I find it hard to believe that it can actually wake up the computer from hibernate mode. On most computers, hibernate is exactly the same as a full off on the hardware level. I might work on some bios roms, but probably not the general consumer's computer. Nonetheless, I think I will give it a try and see if it works.

TuxRug

I can really use something like this. Sweet! :-)

Rogue

Program Files > Accessories > System Tools > Scheduled Tasks

QuadMaster

Isn't this built into Vista via the Task Scheduler? Me thinks so.

artfuldodga

Windows Schedule Task Manager also does this.
Wake up and run any app.

QuadMaster

This looks really awesome! I'd have to try this out and start scheduling some programs.

rdn98

Seems to me that it just wraps up a lot of what is already present in the Windows system. I just now started setting my PVR to stand-by but I still use it on occasion for other things. This might help fill in some gaps. Worth a try if nothing else.

Peace

Darktan

I've been using this for several years. It's a handy little application.
I especially like how you can save settings into a batch file. That way (with an autohotkey script) you can start it with different setting with the press of a button.

I never realized that Vista's scheduler had a wake-up function. I'll have to take a look at that.

KTMitch

Interesting. I was thinking something like this would be useful run on an offsite (or not offsite) backup machine. i.e. an old laptop that you use as a file server. Using this program you could have the backup server power up from suspend each night 20 minutes before backup time, open up and run (or receive) the backup, then suspend again.

Advantage would be that for the 22 hours a day backups are not running not only are you not using power, but your files are that much safer from any unwanted network attention.

Jason

@TuxRug: Most BIOSes, even consumer ones, can wake from up to S4 (hibernate), yes. My aging Athlon 64 board can do it. :)

LethAL

Yes it does duplicate functionality found in even XP's scheduler, however it is easier to make it do things from the command line.

Yes it will wake from hibernate on most computers. I ran a scheduled "wake from hibernate" task via task scheduler on a 6 year old computer, then went into the BIOS to do a "Wake up from completely off" and low and behold, the time it had filled in was that of the scheduled task.

johnsmith1234

@Webran61: i second that.

suuuueee

Yeah. I hear about all the cool things I can do with Task Scheduler, so I open it up, and I'm greeted with a confusing interface. The situation is only compounded by my total lack of scope of the types of tasks it can handle. So yeah, any program that duplicates yet simplifies a standard program is always welcome.

Webran61

alarm clock is nice or running firefox to your igoogle or netvibes page

Iam confused on how it bypasses the windows login?

redace

@Webran61: Though I figured it out, I vote for a how-to article on using Task scheduler.

johnsmith1234

@redace:I believe it gives you the opportunity to fill in your password. Go to the ... next to start, settings, general then Enable Windows auto-login and fill in your password. This is similar to MS powertoys for XP, TweakUI.

mados123

So this would run even when my notebook's lid is closed? I would be careful then.

Junkan

This app is indispensable. I use it to wake up my file server at 1 AM and launch uTorrent. uTorrent grabs all my TV shows from an RSS feed while I'm sleeping and then hibernates the machine again when it finishes downloading. Pair this up with XBMC and you're gonna save $100/mo on your electric and cable bills, guaranteed.

jlfrank83

Does anyone know of something similar for linux?

RaffaeleKane

@RaffaeleKane: I'd be interested in an answer to that too.

urmston

XP scheduler has a wake up check box in advanced settings. It can also wake up the computer from hibernate.

geek22

I agree with Webran61...if it makes things simpler while still getting what you need to do accomplished, then I love it. ^__^

Asian Angel

@mados123: the functionality that I would like is for it to use the password ONLY when a wake-up is triggered BY THE PROGRAM. It seems to log the user in automatically even if the user performed a user-initiated restart/reboot etc...thoughts?

amrich

I've been looking for a reliable way of waking up in the morning. I have no qualms about hitting the snooze button. But in order to turn off my new custom Dr. Dog's Wake Up alarm, I'll literally have to get out of bed and go across the room. And I like that it plays behind the log-in screen. Brilliant!

justhesh

@LethAL: I thought Hibernate was S3? But yeah, my Dell from 2003 does this all the time (via GBPVR).

jmontana

@RaffaeleKane: forgot to mention, here is a thread on the topic on the ubuntu forums: [ubuntuforums.org]

SamburgerHandwich

@RaffaeleKane: I think this is a bios thing. Most modern bios' let you set a wake-up time. Have a chron job run shortly after, and then set it back to hibernate when the task is done.

I think this is essentially what windows does, but I haven't found a way to do this directly through linux without going into the bios.

SamburgerHandwich

@johnsmith1234: Uhm, yep, I just found out about scheduler too and I'd also appreciate a how-to article! :-)

LiC

@amrich: Hmmm. Not certain about why WakeUpOnStandBy would universally affect logging in, but then again, I am not using it at all. Like others, I used Windows Task Scheduler as that gives me the opportunity to repeatedly wake up my computer ever 2 hours when I am not home. This allows me to use Outlook with Verizon's Wireless Sync & my Treo (periodically checking email w/ MS Exchange like functionality and excellent Spam Filtering w/ Mail Frontier Desktop). WakeUpOnStandBy didn't seem to do repeated wake ups without creating individual rules - I may be wrong though.

mados123

@QuadMaster: Seriously I already use Scheduled Tasks in XP to turn my laptop into an alarm clock.

You are slipping lifehacker, this POS isn't even worth posting at all, it offers practically no additional options worth junking up your pc with useless bloat.

And since its windows only, every single target customer already got it built into their OS to begin with.

-10 Cookie points for you.

TheLostVikings

Hmm.. any suggestions on how to wake up a computer remotely? (a mac)? I like to keep my computer asleep to save power.. but when my xbmc or work computer needs something, I'd like it to wake up.. suggestions?

lencurrie