I want to be able to leave my computer running for a fixed amount of time after I go to bed but I can't seem to find any functions that allow me to set something like a sleep timer. Im running windows xp and I was hoping that there would be a standard funtion that could manage the task but if not does anyone know of some software that I could d/l to carry out this simple task?

If I use power options to turn the hard disks off after say 2 hours will that effectively make the pc hibernate? Would that take me offline if Im on dial-up?

Should I set this as my sleep timer or should I use the stand by delay? My main goal is to go offline after a fixed amount of time but if the pc was to go into power saving mode as well then that would be a bonus.

Thanks for the help

 

sleep.exe and shutdown.exe
both part of the NT4 resource kit.

Just create a text file on your desktop and call it something like SLEEPPC.BAT edit it in notepad and put in
sleep.exe 7200
shutdown.exe /L /Y /C
and save it.

Run that before you go to sleep. It will wait 2 hours (7200 secs = 2 hours) then shutdown the pc forcefully after an additional 20 seconds. You can always replace shutdown.exe with the kill.exe command and specify the name of your ISP software. That way it will kill the modem connection after 2 hours. kill.exe is standard on an xp machine I believe.

 

Why not just use the built in power options in xp? Just set your system to hibernate after xx time. If you set it to hibernate it will disconnect you from your dial-up, and put your system in power saving mode.

 

I tried setting the power save mode to shut down the hard disks last night but that didn't disconnect my dial up so I'll try the stand by mode tonight. Id like to give your idea a go to tepevan Ill run it at something like 60s first so that I can check that it works then edit it and save.


Thanks for the help Ill let you guys know how I go tonight