If his BIOS supports that feature?

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31-01-2008, 02:13 PM	#15
NickJones Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Reading, Berkshire Posts: 1,371 Thanks: 33 Thanked 20 Times in 20 Posts Rep Power: 12	Indeed it would, I hadn't seen his second post.

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