When I am not using my computer, I like to put it into standby mode. This helps save power and cuts down on the heat output when I am not using the computer. A shortcut (literally) that I use is a command line batch script to put the system into standby.
From this Microsoft article, the command is simply:
%windir%\System32\rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,SetSuspendState
The article states that if hibernation is enabled on the machine, running the above command will hibernate the system instead of putting it into standby (so make sure you have the power settings how you want them).
You could also use this command to put your system into standby/hibernation after running nightly scheduled tasks. This would ensure your computer stays in lower power mode while you are away.
Jason Faulkner is the man who brings you our daily tips. He is based in Atlanta, Georgia.
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A better idea is to use Steve Gibson’s Wizmo, which can put your machine into Standby or Hibernate, and do lots of other tasks as well.
I am almost positive I learned about Wizmo from you!
Great program. You may have heard about it on this site, but I have never run a tip on it.
I’m going to give it a try and I will probably run a tip on it in the near future. Thanks for passing this along.
I’ve had an icon on the desktop for quite a while now that executes this command when clicked.
How to make an icon to click (Done in XP.):
Right-click on a blank area of your desktop (Where there are no icons.) and mouse-over “New” in the box that appears. Click “Shortcut”. Another box appears asking you to type the location of the item: Enter in the full command:
“%windir%\System32\rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,SetSuspendState”
and click next.
It now asks you to type a name for this shortcut: I named mine “Sleep or Hibernate”. Why? Because if you don’t have hibernation enabled it sends your computer to sleep (Standby.).
Click next, the box vanishes, and an icon appears on your desktop. – Target neutralised.
Any time you want your computer to sleep or to hibernate; depending on how you’ve set it, just click the icon and do nothing else.
To configure your computer to allow hibernation; right-click on a blank area of the desktop (Where there are no icons.) and click “Properties”.
Click “Screen Saver” tab and click the “Power” button near the bottom right-hand corner.
Click the “Hibernate” tab: There is a checkbox near the top with the words “Enable hibernation” next to it. If this checkbox is ticked then your computer is enabled to hibernate. If you leave it unticked your computer will sleep (Standby.) when the icon you just created is clicked.
Does this work with Vista, as when I entered location it came back to say location not found.