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Arkay
Sounds like a great screensaver app.
I've just installed it and having a play around now. The first thing I thought of is that if there is a facility to run an app after resume, why isn't there a facility to run an app immediately before hibernating.
My suggestions for improvements in order of priority are:
1. Add an option to run an app immediately prior to hibernation, if all other conditions for hibernation are met. Hiberbation would be cancelled if the app returns an error code (non zero).
2. Try to get hibernator to use a screensaver other than the windows built in list. e.g. I use Screen Paver (licensed) but it does nto show up in the list.
The purpose of 1. for me would be to run an AutoHotKey Script to double check special applications that may be running (which allow the screen saver to kick in), to complete before hibernating.
This feature might assist with the problem that arkino has. AutoHotKey (and many others) are great for detecting and taking action on widnows/apps etc. Ideal for auto confirming dialog boxes, checking if an app is busy doing something in particular, returning focus etc etc.
This method would end up giving the user full overide control of hibernate if need be. I intend to initially use the new PC as my replacement workhourse then migrate it to the media centre if the setup ends up working good enough for the family to use. I would then schedule tasks or use that PC remotely as required, hence not like it to hibernate under certain conditions.
My first post, though it should have been in the introduce yourself section, I'll get to that...
Interesting points though many of them have been mentioned before
The thing is that if you set your thresholds right there is no need for "don't hibernate if x or y are running etc".
Because the Hibernator uses disk, cpu and network thresholds to detect idle states there should be no need.
i.e If a download is running your net use will be too high and hibernation won't occur.
It you're playing an mp3 disk will be too high -> no hibernation etc.
i.e. Anything that causes any cpu, disk or network utilisation should prevent hibernation. So if the machine is doing anything at all it'll stay awake
As for running stuff before hibernation. I've never really seen a point to it. Technically speaking the timing difference from the OS perspective for running something before as apposed to after is about 1 millisecond.
To be honest I don't know if I'll ever do any further updates to it. My primary reason for doing it was to help out those using MCE 2005 who's machine wouldn't enter hibernate or standby automatically. Vista and newer hardware have largely resolved that problem now.
Cheers,
Arkay.
__________________
The box said 'Requires Windows XP or better' - so I installed Linux . . .
...i.e. Anything that causes any cpu, disk or network utilisation should prevent hibernation. So if the machine is doing anything at all it'll stay awake
As for running stuff before hibernation. I've never really seen a point to it. Technically speaking the timing difference from the OS perspective for running something before as apposed to after is about 1 millisecond.
..To be honest I don't know if I'll ever do any further updates to it...
Arkay.
Thanks Arkay
The app appears to serve its purpose well. No need to update it as most users probably don't do the type of things I do, those that do, jsut have a few extra PCs. I agree totally regarding cpu activity etc, though it may not apply to my scenario, which was summarised too simply in my first post. It appears I am after a differnet utility all together though the first mod suggested might allow yours to be used (less pain for me to develop something).
My workhorse PC runs 24x7 and executes many programs on a schedule, some of the apps are finicky so the automatic control is tender and there is much idle time. The purpose of the new media PC is to use it as a backup workhorse to run programs periodically (usually overnight or during the day when the TV isn't in use). These scripts have periods of idle time and the screen save does cut in. So whilst the hibernator screen save is running the scripts pause (no cpu, no disk, no net activity). IF hibenator then says...ah hah, no activity - hibernate, then my scripts have been inadvertently interrupted. IF your program works differently (e.g. once activated it waits a timout period before hibernating and aborts if cpu/disk/net activity resumes) then you have it covered and I should be a happy chappy. I hope this makes it a little clearer as to where I am coming from.
1 msec difference? Yes, the PC doesn't know, but we do. The purpose is to make use of that idle time to perform specific tasks rather than hibernate. My thoughts were to have a simple script do customised checks for my purposes to block hibernation. In theory the standard screen saver function would still work.
With the new PC I might find that I have significantly more control over waking up the PC to do things.
Arkay, found this over at thegreenbutton. I had the problem where the machine could be put to sleep manually and wake up just fine, but would never return to standby (running MCE2005 in the US). What a wonderful app. Pure genius to include disk usage and network usage.
One problem, and I apologize if it's been answered before... When I put it to sleep manually, it behaves normally, but when Hibernator puts it to sleep, when it wakes up, "The Green Button" on the remote control doesn't work . I have to go to Start Menu->Media Center. Once in Media Center, it works fine. Also, the pointer (using the MS Remote Keyboard) seems less responsive, although this may just be my imagination. Also within in Media Center, the volume popup acts funny. For example, if I hit the volume button once, it's fine, but if I hit it again while the popup is there, it disappears for a split second then reappears with the volume change. Very weird.
I might try an uninstall/reinstall to see if it helps. Other than that, any suggestions?
Thanks
Nick
Edit: Only a restart fixes these symptoms. Running your batch file does not help.
[quote=Shawky;159091IF your program works differently (e.g. once activated it waits a timout period before hibernating and aborts if cpu/disk/net activity resumes) then you have it covered and I should be a happy chappy. I hope this makes it a little clearer as to where I am coming from.
[/quote]
That's exactly what it does and you can set the timeout period
Quote:
1 msec difference? Yes, the PC doesn't know, but we do. The purpose is to make use of that idle time to perform specific tasks rather than hibernate. My thoughts were to have a simple script do customised checks for my purposes to block hibernation. In theory the standard screen saver function would still work.
I get where you're coming from and there's likely an easy solution. If you write your own wrapper around the hibernator and set the screensaver subsystem to run the wrapper you could have it do anything you like before running the Hibernator. I'd think you should be able to do that possible with a batch script.
Cheers,
Arkay.
__________________
The box said 'Requires Windows XP or better' - so I installed Linux . . .
Unfortunately the Hibernator only controls when the machine gets put to sleep (either standby or hibernate). The problems you are experiencing are either hardware or driver related.
I would suggest also installing a program called MST. MST does some registry trickery than can solve many of the sort of issues you are seeing.
Alternately you could try running a script to reset the usb bus on resume.
The only difference between you waking it manually and it auto waking via a scheduled event is the keypress. I've seen many instances where things will only work properly after resume with that keypress. Stupid as it sounds.
Further back in this thread is a post with a script that uses devcon to specifically reset the usb bus. Might be worth having a search for it.
Cheers,
Arkay.
__________________
The box said 'Requires Windows XP or better' - so I installed Linux . . .
Last edited by arkay; 8th August 2007 at 11:53 PM.
The following Member(s) said "Thank You!" to arkay for this information:
Hi.
Great looking program.
I have been strugling to get my htpc to sleep for a week now. Hybernator seem to be my salvation.... cept for 1 thing.
When I click on profile everything shuts down and I am left looking at my desktop with my screen saver setting window looking at me. I have left it for a couple of mins but hibernator never returns.
any ideas, I'm about to throw this thing through a window...
Any chance of you adding an audio feed monitor? I wouldn't mind a settings to set a specific program that could override the hibernation. For example if program X is running then hibernation can't occur until program X stops running or isn't in the task list anymore. I know I might be asking too much, but I like your program so far.
