Standby - is there a way to stop this?

zonk84 · 12-16-2004, 02:07 PM

My bet is that the answer is no -

...but maybe someone has an answer for me.

Running Windows XP (not that it should matter, but on a Pentium4, 512 mb).

I'm a solo simmer, and quite often -- especially early in a league, I'll autosim for extended periods.

I have my pc settings adjusted to never go on standby, never turn off the monitor, never auto-log-off --- basically, don't do <i>anything</i> unless I explicitly tell it to do so.

However -- I STILL have issues where I'll be watching the games sim by (or usually -- off doing something else) and the screen saver will come up, and the pc switch to (I'm assuming) standby mode.

The weird thing is -- it only happens when running OOTP. Having nothing open -- or any other program I've tried -- no issues.... Even MSIE - it'll keep the screen open and stay in "active" mode overnight (I checked once).

This causes me tons of headaches -- probably my single biggest complaint with OOTP.... When I log back in, the game won't "re-paint" the screen and I basically have to use task manager to shut down. I've learned to "recognize" the various pc usage patterns that different stages of the game gobble so I don't corrupt leagues as much as I used to, but it still occasionally happens where I'll lose a whole league via corruption because I ended OOTP at the wrong time, or more often, lose portions of a season because an open dialogue box I can't answer (due to not being able to see the interface) causes weeks or months not to be saved when I have to kill the program.

Anyone know of a solution? I'm getting really tired of making sure I jiggle the mouse every 10 minutes -- and after 4 years, figured I've done enough due diligence myself to see if someone has a better answer

jnshmoo · 12-16-2004, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zonk84

Anyone know of a solution? I'm getting really tired of making sure I jiggle the mouse every 10 minutes -- and after 4 years, figured I've done enough due diligence myself to see if someone has a better answer

*roffle*

I've heard it called lots of things, but never heard it called "jiggle the mouse"!

zonk84 · 12-16-2004, 02:21 PM

;-)

I also thought of "twitch", "flick", and "pop" before settling on "jiggle".

I should also add -- I've also tried just having an MSIE window open, etc -- but to no avail.... If OOTP is running, whether foreground or background, off to standby we go!

jnshmoo · 12-16-2004, 02:34 PM

Seriously, I've never had the problem that you are having, with OOTP. I do, however, experience the same thing with one of my media players. I can't remember which one, but I'll watch a DVD and every 10 minutes or so the screen will black out on me. Odd.

endgame · 12-16-2004, 03:05 PM

Had that problem with one station PC at the workplace - not running OOTP of course, but other applications that needed to keep running - and the issue was resolved once the screen saver was disabled. It may not have ANYthing to do with your situation, but it was close enough to bear mentioning. Jiggle the mouse. I'm gonna use that one again and again.

sporr · 12-16-2004, 04:00 PM

Yeah, I would turn off the screensaver altogether. I haven't used one in years.

Anachronism · 12-16-2004, 08:05 PM

My father has the exact same problem with OOTP5 and XP on his machine. If he leaves a game to answer the phone or have dinner and he returns to the screen saver his screen is frozen. It got to the point where he would refuse all phone calls and interruptions when playing his games.

I'm not sure if OOTP6 does the same...and since you didn't mention it I suspect you are using OOTP5?

Sporr's answer is the one I gave my dad... turn off the screen saver before starting games, and then reenable it afterwards.

eriqjaffe · 12-17-2004, 09:34 AM

I know that OOTP6 will freeze up if you "lock" the workstation. I presume it does the same thing when the screensaver comes up, since the screensaver locks the workstation as well.

Unfortunately, disabling the screensaver isn't always possible for people who are using OOTP in a work environment. My company, in fact, enforces password-protected screen savers that go on automatically after 10 minutes of inactivity....

remington · 12-17-2004, 11:26 AM

One would hope if you were simming away a season at work that you were sitting at the computer and using it while it happened anyways....hence your screen saver shouldn't be kicking on....

Of course, maybe that is just me thinking people who sim OOTP on a work machine actually do work.

