Set Your PC To Auto-Shutdown Or Run A Certain Program When It Is Idle

We have covered applications like AllOff, DownOff and ProcOff that are designed to monitor different aspects of running processes such as file downloads, CPU priority etc., and automatically perform certain actions when user-specified conditions are met. For example, if you’re downloading a file and you want your system to automatically power off once the download completes, you can simply use DownOff for the purpose. Similarly, ProcOff essentially monitors system processes and can be used to turn off your PC when a process stops executing. Today, we have another such desktop app for Windows labeled Watch 4 Idle. Well, you might have already guessed half of what the application really does by its name - monitor your system's idle time and take actions based on it. It’s a feature-laden app that can execute a horde of different actions like shutdown, restart or log off, or run a program when your system has been idle for a defined interval of time. Details to follow after the jump. Read More

ProcOff Triggers PC Shutdown On Inactivity Of Specific Processes

ProcOff is a process monitoring application for Windows that lets you automatically power off your computer when there is no activity in the specified processes. The tool is developed by JSutils - the makers of other similar tools that we have covered in the past, including AllOff and DownOff. ProcOff can monitor up to three processes at the same time, and auto initiates PC shutdown, restart, log off or hibernate process when there is no activity by the processes in a given amount of time. Although it’s very lightweight and comprises of a simple interface, there are wide array of configuration options that you can set according to your preferences, including delay time for auto-activation of monitoring, delay interval between idle activity of processes and the power off process, and an option to cancel shutdown activation manually. Read More

Shutter Allows Local & Remote PC Automation With Event-Based Tasks

Automating your everyday computer tasks can offer a lot of convenience by taking some burden off your shoulders. You don’t have to be around your PC all the time to execute certain computer tasks such as having it turned off after a specified amount of time, or trigger auto-restart upon a stable overclocking stress test. Most of the tools that come equipped with such scheduling primarily offer shutdown or restart-related options. Shutter is a small app for Windows that goes beyond that, by allowing you to specify certain computer events and then have custom actions triggered accordingly when those conditions are met. For instance, you can choose to turn the monitor off when a particular window is closed or CPU usage decreases to a certain limit, or you may simply set a wake up alarm - the possibilities are numerous. Read More

Bedtime Help Ensures Your Kids Are Off Their PCs When Its Time To Sleep

One thing is very common among most internet users, once you start browsing through different websites, time seems to fly. You keep browsing the social media and different entertainment websites and there’s always more material available to go through. One of the most time consuming websites, speaking from personal experience, is YouTube. You can click link after link from that Recommended Videos section and there will always be more interesting videos than you can watch. This can be a good cure for boredom, but can greatly hamper productivity when you are trying to work. It can affect your performance in multiple ways; waste your time when you are trying to work, or keep you up late at night, resulting in lack of sleep. Kids, who have their own computers, tend to stay up till the better part of the night. Today, we have an application that is developed to counter exactly that and allows users to force a system lock at a specified time. Bedtime Help allows you to set reminders for bedtime, and if reminders are ignored, it automatically takes system power actions such as Shutdown, Log off etc. Read More

Automate System Shutdown Parameters For Efficient Power Management

In our quest to reduce power consumption, small but consistent acts may lead to a notable difference. Quite often your system sits idle resulting in nothing but power consumption. It is in such situations that some degree of automation might make the difference. With SleepWalker Shutdown Timer, you can create and configure automated actions like shutdown, restart, hibernate, log off user, turn off monitor, run a file or a screensaver at custom-specified intervals. Moreover, the Idle Shutdown feature allows you to shut the system after a specific idle threshold. Functions like Hotkeys, Password Protection, Log Events and Notifications & Alerts are useful enhancements in resource optimization. You can also benefit from the option to forcibly shutdown or restart to instantly resolve deadlocks. Read More

Shutdown Scheduler Automatically Turns PC Off When An Application Closes Or Stops Playing Audio

Nowadays, energy conservation is a big concern, not just because of hefty costs, but also due to the shortage of energy across the globe. Unnecessarily keeping the computer running for long periods wastes a lot of energy, and is one thing that can be avoided with due diligence. However, there are situations where you cannot turn the computer off even when you are not around. For instance, if you are downloading a large file that does not support resuming, you cannot turn the computer off during the download. You can wait for the download to finish and come back to your PC to turn it off, but what if you know that you will not be able to turn the PC off once the download is finished. If you have to go to work or sleep, you cannot wait for the task at hand to get completed. Using the Power Options, Windows allows users to turn their computer off when it's left in idle state for a specified time, but it only detects the lack of mouse and keyboard actions and doesn’t take into account any important applications running on the PC. So, what can you do in that situation? You can use Shutdown Scheduler, an automatic shutdown application that triggers computer shutdown based on various scenarios, such as completion of countdown time, at a specified time, when computer is idle for some time, when a certain application is closed etc. Read More

shutDownAgent Waits For Processes Before Shutting Down/Restarting PC

There are situations where we have to keep our PC on for a long time, and we know that we won't be there in time to turn it off once the process completes. For instance, if you are waiting for a big download to complete, a lengthy Windows process like defragmentation to finish, or an antivirus scan to be over, you prefer not wasting your time in front of the PC doing nothing. However, in order to avoid stacking up those electricity bills, it is necessary to not leave your computer on unnecessarily. This is where automatic shutdown applications come in. Previously, we have covered a number of software of the sort, such as Chameleon Shutdown, a tool that allows users to ShutdownRestart, Sleep, Hibernate, Lock and Log off their PC at once, and with specified parameters, and AllOff, an application that monitors the idle state and turns off your PC. shutDownAgent is a portable application for Windows that allows you to automatically shut down your PC according to different customizable options, including waiting for processes to finish before initiating the shutdown sequence. Keep reading to find out more abut shutDownAgent. Read More

