Set up your computer to save

Use the power management features to put your computer to sleep or standby. Here is a power management set-up guide for Windows and OS X.

Windows operating systems
In all Windows systems you begin by clicking on Start in the bottom left-hand corner, then click on Control Panel

XP and  2000

XP power save setup

  1. Click on Power Options
  2. Set up the following and then click OK:
    - System standby: After 15 min. (equivalent to ‘sleep’)
    - System hibernate: Never
    - Turn off monitor: After 5 min. (or other period that suits you)
    - Turn off hard disks: After 5 min. (or other period that suits you)

If your monitor has a screen saver installed it will not revert to sleep or standby and will therefore always use full power. For this reason, check that the screen saver function is disabled as follows:

  1. Right click on the desktop, and select Properties
  2. Select Screen Saver tab
  3. Set Screen Saver to None

VISTA

Vista power save setup

  1. Click on Start in the bottom left-hand corner, click on Control Panel, then on Power Options
  2. In the Power Options view you should click on Maximum Performance. If you have not set up your preferences then you should click on Change plan settings
  3. If you have not changed the settings, the Change plan settings will be set to Never. Click on each of the 4 pointers to view the options. Configure the settings to suit your requirements, e.g. after 5, 10 or 15 minutes

WINDOWS 7

Windows 7 power save setup

  1. Click on Start in the bottom left-hand corner, click on Control Panel, then on Power Options
  2. In the Power Options view you should click on Power Saver and then on Change plan settings
  3. If you have not changed the settings, the Change setting plan will be set to Never. Click on each of the 6 pointers to view the options. Configure the settings to suit your requirements, e.g. after 5, 10 or 15 minutes

OS X

OS X power save setup

  1. Click on the Apple icon in the top left-hand corner, then click on System Preferences
  2. Under Hardware, click on Energy Saver
  3. Click on Power Supply and optimise the settings to Better Energy Savings. Drag the pointer forwards or backwards to set the time interval for sleep for both the computer and monitor to suit your own particular requirements. If you have a MacBook and want to optimise the battery time, you can use the same window and click the settings for Battery and optimise it to Better Battery Life

Page last updated 23.08.2010