Shutdown automatically when idle.

[Quackers]

To try and reduce our electricity bill, the powers that be want the PC's to shut them selfs off if say its not used for 20 minutes.

 

I've played with the Shutdown screensavers available which all work fine if somebody is logged in, but they do not work from the main windows logon screen, they normally count down to 0, then either, go to -1 -2 seconds and never shutdown, or come up with shutdown failed.

 

Any ideas on how to achive this goal?

[timbo343]

There is a script that you can run to install a schedual that will set the computer to shutdown. I think its on the microsoft site somewhere. Ive got one that will install a schedual to lock a computer after 15 mins of been idle and i can install it remotely, so there has to be one out there.

[Geoff]

Verify you have the settings correct for the login desktops screensaver. They live in the registry under the default user profile.

 

Alternatively you could use a scheduled task. There is a "run when idle" option (in the advanced properties, not the wizard). This, combined with the shutdown.exe program will do with you want.

[timbo343]

To try and reduce our electricity bill, the powers that be want the PC's to shut them selfs off if say its not used for 20 minutes.

 

I've played with the Shutdown screensavers available which all work fine if somebody is logged in, but they do not work from the main windows logon screen, they normally count down to 0, then either, go to -1 -2 seconds and never shutdown, or come up with shutdown failed.

 

Any ideas on how to achive this goal?

 

The code is my MS-DOS Batch file code that will install the schdule to a remote PC:

 

Code::::

 

schtasks /delete /tn "Lock Computer" /f

 

schtasks /create /ru USER /rp PASSWORD /tn "lock computer" /tr "c:\windows\system32\rundll32.exe user32.dll, LockWorkStation" /sc onidle /i NUMBER OF MINUTES /s Computer Name

pause

 

 

Also, ive included a link that will either shutdown, restart or lock a computer.

 

http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/1147/shortcuts_clear_memory_lock_workstation_restart_shutdown_change_icon

 

Hope this helps.

 

Tim

[MkII]

I like the idea of saving power.

 

Teachers here would have a fit if we set a shutdown after 20 minutes tho.. some like to display to the class for the lesson and so could leave the PC idle intentionally for up to 50 minutes

 

Others will leave work half done all day, and expect to come back to it and resume work

 

I suppose these things need negotiating, but seems a worthwhile job.

[Geoff]

Yeah, be careful setting this on machines that run projectors.

[Quackers]

Thanks timbo343 , thats working just as i want.

 

It is going to be difficult getting the idle time just right. But if you do say 1 30 PC suite not in use for 1 period, plus the left over X amount of pc's where there are not 30 in a class, the power savings will be quite large.

[DMcCoy]

You might want to monitor the power used by the machine going into standby and how much is used by it starting up. You might find that its more efficient for it to stay on standby for a while rather than keep going on and off.

[Geoff]

Replacing CRTs with TFTs is a good place to start with powersaving too.

[timbo343]

@ Quackers

 

Im just working on the script, its slightly wrong.

 

Tim

[timbo343]

schtasks /delete /tn "Shut Down Computer" /f

 

schtasks /create /ru ADMINUSERNAME /rp PASSWORD /tn "Shut Down Computer" /tr

 

"c:\windows\system32\shutdown.exe -s -t 00" /sc onidle /i TIME IN MINUTES (00) /s COMPUTER NAME

pause

 

That will work, has just been tested on one of the other IT guys, he has just gone metal. hahahha

[fooby]

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=power_mgt.pr_pm_ez_gpo

 

EZ GPO software

 

Network administrators at organizations using the latest Microsoft servers (Windows 2000 or Windows 2003 servers) and operating systems (Windows 2000 or XP) often use Group Policy Objects (GPOs) to manage their organization’s desktops. However, as currently designed, GPOs cannot alter a computer’s power management settings. (EZ GPO is not compatible with Windows Vista operating system.)

 

ENERGY STAR’s free EZ GPO tool allows a network administrator to centrally control power management settings using GPOs. In addition to setting monitor power management, EZ GPO can also activate “system standby,” which places the computer (CPU, hard drive, etc.) to sleep.*

 

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=power_mgt.pr_pm_ez_gpo

[MkII]

Wow - that's amazing fooby

[fooby]

Sarcasm? Or really?

 

Either way I use it here and have found its pretty smart. The only thing you will need to watch for is having seperate settings for laptops or pc's (if you want that) and to check the users and computers settings seperatly.

 

fooby

[somouk]

There is also some software available called powersave which will do this for you. It also allows you to schedule end of day shut downs, start of day wake ups and produces energy saving reports so you can justify it all the the head at the end of the day.

 

Regards

Mart

[richard.thomas]

If you want computers to shutdown at the end of the day don't go getting some software for something that windows can already do.

 

All you need to do it make some .cmd files containing

"shutdown -f -s -m \\COMP-UNC -t 120"

 

Thats similar to the shutdown scripts I use. A sever has these files and is scheduled to run them at 6pm. Office computers aren't yet included- We were hoping staff would shutdown their computers but it seems that they dont.

 

Aswell as saving power, You need to prove to a fire officer that all the computers turn off over night anyway- Also a security thing. Someone seeing loads of light coming from a window is more likely to have a go

[localzuk]

Aswell as saving power, You need to prove to a fire officer that all the computers turn off over night anyway.

 

Thats not true - as computers are regularly left on for administration tasks... Also, servers are on 24hours a day. A fire officer shouldn't be interested in computers other than ensuring that there is suitable fire fighting aparatus nearby etc...

[richard.thomas]

a fire officer visited our school yesterday (or day before.. cant remember) and asked if all the computers shutdown over night. luckily we already had the scripts in place. I don't know the law on it, but I can see his point. May aswell minimise the risk as much as possible

[localzuk]

It isn't covered by the law. It would simply be a case of minimising risk. However, as I said, things are regularly done overnight and 99% of schools will have their servers on 24/7/365...