22nd August 2001
Monitor your monitor. When you can see something on the screen, that may mean it's turned on. Of course, it could also mean that your little brother just wanted to share his peanut butter and jelly sandwich. When you can't see anything on your screen, that may mean it's turned on. No, I didn't make a typo. Sometimes your computer's most essential output device is in a state of suspension. Most newer (SVGA) monitors are smart enough to know when you're not using them after a set period of time. So how can you set that period? Open up the Power applet in your Control Panel. From there, you can choose if and when your screen can be turned off (without having to manually flip a switch). I've been asked if it's okay to leave a monitor in this state. Sure it is, but to save even more power, I'd suggest turning it off overnight (or if you don't plan on using your system a few hours). So, what about the rest of your computer? "Suspend," "Standby," and "Sleep" are terms you may have heard on various occasions. They're all related to power management (and each is associated with a different degree of energy savings). Sometimes, though, you'll discover that your PC doesn't like to take naps. Your system may not work properly after it's awakened or... it may simply refuse to wake up at all. If this is the case, consider turning off system-wide energy saving features (or adjusting the level at which your computer hibernates). This stuff is usually managed through the Power icon in your Control Panel, by the way.