Customizing Windows 7’s Desktop - power configuration

Navigating the control buttons and customizing the power configuration Below the common folder and feature buttons on the Start menu’s right pane, you’ll find your computer’s Shut Down button. When you click the Shut Down Options button (the arrow to the right of “Shut down”), you have the following options:

Switch user
Switches users so another user can log on

Log off
Logs off the computer and ends your user session

Lock
Locks the computer so that a logon screen is displayed

Restart
Shuts down and then restarts the computer

Sleep
Puts the computer in sleep mode, if possible given the system configuration and state

Hibernate
Puts the computer in hibernate mode, if possible given the system configuration and state


Windows 7 has three power plans, which you can use to automatically manage the way your monitor, hard disks, and computer as a whole enter sleep or hibernation mode. Power plans also control other power settings. The standard power plans are:

Balanced
This plan uses a balanced approach to managing power and is the default.

High Performance
This plan optimizes the computer for performance by allowing it to consume as much power as needed.

Power Saver
This plan optimizes the computer to conserve power by allowing it to more quickly turn off the monitor, hard disks, and computer to conserve power.

Power plans have basic settings and advanced settings. The basic settings control when the display is turned off and when the computer enters sleep mode. On laptops, basic settings also control whether and how much the display is dimmed. The advanced settings control all other power configuration options. You can select a power plan to use with the Power Options utility in the Control Panel. Click Start -> Control Panel. In the Control Panel, click System and Security -> Power Options. Specify the power plan to use by selecting it under the Preferred Plans heading. Click “Change plan settings” to change the basic settings. From the basic settings, click “Change advanced power settings” to change the advanced settings.

You also can use power configuration settings to control the way in which the power button, the sleep button, and the “Password protection on wakeup” feature work. In the default configuration, pressing a computer’s power button initiates a shutdown (pressing and holding the power button on most computers will shut the computer down instantly, which could cause you to lose data). Pressing a portable computer’s sleep button or closing the lid puts it in sleep mode (on most modern computers, this puts the computer into a deep sleep in which it consumes very little power). By default, all power plans use the “Password protection on wakeup” feature to ensure that when your computer wakes up from sleep mode, no one can access your computer without first entering a password to unlock the screen.

You can configure power buttons and “Password protection on wakeup” options by following these steps:

1. Click Start -> Control Panel.

2. In the Control Panel, click the System and Security link -> Power Options.

3. In the left pane, click the “Choose what the power button does” link. This displays the “Define power buttons” page in the Control Panel.

4. Use the “When I press the power button” list to specify whether the computer should shut down, sleep, or hibernate when the power button is pressed. On a laptop, you’ll have separate lists for when your computer is on battery and when your computer is plugged in.

5. Use the “When I press the sleep button” list to specify whether the computer should shut down, sleep, or hibernate when the sleep button is pressed. On a laptop, you’ll have separate lists for when your computer is on battery and when your computer is plugged in.

6. On a laptop, use the “When I close the lid” list to specify the action to perform when you close the lid. You’ll have separate lists for when your computer is on battery and when your computer is plugged in.

7. Use the “Password protection on wakeup” options to specify whether the computer requires a password on wakeup.

8. Click “Save changes.”


Source of Information : OReilly Windows 7 The Definitive Guide