Main > Main Forum

Shut down windows vs just powering off PC

Pages: << < (6/9) > >>

markronz:


--- Quote from: bkenobi on August 25, 2009, 12:27:28 pm ---One other option for you to consider.  If you want to keep your current set up and not add any more buttons or anything to the FE to confuse things, you could opt to add a UPS that can connect to the PC via USB. 

--- End quote ---

This is a great idea!   I think I might do this with my cab just so that I don't have to add an additional power switch, and that way I can continue to use my remote.    So far I've found this USB UPS, currently out of stock on this site, but is available on ebay and other places I am sure:
http://www.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=171837
If anyone knows of any similar cheaper options for USB UPS's please let me know!

Also, all of this information was very helpful because I plan on building another cabinet some day and now I know how to do things correctly next time!

severdhed:

just out of curiosity, what front end are you using?

cat5 (ethernet) would work just fine to extend the pc power switch to a pushbutton located somewhere else on the cabinet...which is what i do and it works great.  I used a $20 craftsman auto switch to control everything in my cabinet..it was easy and cost effective.

as for it showing the windows desktop when you shut down, that can be easily hidden.  there is a great article in the wiki about hiding windows.  you can set your desktop background to either all black, or to match the background from your front end.  either way, nobody would ever know it is a windows PC. (except for maybe the bios screen when it is booting up.

bkenobi:

Most USB's these days have a connection to the PC AFAIK.  I have a few APC units and all but one (the cheapo one of course) has that capability.  The only down side to doing it this way is that you will need to run Powerschute in the background which will take a small amount of resources.  I don't actually use the UPS this way on the arcade, but it should work fine.

markronz:

I use Mala.    I know there are ways to use that to shut down properly, but I am just scared that it won't turn back on once power is restored to the computer. I don't want to have to open up the cab to hit the power button every time.    I might just say screw the remote controlled surge protector and buy the one someone linked earlier.   I don't know.  I'm up in the air about all of this, I will have to think about which method I want to pursue.

Finchbyrd:


--- Quote from: drventure on August 25, 2009, 12:49:31 pm ---Another possibility. I've set up my cab this way (though I'm still waiting to hook up my power ON switch).

Get a copy of POWEROFF
http://users.telenet.be/jbosman/applications.html

Put it on the path somewhere

Set up a bat file to run the command line
Poweroff poweroff -force

The save it as Turnoff.bat somewhere

Create a shortcut to it and configure the shortcut with a hotkey of, oh, say CTRL-F11 or something.

Now, configure your IPAC to generate that keystroke on a shifted button press.

Viola! The machine performs an orderly powerdown (not just an instance poweroff), at the press of a button that's ALREADY on your control panel. No extra buttons, no wires, etc.

Now to turn things on, if possible, set the BIOS of your mobo to "Wake on KBD/Mouse". You'll need the IPAC plugged into the PS2 plug for that to work (at least with the MOBO I've got, an ASUS m3n78-vm, others will likely be a little different.)

You may need to configure WAKE ON USB if the keyboard/encoder is on a USB port.

And if it doesn't work, you may STILL need to run wires for the Poweron switch. Just depends on your mobo at that point.

--- End quote ---
That's a very good idea, I'll look into this and ditch the buttons all together. Does this have a reboot command?

Pages: << < (6/9) > >>

Go to full version