How to keep Windows 7 from sleeping while scanning the PC

Question

So, I've been using Microsoft Security Essentials lately. And it usually takes a couple hours or more for it to full scan my hard drive. Because of that, I commonly leave it scanning while I go do something else. Problem is: 10 minutes later, windows 7 goes to sleep, and the scan is (obviously) paused. That's What I'd like to stop happening.

So far, the only way I've been able to avoid it was to create a power plan, and switch to it while away, to keep the PC from sleeping. Problem is that I have to keep switching power plans and I'd like the PC to be able to go to sleep in case MSE finishes scanning and I'm still not back.

Maybe I'm just asking for too much, but I've been surprised by the users here plenty of times already. So let me know if you know how to keep the PC from sleeping while MSE is scanning.

Thanks

score 3 · Answer 1 · answered Dec 16 '09 at 13:37

3

Insomnia is a free tool that prevent a machine from going to sleep

answered Dec 16 '09 at 13:37

fluxtendu

7,219

score 2 · Accepted Answer · edited Aug 31 '13 at 04:30

The perfect solution would be if MSE could run some custom commands when it starts and some others after it finish, like it’s explained here for O&O.

But something tells me that it isn’t near that smart, so you might be able to make it smart by using the EventGhost’s Task Create/Switch Events plugin and combine the knowledge of powercfg command from previous post you could make it work.

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Dec 16 '09 at 02:18

have you tried keeping the scanning window maximized and not minimized/resized if not already?

I noticed that when watching movies not in fuill screen, it goes to sleep but if i go fullscreen, does not go to sleep. Funny thing is when the movie ends, it goes to sleep right away...

seems dumb suggestion, but perhaps it works the same way?

score 0 · Answer 4 · edited Feb 02 '13 at 21:36

0

I noticed that when µTorrent is running, Windows never goes to sleep.

So whenever I scan my PC, I simply open µTorrent.

edited Feb 02 '13 at 21:36

slhck

235,242

answered Feb 02 '13 at 20:36

mid

1

score 0 · Answer 5 · answered Aug 31 '13 at 03:45

0

you have to use the windows task scheduler to wake the computer to do a scan. http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/protect/forum/mse-protect_start/running-mse-full-scan-as-a-scheduled-task/f627f5ce-0b74-4b1d-be64-d6ceeb4d9b02

answered Aug 31 '13 at 03:45

Krista

1

score 0 · Answer 6 · edited Sep 29 '11 at 04:10

0

Just a thought, but perhaps setting the priority higher through task manager (or other means) would help.

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edited Sep 29 '11 at 04:10

Gareth

19,080

answered Dec 16 '09 at 03:48

outsideblasts

6,475

How to keep Windows 7 from sleeping while scanning the PC

6 Answers6