Set Global Power Settings on Multi User XP Machine

[Carol W.]

I am responsible for an XP (SP3) machine on which there are multiple user accounts. A few are administrator accounts, a few are limited and Guest is turned on.

What I would like to do, if possible, is set the power scheme to be the same for all user accounts, including Guest. I would like it to be Home/Office Desk, with the options, per the attached screenshot.

power options.jpg

Currently, these are the settings for several accounts but for others the scheme is set to Portable/Laptop and the hard drive turns off after a certain number of minutes. Users forget to logoff and if the machine is logged into one of the "Portable/Laptop" scheme user accounts, the hard drive sometimes turns off. It then needs manual intervention to "wake things up". The problem is that the machine is partially unattended, especially on weekends.

Can I set some kind of group policy to set the power scheme globally? If so, how do I do this? To complicate matters, I don't know all the user account passwords.

Thanks, in advance.

[Leif]

Do either of these links help?

Powercfg Command-Line Options

Power Policy Settings (Windows)

[Carol W.]

Thanks for the reply. I've never done a group policy so I think I'll need a little more guidance.

From one of the links you provided, I found this page.

Do I need to write code or can this be done with the Group Policy Editor? If so, how?

Sorry but I'm a novice at this particular task.

[HansV]

I don't have any experience with this, but perhaps the following will help:

Configure a Power Options Item (Windows XP)
How to use Powercfg.exe to create a Group Policy object for power schemes in Windows XP
Managing Power with Group Policy: Part 1 of 3

[Carol W.]

Hans,

I'm afraid I'm lost, either that or I don't have sufficient administrative privileges to do what I want to do.

I tried following the instructions in this page. See screenshot of Group Policy tree.

group policy.jpg

When I right click a node (e.g. Control Panel), I don't get an "Edit" option. All I get is View, Export List and Help. I'm thinking I don't have sufficient rights. I'm logged into an admin account but not the built-in Admin account.

Could that be the problem? Am I in the correct program?

As I said, I'm lost.

[HansV]

I hope that someone who knows about this stuff will reply; I'm afraid I can't help you with this.

[StuartR]

This screenshot is from Windows XP Professional, I don't know if XP Home works the same.

• I used Start > Run > gpedit.msc to run the group policy editor
• I navigated to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Power Management
• I double clicked "Select an Active Power Plan"
• I selected the Enabled check-box and this then allowed me to pick an option from the Active Power Plan dropdown

PowerPlan.png

[jaystarter]

[quote="StuartR"]This screenshot is from Windows XP Professional, I don't know if XP Home works the same.

• I used Start > Run > gpedit.msc to run the group policy editor
• I navigated to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Power Management
• I double clicked "Select an Active Power Plan"
• I selected the Enabled check-box and this then allowed me to pick an option from the Active Power Plan dropdown

Dont think group policy editor is an option in XP home. Ive just tried the command and get a no go

[Carol W.]

Stuart,

Thanks for the reply.

I see two problems with my system as compared to yours:

• 1 - I don't have nearly all the branches under System that you have. See attached screenshot.
  gpolicy screenshot.jpg
  2 - My Title bar says "Group Policy". Yours says "Local Group Policy Editor".

This is an XP Professional machine. See attached screenshot.

xp professional sp3.jpg

Any idea what's going on?

[HansV]

Jeff, you're correct, the group policy editor is only available in Windows XP Professional, not in Windows XP Home.

[StuartR]

...Any idea what's going on?

Yes, I forgot that this particular laptop had been updated to Windows Vista!

If you look at my earlier screenshot you will see...

VistaRequired.png

Sorry about that.

I have looked on a Windows XP PC and I cannot see any easy way to do the same thing.

[Carol W.]

Ah yes, the "fine print".

Well, at least I'm not losing my mind (today, anyway).

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly.

[wasbit]

I've hung back from making any suggestions thinking that better men than I may step into the breech, however ...

Can the changes not be made in each account - a somewhat longwinded option?

Log into the any user account with Administator priviledges.
Go to Control Panel/User Accounts (standard view) or Control Panel/User Accounts & Family Safety (Category view) & upgrade each of the other accounts to Administrator.
Log out of the main acount & then into each of the other accounts & make the neccessary changes.
Log back in to the main account & change the other accounts back to limited priviledges.

FYI
the built in XP Home Administrator Account is only available in Safe Mode - reboot & hit F8 like a demented woodpecker :-)
Guest accounts are on by default in XP Home but off by default in XP Pro.

Hope that helps

Regards
wasbit

[Carol W.]

wasbit,

Thanks for your reply.

I had thought of implementing a similar solution. However, as I said in my initial post

To complicate matters, I don't know all the user account passwords.

I may end up contacting the users whose passwords I don't know, getting their passwords (They would give them to me if I ask) and then implementing the solution you suggested. I've already changed the power options in the accounts whose passwords I do know.

Thanks again.

[wasbit]

Carol

sorry I missed the bit about you not having the account passwords.

My advice was complete baloney anyway. I couldn't see the wood for the trees.

AFAICS, Administrator priviledges are not required for the changes that you want to make. It's purely a case of obtaining access to each account.

Regards
wasbit