12-16-2004, 02:07 PM	#1
zonk84 Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 263	Standby - is there a way to stop this? My bet is that the answer is no - ...but maybe someone has an answer for me. Running Windows XP (not that it should matter, but on a Pentium4, 512 mb). I'm a solo simmer, and quite often -- especially early in a league, I'll autosim for extended periods. I have my pc settings adjusted to never go on standby, never turn off the monitor, never auto-log-off --- basically, don't do <i>anything</i> unless I explicitly tell it to do so. However -- I STILL have issues where I'll be watching the games sim by (or usually -- off doing something else) and the screen saver will come up, and the pc switch to (I'm assuming) standby mode. The weird thing is -- it only happens when running OOTP. Having nothing open -- or any other program I've tried -- no issues.... Even MSIE - it'll keep the screen open and stay in "active" mode overnight (I checked once). This causes me tons of headaches -- probably my single biggest complaint with OOTP.... When I log back in, the game won't "re-paint" the screen and I basically have to use task manager to shut down. I've learned to "recognize" the various pc usage patterns that different stages of the game gobble so I don't corrupt leagues as much as I used to, but it still occasionally happens where I'll lose a whole league via corruption because I ended OOTP at the wrong time, or more often, lose portions of a season because an open dialogue box I can't answer (due to not being able to see the interface) causes weeks or months not to be saved when I have to kill the program. Anyone know of a solution? I'm getting really tired of making sure I jiggle the mouse every 10 minutes -- and after 4 years, figured I've done enough due diligence myself to see if someone has a better answer

12-16-2004, 02:34 PM	#4
jnshmoo All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Not Here Posts: 1,226	Seriously, I've never had the problem that you are having, with OOTP. I do, however, experience the same thing with one of my media players. I can't remember which one, but I'll watch a DVD and every 10 minutes or so the screen will black out on me. Odd. __________________ Beer Snob and Baseball Sim Geek

12-16-2004, 08:05 PM	#7
Anachronism All Star Reserve Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Great White North Posts: 945	My father has the exact same problem with OOTP5 and XP on his machine. If he leaves a game to answer the phone or have dinner and he returns to the screen saver his screen is frozen. It got to the point where he would refuse all phone calls and interruptions when playing his games. I'm not sure if OOTP6 does the same...and since you didn't mention it I suspect you are using OOTP5? Sporr's answer is the one I gave my dad... turn off the screen saver before starting games, and then reenable it afterwards. __________________ "Ruth did it on Beer and Hotdogs..."

12-17-2004, 09:34 AM	#8
eriqjaffe Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2003 Location: Under The Christmas Fish Posts: 7,731	I know that OOTP6 will freeze up if you "lock" the workstation. I presume it does the same thing when the screensaver comes up, since the screensaver locks the workstation as well. Unfortunately, disabling the screensaver isn't always possible for people who are using OOTP in a work environment. My company, in fact, enforces password-protected screen savers that go on automatically after 10 minutes of inactivity.... __________________

12-17-2004, 11:26 AM	#9
remington Minors (Double A) Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 186	One would hope if you were simming away a season at work that you were sitting at the computer and using it while it happened anyways....hence your screen saver shouldn't be kicking on.... Of course, maybe that is just me thinking people who sim OOTP on a work machine actually do work. __________________ -Chris TWIB - Commish - Cleveland (1884 - present) MCBL - Commish - 50, 55, 59, 65, & 68 World Champion New York Yankees NTBL - Commish - Chicago Cubs (1918 - present)

12-16-2004, 02:21 PM	#3
zonk84 Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 263	;-) I also thought of "twitch", "flick", and "pop" before settling on "jiggle". I should also add -- I've also tried just having an MSIE window open, etc -- but to no avail.... If OOTP is running, whether foreground or background, off to standby we go!

12-16-2004, 03:05 PM	#5
endgame Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 16,842	Had that problem with one station PC at the workplace - not running OOTP of course, but other applications that needed to keep running - and the issue was resolved once the screen saver was disabled. It may not have ANYthing to do with your situation, but it was close enough to bear mentioning. Jiggle the mouse. I'm gonna use that one again and again.

12-16-2004, 04:00 PM	#6
sporr Global Moderator Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Muscatine, IA Posts: 8,277	Yeah, I would turn off the screensaver altogether. I haven't used one in years.