 Power Plan - Specify a Default for All Users
How to Specify a Default Power Plan for All Users in Vista and Windows 7  Information This will show you how to specify a custom or default (Balanced, Power Saver, High Performance) power plan for all users in Windows 7 or Vista so that the power plan and settings cannot be changed.
You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.  Note Making a change in either option below will override any setting made previously in any other option below.
EXAMPLE: When a "Custom" or "Default" Power Plan is Specied for All Users 
OPTION ONE
To Specify a "Default" Power Plan Using a REG File Download
NOTE: If you wanted to specify a custom power plan, then you would need to use either OPTION THREE or OPTION FOUR below instead. 1. To Allow Users to be able to Specify Their Own Power Plan
NOTE: This is the default setting.A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.Allow_Users_to_Specify_their_own_Power_Plan.reg
B) Go to step 5.
2. To Specify All Users to have the Balanced Power PlanA) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.Set_Balanced_Power_Plan_for_All_Users.reg
B) Go to step 5.
3. To Specify All Users to have the Power saver Power PlanA) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.Set_Power-Saver_Power_Plan_for_All_Users.reg
B) Go to step 5.
4. To Specify All Users to have the High performance Power PlanA) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.Set_High-Performance_Power_Plan_for_All_Users.reg
B) Go to step 5.
5. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the desktop.
6. Right click on the downloaded the .reg file and click on Merge.
7. Click on Run, Yes (UAC-Windows 7) or Continue (UAC-Vista), Yes, and OK when prompted.
8. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
OPTION TWO
To Specify a "Default" Power Plan in Group Policy
NOTE: If you wanted to specify a custom power plan, then you would need to use either OPTION THREE or OPTION FOUR below instead. 1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.
2. In the left pane, click on the arrow to expand Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates, System, then click on Power Management. (see screenshot below)
3. In the right pane, double click on Select an Active Power Plan. (see screenshot above)
4. To Allow Users to be able to Specify Their Own Power Plan A) Select (dot) Not Configured or Disabled. (see screenshot below step 8)
NOTE: Not Configured is the default setting.
B) Go to step 8.
5. To Specify All Users to have the Balanced Power PlanA) Select (dot) Enabled, and select Automatic under the Active Power Plan options section. (see screenshot below step 8)
B) Go to step 8.
6. To Specify All Users to have the Power saver Power PlanA) Select (dot) Enabled, and select Power Saver under the Active Power Plan options section. (see screenshot below step 8)
B) Go to step 8.
7. To Specify All Users to have the High performance Power PlanA) Select (dot) Enabled, and select High Performance under the Active Power Plan options section. (see screenshot below step 8)
B) Go to step 8.
8. Click on OK. (see screenshot below)
9. Close the Local Group Policy Editor.
OPTION THREE
To Specify a "Custom" Power Plan in Group Policy
NOTE: If you wanted to specify a default power plan, then using either OPTION ONE or OPTION TWO above instead would be an easier way to do so. 1. Open a command prompt, type powercfg -list, press Enter, and make note of the long GUID number of the custom power plan that you previously created. (see screenshot below)
2. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.
3. In the left pane, click on the arrow to expand Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates, System, then click on Power Management. (see screenshot below)
4. In the right pane, double click on Specify a Custom Active Power Plan. (see screenshot above)
5. To Allow Users to be able to Specify Their Own Power Plan A) Select (dot) Not Configured or Disabled. (see screenshot below step 7)
NOTE: Not Configured is the default setting. You could also use the REG file in step 1 of OPTION ONE above to do this as well.
B) Go to step 7.
6. To Specify All Users to have a Custom Power PlanA) Select (dot) Enabled, and type in the long GUID number (step 1) for the name of the custom power plan that you wanted to specify under the Custom Active Power Plan (GUID) options section. (see screenshot below step 8)
B) Go to step 7.
7. Click on OK. (see screenshot below)
8. Close the command prompt and Local Group Policy Editor.
OPTION FOUR
To Specify a "Custom" Power Plan Manually in Registry Editor
NOTE: If you wanted to specify a default power plan, then using either OPTION ONE or OPTION TWO above instead would be an easier way to do so. 1. Open a command prompt, type powercfg -list, press Enter, and make note of the long GUID number of the custom power plan that you previously created. (see screenshot below)
2. In the Start Menu, type regedit in the search box and press Enter.
3. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes (Windows 7) or Continue (Vista).
4. To Specify All Users to have a Custom Power PlanA) In regedit, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft
B) In the left pane of regedit, right click on the Microsoft key, click on New and Key, type in Power, and press Enter. (see screenshot below step 4A)
NOTE: If you already have the Power key in the left pane, then skip this step and continue to step 4C instead.
C) In the left pane of regedit, right click on the Power key, click on New and Key, type in PowerSettings, and press Enter. (see screenshot below step 4A)
NOTE: If you already have the PowerSettings key in the left pane, then skip this step and continue to step 4D instead.
D) In the right pane of PowerSettings, right click on a empty space, click on New and String Value, type in ActivePowerScheme, and press Enter. (see screenshot below step 4A)
NOTE: If you already have the ActivePowerScheme string value in the right pane, then skip this step and continue to step 4E instead.
E) In the right pane of PowerSettings, right click on ActivePowerScheme, and click on Modify. (see screenshot below step 4A)
F) Type in the long GUID number (step 1) for the name of the custom power plan that you wanted to specify, and click on OK. (see screenshot below)
G) Go to step 6.
5. To Allow Users to be able to Specify Their Own Power Plan
NOTE: This is the default setting. You could also use the REG file in step 1 of OPTION ONE above to do this as well.A) In regedit, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Power\PowerSettings
B) In the right pane of PowerSettings, right click on ActivePowerScheme, and click on Delete. (see screenshot below step 5A)
C) Click on Yes to confirm deletion. (see screenshot below)
D) Go to step 6.
6. Close the command prompt and regedit.
That's it,
Shawn |  Published by | | Administrator Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 37,304 | |
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