how to make idle time before sleep ignore mouse input

[mahaju]

the computer goes to sleep if it stays idle for some time
this internal idle timer gets reset every time there is keypress or mouse movement
how do I make it ignore mouse movement, that is, I don't want the idle timer to reset even if I move the mouse
So if I don't press any key for 30 minutes, I want the computer to go to sleep even if I move the mouse during this time
how do I do it?
thank you

 

[TwoCables]

I don't think this can be done. If it's a USB mouse, then I would just unplug it.

 

[mahaju]

hoe does windows keep track of user input idle time ? is there any way we are allowed to tweak it?

 

[TwoCables]

I'm not sure, and I'm not sure. :/

 

[Kari]

I do not think you can tweak Windows to ignore mouse movements when counting idle time.

If you check Group Policies for Sleep Settings (Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Power Management), you can see what can be done and what not.

Kari

 

[DavidE]

I'm curious, so some dumb questions.
Why are you moving the mouse (to do nothing to keep the PC awake) if you want the PC to sleep automatically?
Would you want the PC to go to Sleep while you are moving the mouse?
If you are moving the mouse intentionally and want the PC to sleep, why not just click "Sleep"?
Are you accidentally moving the mouse while doing something else?

 

[mahaju]

it's a weird requirement but if it was an easy thing to do I wouldn't be asking about it

 

[mahaju]

I do not think you can tweak Windows to ignore mouse movements when counting idle time.

If you check Group Policies for Sleep Settings (Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Power Management), you can see what can be done and what not.

Kari

do you mean power options by that?

 

[TwoCables]

I do not think you can tweak Windows to ignore mouse movements when counting idle time.

If you check Group Policies for Sleep Settings (Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Power Management), you can see what can be done and what not.

Kari

do you mean power options by that?

You have to open the Group Policy Editor. Open the Start Menu, type gpedit.msc, and then press Enter.

Note to readers: this is only available in Windows 7 Professional and above.

 

[mahaju]

I have Windows home premium
I just realized I don't even have access to gpedit

 

[TwoCables]

I have Windows home premium
I just realized I don't even have access to gpedit

Oh. Your postbit says Professional.

So nevermind. You don't have the Group Policy Editor.

 

[mahaju]

and I just checked it in Windows XP
It just has the option to ask for password on resuming from hibernation
and Power management is only present under user configuration and not Computer Configuration

 

[TwoCables]

Is unplugging the mouse an option?

 

[mahaju]

is it possible to do whatever gpedit does directly into the registry (if it has the option I need that is) ?

 

[mahaju]

Is unplugging the mouse an option?

Sorry unplugging the mouse is not an option that's why I'm having to go through all this trouble
Seems Windows doesn't allow this at all
may be I should see if something is available in Linux

 

[TwoCables]

Is unplugging the mouse an option?

that's why I'm having to go through all this trouble

I only asked because sometimes we don't think of these things in situations like this. You'd be surprised how many people would be like, "Oh, of course. Why didn't I think of that?"

 

[mahaju]

It's ok I understand
but it's not an option for me right now sadly

 

[mahaju]

system idle time monitor is probably something designed into the Windows Kernel
So what I want to do probably might not be possible at all without patching windows system files or something

 

[TwoCables]

Can you use Hibernate instead?

I'm not recommending shutting it down because I'm assuming that you want to continue where you left off. However, even having said that, I never use Sleep or Hibernate. When I'm done with the computer, I turn it off.

 

[mahaju]

it doesn't have to be sleep necessarily
it can be turned off as well
The main thing is I want to monitor only the keyboard idle time ignoring the mouse movement
And I don't want to put a shut down timer either from the shutdown command