Microcomputer Services

Windows Power Management

To configure Windows 2000 and XP:

  1. Click the Start menu and select Settings
  2. Select Control Panel
  3. In the window that opens, double-click on Power Management
  4. Click the Power Schemes tab at the top of the window
  5. Select the "Home/Office Desk" scheme
  6. Set "Turn off monitor" and/or "Turn off hard disks" to a reasonable value

To configure Windows Vista:

  1. Click the Start menu and select Control Panel
  2. In the window that opens, double-click on Power Options
  3. Find which plan is currently active and click the "Change plan settings" link just below the plan name
  4. Set the display and computer sleep time to reasonable values
  5. Click the Save changes button

What is a reasonable value? Fifteen to 30 minutes for the monitor and at least that long for your hard disks. (Some users prefer that their hard disks never spin down.)

Regardless of which version of Windows you use, we strongly encourage you to save your work before stepping away from your computer.

Laptop Users: Some brands of laptops include software written by the manufacturer to better manage power consumption. If your laptop has such software installed you should consult your user's guide for the specifics.

To wake your computer, press the space bar or move the mouse. Be patient. Depending on the complexity of your computer's configuration it could take up to three minutes for all devices to respond.