Windows 7: Power Options Doesn't Recognize Media Center

How do I get Power Options to recognize watching Media Center as an active process and not turn off the monitor?

I have looked thoroughly at all of the Power Options profiles and settings. I can see where to set the quality of video, but nothing about not turning off the monitor while watching video.

I have one Power Options profile set to always on. I have to select Balanced before leaving the computer at night, and change the selection again in the morning to keep the monitor on during the day. I would rather have the computer sleep when I turn Media Center off ...... automatically, and not sleep when Media Center is on.

Here is my profile:






Any way to solve this?

Robert

Check WMP to ensure "Allow screen saver during playback" is unchecked.

mikinho; Thank you very much for your suggestion. It seems I am alone in experiencing this issue. I did check that setting, but I found it in Windows Media Player. It had no effect on Windows Media Center where I use a TV card to watch TV. I looked for a similar setting in WMC but did not find anything. Maybe MS will add that as a future feature?

Robert

I have since moved up to the Retail Windows 7 Home Premium. Had hoped there would be something in the retail release of Windows / Windows Media Center to address this issue. I can't find it.

Question: Why does the Windows built-in program, Media Center (installs with Windows), not communicate to Windows that it is open and running, displaying video, so that Windows knows not to "turn off the monitor" so you can't view the video?

Is there a gadget, and add-on, an app, or script that can keep the monitors on when Media Center is open?

I am having exactly the same issue. I am using media center home edition as well on windows 7. The monitor will not turn into standby. This regardless of whether you switch on in media player that switch.

Another option can be to use a small untility called "monitor off"...It is a powerful utility.
Dekisoft - Monitor Off Utility

Sven

Sven missed the point completely, the others in thread might try this:

Control Panel >> Power Options >> Change plan settings >> Change ADVANCED POWER SETTINGS >> Scroll to bottom of advanced listings to Multimedia Settings >> when sharing media prevent idling to sleep.

This keeps my machine from sleeping so I would hope it also keeps the monitor powered up? It does here anyway.

Thanks for the suggestion Bubby, but no, seems "sharing media" is not the same as watching live TV with Windows Media Center. Monitors still go dark unless I manually set them to not to.

Cheers!
Robert