Don't want laptop to power down! (using it as a GPS)

Hello, I run a GPS system on 2 laptops:

Toshiba is a Windows XP

eMachines is a Windows 7

We run both computers in vehicles hooked up to Garmin GPS receivers...using the laptops as GPS Mapping systems

I've gone into the power control systems for both computers and thought I had screen saver and 'power down' settings switched to 'never' shut down, as we want the computers to continously operate.

Sometimes when we're out of the vehicle for 15-20 minutes, then return, the computer has 'powered' itself down anyway, which means the GPS software has to be re-booted. We don't want this to happen!

Is it possible that the touchpads, due to inactivity, are powering down the systems?

I guess the question is, how did I manipulate both XP and ver. 7 operating systems to CONTINOUSLY run computer...with absolutely no powering down (plus no screen saver kicking in) unless we manually do it? Our GPS software needs to continously operate.

THNX in advance!!!

 

how are the lappies powered? From the vehicles?

when you shut off the vehicles, does the vehicle power to the lappies shut off, sending them into battery power?

you might need to set a power scheme that stays on full power for both external and internal (battery power).

 

computers are powered by dc auto charger...even if vehicle is shut off, there is still power to the outlet.

Basically, don't want anything to shut down or go to 'sleep' on these computers...how can we do this???

 

You should be able to set your power opions in the control panel to never shut down. You may also want to disable your screen saver

 

Make sure you set the shutdown / sleep options for the correct power plan and not the ones you aren't using.

 

On Win7 you can create a customized power mode where you can choose not to sleep, hibernate or power down when the lid is closed. I agree about the screen saver being turned off too. You can always turn off the screen display with your key combo if you're going to be away from your laptop. You can also choose to not let the hard drive turn off from inactivity.

 

Obviously, on Windwos XP its also possible to do this.. As a matter of fact its nothing but a clicks away in the control panel.

(Go to control panel and the power options)



Not exactly rocket science -_-

 

It depends on whether his laptops are entering sleep/hibernate or powering down altogether. If its the former, then REB's post is the way to go.

 

have you checked in the bios to make sure there is no powerdown modes in there??

 

what happens once it drained your cars battery?