Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Software Forum => Topic started by: gonzo90017 on March 01, 2006, 06:36:36 pm

Title: Is it safe to just turn off the computer?
Post by: gonzo90017 on March 01, 2006, 06:36:36 pm

I'm about to build a bartop and would like to turn everything off at the same time so I was wondering if it's safe to just cut the power. Keep in mind a keyboard won't be an option and this will be a gaming only cabinet.  It won't be used for anything else. And remember I would like to turn off everything at the same time, monitor, marquee, speakers, and pc.

Title: Re: Is it safe to just turn off the computer?
Post by: dax on March 01, 2006, 08:40:32 pm

Under DOS, I don't see a problem with this.  Under Windows, yes.

Title: Re: Is it safe to just turn off the computer?
Post by: Necro on March 01, 2006, 09:16:40 pm

Not a chance.  It may work fine for awhile, but eventually somethings going to screw up.  That and your going to have a ton of temp files build up that aren't cleaned out correctly.

Best bet would be have a button setup that just shuts down windows and have everything else...uhm...wired to a switch that cuts power to everything else.

Yeah...thats it. :P

Title: Re: Is it safe to just turn off the computer?
Post by: gonzo90017 on March 01, 2006, 09:35:07 pm

Thanks guys ;D I'm planning on using windows so oh well. I know Mamewah is able to shut down on exit but what about Game Launcher?

Title: Re: Is it safe to just turn off the computer?
Post by: Kayser on March 03, 2006, 12:34:42 am

I was wondering if you can program your computer to shutdown by pressing 2 keystrokes at the same time.
i know you can set up your computer to shutdown by pressing CTRL+ALT+any key,but what i want is just 2 keystrokes.
Thanks

Title: Re: Is it safe to just turn off the computer?
Post by: mccoy178 on March 03, 2006, 12:42:10 am

Well, you can extend your computer power button to a plain microswitch button somewhere on the back of the cabinet and that would safely shut the computer down.  Having the PC tied into a smartstrip power strip, that would shut everything else off and turn everything on.  I have a Happs triangle button mounted on the front of my current cabinet that does just that.  Here is a picture of the button.  It worked out perfectly:

(http://www.ohiostate.photosite.com/~photos/tn/614_348.ts1124433030000.jpg)

Here is a pic of the smartstrip:

(http://www.ohiostate.photosite.com/~photos/tn/621_348.ts1124696000000.jpg)

Title: Re: Is it safe to just turn off the computer?
Post by: gonzo90017 on March 03, 2006, 01:23:42 am

So as soon as I turned my computer off smartstrip would take care of shutting everything else off automatically?

Title: Re: Is it safe to just turn off the computer?
Post by: mccoy178 on March 03, 2006, 01:46:34 am

Yes, it is God's gift to our hobby.  It glows when it arrives.  The doorbell rings and no one is there, just this wonderful invention sitting on the porch hovering.

Title: Re: Is it safe to just turn off the computer?
Post by: brophog on March 03, 2006, 02:39:14 am

The mini power minder is great too. It's about 15 bucks and does the same thing. I use it and Mamewah.

The motherboard is set to start up by the keyboard. So, I can hit any arcade control to start the arcade, and use the shutdown option in mamewah to power everything down.

Couldnt be easier or more convenient.