Timer: Automatic start after booting the computer
Preface
- Timer is a DOS command program designed to run in a DOS box under Windows.
- For a detailed description of Timer in English language please have a look into the "Handbook Timer EN" included in the ZIP-File. (You will find a German description in "Handbuch Timer DE".)
- ATTENTION PLEASE: As the BIOS-hardware is involved: The installation is not as easy as usual in Windows. Please read the chapter "Installation" in the "Timer Handbook EN" contained in the Zip-file.
- I would be glad to hear from you in the case of problems with the installation or when running Timer (as well as from successful installations). If you have a new application with Timer please let me know too.
- If you need support with the user-defined CMD-file mentioned below please contact me. But as I don't earn my money with Timer I cannot support everyone. Please try.
Timer: Setting the computer's next starting time
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Introduction
The program "Timer - die Zeitschaltuhr" starts the computer with the internal BIOS clock from the shut down state (with mains activated).
This means: You select the next start time for the computer, let's say today at 19:30. You start Timer in a DOS-box with "Timer 19:30". Timer shuts down the computer.
Instead of 100 W when running your computer needs may only consume 5 W in the stand by mode. (Let's see what the new power supplies do starting at 2010.) The BIOS then restarts the computer some minutes before 19:30 and Windows is loaded and running at the desired time.
The time needed for boot and start-up of window is measured and considered. Windows and a user-program are ready for doing their job when the preselected start time is reached (e.g. a media-center program for recording of a transmission).
As a special feature Timer supports the program lists of DVBViewer 3.8 and later (a TV recording program).
Programming language: Please don't laugh: It is the good old DOS Batch command language (CMD-files) with few Autohotkey scripts (guaranteed no virusses in it - I wrote them myself) and some external programs (except one: Sysinternals).
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How Timer works
Timer computes the time difference between system time and the next start up of Windows. The BIOS is set to a fixed start-up time like 31. of the month at 23:59:59 (except from the month on the newest computers - more parameters cannot be set in the BIOS).
Timer changes the Windows system time to the start time in BIOS minus the computed time difference. So the BIOS will start up the computer in (difference) hours after shut down at the correct time of day.
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Timer's Functions
- Auto restart by the BIOS of the computer from shutdown state
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Starting time can be manually set by the command (DOS-box) "Timer
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What do I have to do when using Timer ?
Actions done automatically by Timer without user interaction are set in brackets (...) .
Remark: All actions listed below as done by the user manually can be done by Timer too. So it is possible to have an automated sequence of actions without intervention of a user.
- Your Program supplies a list of start/stop times
- Timer is started (without "/STARTUP": Timer at once reads the starting times)
- A user written CMD file supplies pairs of date/time
- OR: timer reads the date/time pairs from a file
- OR: the files containing the programmed transmission of DVBViewer is read
- ( Timer processes the date/time pairs )
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( Timer shuts down the computer (do not switch off the mains) )
- ( The BIOS restarts the computer )
- ( Auto logon in the correct user account )
- ( Timer is started by an entry in the StartUp dir with "Timer /STARTUP" )
- ( Timer corrects the system date and time )
- ( Timer starts the user program (e.g. DVBViewer) )
- ( The user program does it's work )
- ( The user program supplies the new starting times and finally finishes )
- ( Timer recognizes that the user program finished and reads the next starting times )
- ( Timer processes the date/time pairs )
- ( Timer shuts down the computer )
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