To play multimedia contents, you need an unattended PC running the player software continously, even if a power outage occurs. So it is advisable to use an uninterruptible power supply, possibly able to cleanly shut down the computer if a prolonged outage occurs.
The following instructions are meant for Windows XP but can be easily applied to Windows Vista.
Autologon
It 'important for our purposes to provide an automatic startup skipping the operating system authentication process. This is achieved by maintaining only one administrator account within the user control panel (default configuration).
If an additional user is needed, the operating system will start to ask to select the user account at logon, stopping an unattended startup.
We need to setup an automatic logon using an appropriate software like Tweak UI, a free tool supplied with Microsoft PowerToys for Windows XP.
Download the PowerToys from http://download.microsoft.com/download/whistler/Install/2/WXP/EN-US/CmdHerePowertoySetup.exe, install (you need to be a system administrator) and proceed as follows:
| • | Start TweakUI: Start > All Programs > Powertoys for Windows XP > Tweak UI |
| • | Expand the Logon node and select Autologon |
| • | Check Log on automatically at system startup, click on Set Password. A popup is shown. Type the administrator password and click on OK |
From now on (at least until you don't make changes to the administrator password or you disable the autologon feature) the PC will be able to make a unattended boot.
Other settings
For best results we strongly advice the following settings.
| • | Right click on the desktop and select Properties. |
| • | The Display Properties window opens. Select the Screen saver tab. Disable the screen saver selecting (None) from the drop down list. |
| • | Click on the Power... button at bottom left; the Power Option Properties is shown. In the Power Schemes tab, select Never for the following options: |
- Turn off monitor:
- Turn off hard disks
- System standby
| • | Select the Hibernate tab and check Enable hibernation |
| • | Select the Advanced tab and uncheck Prompt for password when computer resumes from standby |
Click on OK on the Power Option Properties and Display Properties windows.
Power outage
This configuration is not available on every PC. If unavailable the PC will restart automatically in case of power outages. The instructions and screenshots may be slightly different for your BIOS.
To have a system restart after a power outage you can use the options available on latest BIOSes.
To enable a system restart on power loss do the following:
| • | During the POST (Power-On Self Test), hit the Canc button to open the BIOS interface; |
| • | Select the Power menu using the keyboard arrows; |
| • | Within the Power menu, select Restore on AC Power Loss; |
| • | Hitting Enter the available options are shown; |
- Disable: the PC will be left powered off after a power outage
- Enable: the PC will restart itself after a power outage
| • | Select Enable and hit the Enter key |
| • | Using the keyboard arrows, move to the Exit menu and select the Exit & Save Changes option. Hit Enter two times to confirm saving. |
Notice: refer to your main board manual because the BIOS interface can be different.