A. Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2) include the Powercfg utility, which lets you set the power configuration options from the command line (which, in turn, you could call from a script). The Microsoft article "How to use Powercfg.exe in Windows Server 2003" offers indepth information about the utility, but its basic usage is as follows:
To view the current power settings, use the /query switch, as the following example and output show:
powercfg /query Field Description Value ----------------- ----- Name Always On Numerical ID 3 Turn off monitor (AC) After 20 mins Turn off monitor (DC) After 15 mins Turn off hard disks (AC) Never Turn off hard disks (DC) After 30 mins System standby (AC) Never System standby (DC) Never System hibernates (AC) Never System hibernates (DC) Never Processor Throttle (AC) Not Supported Processor Throttle (DC) Not Supported
You can also query the settings for a specific scheme (place the scheme in quotes if it contains spaces), as this sample command and output show:
powercfg /query "Home/Office Desk" Field Description Value ----------------- ----- Name Home/Office Desk Numerical ID 0 Turn off monitor (AC) After 20 mins Turn off monitor (DC) After 5 mins Turn off hard disks (AC) Never Turn off hard disks (DC) After 10 mins System standby (AC) Never System standby (DC) After 5 mins System hibernates (AC) Never System hibernates (DC) After 20 mins Processor Throttle (AC) Not Supported Processor Throttle (DC) Not Supported
You can modify individual settings or change the entire scheme by using the /setactive switch, as this example shows:
powercfg /setactive "Always On"