Display Sleep Off

[OldGuy]

I am running Win 7 Pro Media Center TV program and after a few minutes
the display goes dark.
That is OK if I am not doing anything but I do not want that to happen
while watching TV.
I usually make the media Center screen only a portion of the desktop.
not maximized that is.

So how can i have my cake and eat it too?
Screen goes dark when not working but stays on while watching TV even
with the TV only a portion of the screen? (Want to watch other desktop
activities too but I am not mousing or keybording.

TIA



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[Paul]

I am running Win 7 Pro Media Center TV program and after a few minutes
the display goes dark.
That is OK if I am not doing anything but I do not want that to happen
while watching TV.
I usually make the media Center screen only a portion of the desktop.
not maximized that is.

So how can i have my cake and eat it too?
Screen goes dark when not working but stays on while watching TV even
with the TV only a portion of the screen? (Want to watch other desktop
activities too but I am not mousing or keybording.

TIA

Some media applications, have the ability to stop sleep from
occurring. But Microsoft warns developers not to get
carried away with the feature, as it's not that good an
idea for laptops. I think a laptop may sleep, as a defense
against running the battery down to zero.

I'm surprised a Media Center screen, doesn't have the ability
to stop sleep.

*******

http://experts.windows.com/frms/windows_entertainment_and_connected_home/f/114/p/99638/537150.aspx

"my pc used to go to sleep if i was watching it in a window,
full screen is ok"

Which is a bit weird.

And the tool mentioned in that thread, I don't really see anything
in there that is going to change the behavior of MC.

http://slicksolutions.eu/mst.shtml

The easiest solution would appear to be running MC in full screen mode.
Assuming it works to cut off the sleep.

Paul

 

[OldGuy]

Some media applications, have the ability to stop sleep from
occurring. But Microsoft warns developers not to get
carried away with the feature, as it's not that good an
idea for laptops. I think a laptop may sleep, as a defense
against running the battery down to zero.

I'm surprised a Media Center screen, doesn't have the ability
to stop sleep.

*******

http://experts.windows.com/frms/windows_entertainment_and_connected_home/f/114/p/99638/537150.aspx

"my pc used to go to sleep if i was watching it in a window,
full screen is ok"

Which is a bit weird.

And the tool mentioned in that thread, I don't really see anything
in there that is going to change the behavior of MC.

http://slicksolutions.eu/mst.shtml

The easiest solution would appear to be running MC in full screen mode.
Assuming it works to cut off the sleep.

Paul

So I should set the power settings for the desktop PC (AC powered) for
no monitor off timeout.
Then for the desktop is there a key sequence to easily turn off the
monitor or sleep or whatever. Do not want to log off!

On my laptop I have a Zz key (Fn F4).
I'll have to try that on my desktop.

 

[Paul]

So I should set the power settings for the desktop PC (AC powered) for
no monitor off timeout.
Then for the desktop is there a key sequence to easily turn off the
monitor or sleep or whatever. Do not want to log off!

On my laptop I have a Zz key (Fn F4).
I'll have to try that on my desktop.

Well, you're ahead of me there. The only other tool I know of, is
"dumppo", and that's too crude for your situation.

http://forums.pcper.com/showthread....ssue/page3&p=1825058&postcount=31#post1825058

Having some way of changing power schema at the touch of a button,
might be a way to do it. There is "powercfg", but the only thing
I've done with that, is disable hibernation on Windows 8. And again,
the parameter list makes it "like flying a 747". The machine comes
with defined power schema, like "Always On". If you could select
a power schema, with an F key, then switch back, maybe you could
hack together something that way.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powercfg_(command)

You can compare that, to the "Power Options" or similar, control panel.

Aha! Recipe here. You'd switch to a power schema which has sleep
set to "Never". Then switch back later.

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/create-a-shortcut-or-hotkey-to-switch-power-plans/

Paul

 

[OldGuy]

You can compare that, to the "Power Options" or similar, control panel.

Aha! Recipe here. You'd switch to a power schema which has sleep
set to "Never". Then switch back later.

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/create-a-shortcut-or-hotkey-to-switch-power-plans/

Paul

I am looking at Winbubbles.
Have you looked at this app?

 

[Paul]

I am looking at Winbubbles.
Have you looked at this app?

Rated two stars out of five. See comment section.

http://download.cnet.com/WinBubbles-Lite-2009/3000-18512_4-10915219.html

Paul

 

[Char Jackson]

Having some way of changing power schema at the touch of a button,
might be a way to do it. There is "powercfg", but the only thing
I've done with that, is disable hibernation on Windows 8. And again,
the parameter list makes it "like flying a 747". The machine comes
with defined power schema, like "Always On". If you could select
a power schema, with an F key, then switch back, maybe you could
hack together something that way.

Steve Gibson's Wizmo tool might be helpful.
<https://www.grc.com/wizmo/wizmo.htm>

There might also be something useful over at Nirsoft.net but I haven't
looked.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

So I should set the power settings for the desktop PC (AC powered) for
no monitor off timeout.
Then for the desktop is there a key sequence to easily turn off the
monitor or sleep or whatever. Do not want to log off!

On my laptop I have a Zz key (Fn F4).
I'll have to try that on my desktop.

There might be something in one of Nirsoft's utilities to do that.

nirsoft.net

In particular,
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/nircmd.html

A batch file to calling it with the right argument might do what you
need.

 

[OldGuy]

After serious thinking OldGuy wrote :

I am running Win 7 Pro Media Center TV program and after a few minutes the
display goes dark.
That is OK if I am not doing anything but I do not want that to happen while
watching TV.
I usually make the media Center screen only a portion of the desktop. not
maximized that is.

So how can i have my cake and eat it too?
Screen goes dark when not working but stays on while watching TV even with
the TV only a portion of the screen? (Want to watch other desktop activities
too but I am not mousing or keybording.

TIA



--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: (e-mail address removed) ---

I was confused a little by terminology.

There is a Monitor Off time as well as a Sleep time on my Win 7 Pro
Desktop PC

So I turned them both to Never.

So the screen stays on until I command it off.
(On my Win 7 Pro laptop there is Fn key sequence that turns the
display off only).

Anyway, on my desktop I made a little app that turns off the display
only. I just have to wiggle the mouse and the display comes back on.
I am going to try using the same keystrokes for the desktop s the
laptop.