XP Power Management Settings Domain

bazola · 21 Nov 2010 at 12:00

Hi

Scenario
A 2003 domain with approx 2000 Windows XP SP2 machines. I have been asked to setup a Policy to reduce carbon footprint. By default Windows XP doesnt allow management of power settings via GP so I have introduced a Windows 7 machine onto the domain and removed all GPMC's from all other servers. I am now trying to use the Windows 7 machine to utilise Group Policy preferences to control power management on the XP Machines.

I have installed the two patches required onto the client devices to allow gp processing
Group Policy Extensions & one other.

However I need the power management control to be per machine, as its in a hospital and people move around a lot.

I have tried loopback processing in merge mode set at top level on the domain against
Domain Users & the group of machines that need the policy. However it seems to be applying to all users.

Is there a way of being able to do this, as I am pulling my hair out here. Power Management settings dont seem to apply apart from per user basis!

Thanks
Baz

SiriusB · 21 Nov 2010 at 15:41

A quick search came across this: http://www.windowsitpro.com/article...o-manage-power-options-under-windows-xp-.aspx

You could also just use a computer startup script and change power management settings that way: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=power_mgt.pr_power_mgt_powerconfig

Also, MS doesn't support Windows XP SP2 anymore. I would get your 2000 PCs updated to SP3!

bazola · 21 Nov 2010 at 17:23

Thanks for the reply. The first URL doesnt seem to work however

I need the policy to apply per machine and not per user. It can be deployed via GP using a machine based startup script, but I dont think that will work from what I have read so far.

oddjob62 · 21 Nov 2010 at 17:36

bazola said:
Thanks for the reply. The first URL doesnt seem to work however
I need the policy to apply per machine and not per user. It can be deployed via GP using a machine based startup script, but I dont think that will work from what I have read so far.

Not sure what you are saying... afaik the power management settings ARE a computer policy, not a user policy. The only user policy i can see is "Prompt for password on resume from hibernate/suspend".

For example you can get all PCs in an OU/group to turn their monitor off after 10minutes.

bazola · 21 Nov 2010 at 18:21

Are you using a 2008 / Vista / Windows 7 machine to manage policy on a 2003 domain?

If not I cant see the power management settings on a 2003 domain under computer policies only user policies as you stated regarding prompting for password.

oddjob62 · 21 Nov 2010 at 18:40

bazola said:
Are you using a 2008 / Vista / Windows 7 machine to manage policy on a 2003 domain?

Yes.

Deleted... think i was looking at a different place to you.

oddjob62 · 21 Nov 2010 at 18:54

Actually it's here you're asking about isn't it?

SiriusB · 21 Nov 2010 at 21:04

bazola said:
Thanks for the reply. The first URL doesnt seem to work however
I need the policy to apply per machine and not per user. It can be deployed via GP using a machine based startup script, but I dont think that will work from what I have read so far.

Then just use a computer startup script which I also suggested.