Save energy without sacrificing after-hours tasks
By
Scott Dunn
In the Nov. 15 issue, I recommended putting your system on standby when you're not at the keyboard. But how can your system do all of your automated tasks if it's asleep?
With a few well-chosen strategies (including the right BIOS or some helpful freeware), you can have your disk-maintenance cake and eat your energy savings, too.
Run automated tasks on a sleeping system
Regarding my recommendation to use Standby and Sleep modes to save power, Lynn Stearns raises an important question:
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"My question is what about all those programs that run after hours, like Windows Update, Diskeeper, antivirus updates and most backup programs. Don't they need to have a powered up computer?"
If you use the Automatic setting found in the Automatic Updates (XP) or Windows Update (Vista) control panels, you can use day and time settings to choose a time when your computer is likely to be fully powered.
For other applications, you can use Windows' task scheduling tool to program when these chores occur. This utility can also wake the system to run tasks, but only if your computer's BIOS supports Advanced Power Management (APM) version 1.2. You may need to consult your hardware manual or the manufacturer's Web site to find out what version you have.
To wake your system automatically for an existing scheduled task:
Step 1. In XP, click Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Scheduled Tasks. In Vista, select Task Scheduler.
Step 2. (Vista only.) Select Task Scheduler Library in the left pane.
Step 3. Double-click a task you've previously set to run after hours.
Step 4. In XP, click the Settings tab. In Vista, click the Conditions tab.
Step 5. Check Wake the computer to run this task. Click OK.
If your BIOS doesn't support APM 1.2, check out the tip below.
Run tasks before your system sleeps
Reader Dieter Schack has found another way to use Suspend mode and also have your routine tasks run:
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"Another exellent program for shutting down or suspending Windows (and more) is ShowStopper by Karen Kenworthy. Personally, I think it is one of the best and easiest 'shutdown' programs available for Windows."
More importantly, you can set up custom groups of tasks that ShowStopper will launch before the desired shutdown or standby action.
The only catch is that you must use tasks that automatically exit when finished; otherwise, ShowStopper waits endlessly for them to quit before proceeding. Fortunately, this is not a serious problem with many backup and disk-checking utilities, which can be set to terminate at the end of their chores.
Is CO2 Saver spyware?
The Nov. 15 top story also recommended a freeware product called CO2 Saver. But a couple of readers expressed concern about the product's license agreement. For example, Art Pete cancelled the installation when he read the following passages in CO2 Saver's EULA:
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"4. Third Party Information and Services. The Software may be used to access certain third party websites, software, applications, and other materials (collectively, "Third Party Materials"). ...
"6. Data Collection and Privacy. The Software may collect, store, and periodically send information back to Licensor or third party servers. ...
"7. Support and Software Updates. Licensor may elect to update the Software from time to time in its sole discretion. Licensor may also elect to discontinue, disable, remove, or otherwise terminate your use of the Software, including via automatic update. ... You may not block, limit, or otherwise refuse any such automatic update, even if such update limits, reduces, or removes some or all of the existing functionality of the Software."
I also installed ZoneAlarm's free firewall to see if CO2 Saver was attempting to "phone home." As long as I didn't use the search toolbar, the product did not attempt to access the Internet. The search function does, however, access the Web via CO2 Saver's own site. Consequently, it's possible that information from your search query is being saved on CO2 Saver's servers before being redirected to your designated search site.
This suggests that some of the EULA passages quoted above refer to the toolbar's search feature. But the EULA language seems extreme, and goes beyond that found in the Google privacy policy, for example. If this bothers you, you can either use a firewall to block CO2 Saver's Web access, don't use the search feature, or uninstall the program entirely.
Readers Stearns, Schack, and Pete will each receive a gift certificate for a book, CD, or DVD of their choice for sending tips we printed. Send us your tips via the Windows Secrets contact page.
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