Some advanced power management feature?

Roberdin · 2006-06-10, 02:09

I'm aware that MediaPortal has a power management control plugin thingy, but I'm not quite sure if it can handle what I'd like it to do:

My computer is pretty much the hub of everything that happens in my room, from music (iTunes), working (Word, Firefox), gaming, but also TV watching and recording via MediaPortal. Thus, I tend to have MediaPortal minimised to tray whatever I'm doing and this works fairly well, except during CPU intensive tasks, when recordings end up unwatchable.

Right now whenever I go out I leave the computer on so that it can record whatever I might like to watch. But that tends to mean it stays on throughout the night, possibly over a couple of days, when it's doing nothing at all except wasting electricity and heat with the occasional recording thrown in. I don't really plan in advance whether I'm coming home the evening on the day I leave so I can't schedule shut downs on any sort of regular basis. Also, other members of my family may occassionally utilise the computer when I'm out.

The main point here is that the usage is very random, so I can't simply use the feature of no activity on the home screen or whatever.

The ideal situation for me is that I would lock the computer (or switch to Welcome Screen) when I leave. After a period of say, half an hour or an hour, a power scheduler somewhere decides I'm not coming back for sometime and hibernates the system. If a recording is due, the computer re-awakens, makes that recording, and sits out another period of time before hibernating again.

If the computer is utilised during that period (i.e. someone logs on / unlocks the computer), then MediaPortal does not hibernate. Once the computer is in a locked state again (because he has logged off) and no recordings are due, the "hibernate timer" begins again.

This feature is clearly beyond the scope of the existing power scheduler, but are there any third-party tools which may help? Or can anyone suggest anything similar? Remember, the computer does lots of other stuff besides MediaPortal-ing and it absolutely must not hibernate simply because MediaPortal is bored. (Actually, I think this a key problem for me: MediaPortal assumes it is is the only reason the computer is alive, perhaps accurately in most cases, but not in mine. But I digress.)

I've done a bit of experimentation but so far all I've managed to do is miss recordings and have the computer hibernate apparently spontaneously while I'm working.

Marcusb · 2006-06-10, 03:03

Not too sure about this, but I understand that if you turn off the built in Screen saver in the general section the the Windows screen saver will be allowed to operate (as long as not in full screen video).

at least this way you can have the logon screen activate. I'm not sure if MP will hibernate the computer when minimised, but it won't work because PS will shut the PC down when in the home screen regardless of user activity on other applications (as my flat mates found out last time I was away).

Taipan · 2006-06-10, 03:13

I suggest you take a close look at PVR Scheduler - I am pretty confident it will do what you require as it will monitor MediaPortal and the general PC avtivity (CPU usage, disk activity, etc.). I have not used it in the mode you describe, but the options are availble in PVR Scheduler for you to use how you wish....

2006-06-10, 02:09	#1 (permalink)
Roberdin Portal Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: London, United Kingdom Posts: 102 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Some advanced power management feature? I'm aware that MediaPortal has a power management control plugin thingy, but I'm not quite sure if it can handle what I'd like it to do: My computer is pretty much the hub of everything that happens in my room, from music (iTunes), working (Word, Firefox), gaming, but also TV watching and recording via MediaPortal. Thus, I tend to have MediaPortal minimised to tray whatever I'm doing and this works fairly well, except during CPU intensive tasks, when recordings end up unwatchable. Right now whenever I go out I leave the computer on so that it can record whatever I might like to watch. But that tends to mean it stays on throughout the night, possibly over a couple of days, when it's doing nothing at all except wasting electricity and heat with the occasional recording thrown in. I don't really plan in advance whether I'm coming home the evening on the day I leave so I can't schedule shut downs on any sort of regular basis. Also, other members of my family may occassionally utilise the computer when I'm out. The main point here is that the usage is very random, so I can't simply use the feature of no activity on the home screen or whatever. The ideal situation for me is that I would lock the computer (or switch to Welcome Screen) when I leave. After a period of say, half an hour or an hour, a power scheduler somewhere decides I'm not coming back for sometime and hibernates the system. If a recording is due, the computer re-awakens, makes that recording, and sits out another period of time before hibernating again. If the computer is utilised during that period (i.e. someone logs on / unlocks the computer), then MediaPortal does not hibernate. Once the computer is in a locked state again (because he has logged off) and no recordings are due, the "hibernate timer" begins again. This feature is clearly beyond the scope of the existing power scheduler, but are there any third-party tools which may help? Or can anyone suggest anything similar? Remember, the computer does lots of other stuff besides MediaPortal-ing and it absolutely must not hibernate simply because MediaPortal is bored. (Actually, I think this a key problem for me: MediaPortal assumes it is is the only reason the computer is alive, perhaps accurately in most cases, but not in mine. But I digress.) I've done a bit of experimentation but so far all I've managed to do is miss recordings and have the computer hibernate apparently spontaneously while I'm working.

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2006-06-10, 03:03	#2 (permalink)
Marcusb Super Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Melbourne Posts: 1,933 Thanks: 67 Thanked 28 Times in 28 Posts Country: My System	Not too sure about this, but I understand that if you turn off the built in Screen saver in the general section the the Windows screen saver will be allowed to operate (as long as not in full screen video). at least this way you can have the logon screen activate. I'm not sure if MP will hibernate the computer when minimised, but it won't work because PS will shut the PC down when in the home screen regardless of user activity on other applications (as my flat mates found out last time I was away).

2006-06-10, 03:13	#3 (permalink)
Taipan Portal Tester Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Melbourne Posts: 1,929 Thanks: 4 Thanked 15 Times in 15 Posts Country: My System	I suggest you take a close look at PVR Scheduler - I am pretty confident it will do what you require as it will monitor MediaPortal and the general PC avtivity (CPU usage, disk activity, etc.). I have not used it in the mode you describe, but the options are availble in PVR Scheduler for you to use how you wish....