How to make the comp boot itself?

[John Prophet]

I am scheming on a way to make windows backup run unattended. Actually I sort of have that part worked out I think. By using PTFB http://www.bobos.demon.co.uk/par/PTFB.htm

Using the task scheduler I can schedule PTFB to start, then a minute later Backup starts and PTFB presses the button to start backup.

The issue now is...how do I get the comp to boot itself in the middle of the night to run these unattended backups?


Is there any sort of auto boot utility out there?

I suppose one could have a timer turn on the AC power to the comp at a certain time and have the BIOS set to boot after power loss....but that seems cheesy and plus I dont want to tell peeps they have to buy a timer, lol....and also not every BIOS even has that option.



Any ideas or obvious things I am missing?

Thanks, JP

[John Prophet]

Or, an inferior method would be to find a way for the comp to shut itself down at a certain time....say 10 minutes after the backup finishes....that way the people could leave the comp on as they leave work and then it would do the backup and then shutdown.

(leaving the comp on all the time is not an option here)


So how do I make it shutdown by itself?

I know there is a way to make a batch file run to do it? Can anyone post such a file? Preferably one that would shutdown regardless of silly things like prompts stating that users are still connected over the network etc.

Thanks, JP

[daveleau]

John,
The only way that I would know how to do this would be to have the system running or maybe in standby. The system can not boot via software when there is no software loaded in RAM, which needs power. Kind of a cyclical problem. You may be able to utilize the boot from LAN function on the mobo, if your mobo and NIC supports this function. A script could run on a separate system (that would have to be running already) that could send a pulse to the NIC and boot the system.

Other than that, I don't think there is any other way to boot a system without physically hitting the switch.

Dave

[Chiguy]

I think I remember seeing someting in my BIOS to enable booting at a specified time and date. I'll see if I can find something on this.

[John Prophet]

I was wondering if maybe some BIOS's have any such feature.

But yes I mused a little about the whole wake on lan thing but thats getting pretty far out there.

I may have to just settle for them leaving it on and having it auto shutdown..which I think is do-able.

JP

[win2kuser]

Have a look in your BIOS, some have an option to Automatically power up which is normally found in the Power Management Setup page.

As for a scheduled shutdown, what about your screen saver power options, you can set a shutdown after what ever time you stipulate.

If this is no good, the only thing I have used which I know works as a utility called Wizmo from GRC.com

You create a shortcut with the following properties:

<directory>/wizmo.exe shutdown!

This will force a complete system shutdown regardless of prompts for connected users etc.

Hope that helps...

[John Prophet]

yeah, the Dell optiplex I am using at the moment has the BIOS auto power on option for either every day or weekdays only.

But, I am thinking in terms of a universal solution here....and we all know every BIOS aint gonna have this option.

JP

[Chiguy]

I just checked the manual of my old motherboard.

RTC Alarm Resume
Disabled - The system ignores the alarm. Default
Enabled - Set alarm to power on the system by the date (1-31) or time (hh:mm:ss). If the date is set to [0], the system will self-power on by alarm everyday at the set time.

It was the BIOS from a Soyo KT333 Dragon Platnium.

[win2kuser]

Nope, I have had a good think about it, but can't come with anything suitable. You need some way of physically pressing that button.

It looks like you will have to get the user to leave the machine on and schedule the backup after. Then use the Wizmo utility to shutdown when the backup has finished.

If you are using Wizmo in a business environment, check for use as I think it is for personal use only.

Sorry I cant be of any more help.

[Bill in SD, CA]

If this is too "out" there don't yell at me I just woke up and my thought process may be askew.

What about wake on ring?

A "wake" server.

Schedule a wake up call from the server.

Schedule a re-boot script on the host which would then effectively "power" up the computer.

Bill