Sleep Timer: Automatic Shutdown With Countdown, Inactivity & Time Modes

A lot of times, we have to leave our computer turned on overnight for a download or a file transfer that's taking ages to finish. You can let your computer run if you are sure to be around it when the download or process completes, but a lot of times, we have to go out with friends, go to sleep or leave for shopping and are unable to wait, or be there, when the download, file transfer, scan, defragmentation or any other time consuming process gets completed. Unnecessarily keeping the PC on for long periods not only wastes a lot of energy, but its also adds up to your energy bill. To cope with this nuisance, automatic shutdown applications are a great way to avoid keeping your PC on when its not needed. A lot of auto shutdown tools come with self triggering timers, which when triggered, perform the defined tasks (shutdown or restart in our case). Just a few days back, we covered DShutdown, a tool that allows you to turn off both local and remotely connected computers. However, if you are looking for a simple and more importantly, a portable tool that can shut down, restart or put your PC in hibernate mode at the required time, try Sleep Timer. More details jump past the fold. Read More

DShutdown: All-in-One Automatic Shutdown Tool With Remote Access

There are times when we have to leave our computer on for a download or file transfer to finish. You can easily do this if you are sure to be around your computer when the process completes and shutdown your computer, but a lot of times, we have to go out or go to sleep and are unable to wait or be there when the download, transfer, scan or defragmentation completes. Unnecessarily keeping your PC on for long periods wastes a lot of energy and it adds up to your energy bill. According to a recent study, a lot of us keep our PC's on for no apparent reasons, and if shut down, can save a lot US total power consumption every year. Automatic shutdown applications are a great way to avoid keeping your PC on when its not needed. Previously, we have covered automatic shutdown utilities, such as AllOff Lite and DownOff, that let you shutdown your PC when certain conditions are met, but the usefulness of these applications is situation-specific. If you want a portable automatic shutdown tool that allows you to perform shutdown function on local, as well as remote computers, try DShutdown. Read on to find out more about the features provided by DShutdown. Read More

AllOff: Auto Shutdown PC When Idle For A Specified Time

Usually we leave our PCs ON twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. Albeit computers are designed to stay always on, with the growing prices of electricity and energy crisis, they can give a serious blow to our wallet. To counter this problem, automatic shutdown applications are a great way to save up on your hefty energy bills. You can set particular shutdown timers so the computer shouldn't remain up long when you're at work, school or vacations - or when a particular task has been completed. Previously, we covered DownOff that initiates automatic shutdown if the download rate drops and stays below a pre-specified limit for a predefined time. A great tool indeed, backed by an innovative idea. But what if you have to leave your PC on for something other than a download? Maybe hard disk defragmentation? Maybe a virus or malware scan? Maybe a game or application installation? For this you'd probably need an alternative solution, and one such solution we have for you is called AllOff Lite. It is a Windows activity monitor and automatic shutdown utility that monitors the idle state and turns off your PC. For instance, if there is no mouse, keyboard or CPU activity for a specified number of seconds. The application initiates automatic shutdown if the keyboard or mouse remain inactive for 900 seconds, or the average CPU load remains below 15%. Read More

DownOff: Auto Shutdown PC When Download Rate Drops Below Defined Speed

There must have been a lot of times when you had to keep your PC On overnight for a download to finish. The problem is, the PC stays On even when the download is finished. This not only wastes a lot of energy but also adds up to your electricity bill. DownOff is an application which automatically shutdowns your PC when the download rate reaches a minimum level set by the user. It can be used to manage large file downloads and large file transfers on a network when the PC is left unattended by the user. Read More

TaskmgrPro Shutdown Scheduler Integrates With Windows Task Manager To Schedule System Shutdown

TaskmgrPro Shutdown Scheduler is an application which integrates with Windows Task Manager to let users schedule Windows shutdown and other related functions such as Restart, Hibernate, Windows Logoff, Lock, and Monitor Off/On. You can set a timer to trigger the specified functions and let it forcibly close all the running application after the countdown ends. Read More

MF Shutdown Manager: Schedule System Shutdown, Restart, Hibernate & Perform Other Related Tasks

Scheduling system shutdown and other system functions comes in handy especially when you’re downloading or installing a big package which doesn’t require much attention but a lot of time. In such situations, MF Shutdown Manager may lend a helping hand to schedule system shutdown, locking workstation, system restart, hibernate, toggle monitor off/on and lot more. It lets user set a timer to trigger the specified task and offers numerous other useful features such as; system cleanup, monitor power saving, etc. Read More

How To Stop Windows 7 From Automatic Reboot And Shutdown

How many times have you seen a driver, system update, or an application restarting or shutting down your computer after installation without even asking for your permission? Automatic restart or shutdown has always annoyed me since the day I started learning to use Windows(that was almost a decade back). Read More