How to prevent Windows to enter into idle state?

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4.00/5 (1 vote)

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Hello,

I am working on a C# application which runs in the background without any windows control.
I want to notify Windows that my application is still alive and prevents the Windows to enters into the idle state.

Is there any APIs available to call from my application which notify Windows OS that my application is still alive?

Thanks in advance.

Posted 9-Jun-11 19:03pm

Sandeep _Sisodiya

Updated 9-Jun-11 19:07pm

v2

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Comments

Dave Kreskowiak 10-Jun-11 17:46pm

You cannot prevent Windows from entering an Idle state. Windows spends a ton of time idle. If you tried to prevent this, your app would hog the CPUs and slow the system down to a crawl.

Are you trying to prevent Windows from going to Sleep?

3 solutions

Solution 3

You never need it. For application without UI and console the idle state is not applicable. Your application will run normally until finished if written correctly.

If you have any problem with that, ask a question about it. Don't blame Windows for suspending your application — it cannot be the case.

—SA

Posted 10-Jun-11 8:50am

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov

Comments

[no name] 10-Jun-11 16:23pm

I agree. Have a 5.

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 11-Jun-11 20:21pm

Thank you, Collin.
--SA

[no name] 11-Jun-11 16:21pm

SAKryukov's answer is short and correct, my 5. There is no need to do something like this!

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 11-Jun-11 20:21pm

Thank you.
--SA

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Prerak Patel · Accepted Answer · 2011-06-09T19:12:00

Solution 1

Try this
http://willhaley.com/node/9[^]

Posted 9-Jun-11 19:12pm

Prerak Patel

Comments

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 10-Jun-11 14:51pm

Incorrect. Please see my answer. (I did not vote.)
--SA

Wayne Gaylard · Accepted Answer · 2011-06-09T21:48:00

Solution 2

Your best bet would be to create your app as a Windows Service, rather than an application. The alternative is to use the Win32 API SetThreadExecutionState which would require P/Invokes and such like.

Hope this helps

Posted 9-Jun-11 21:48pm

Wayne Gaylard

Comments

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 10-Jun-11 14:52pm

I disagree. There is no need in that. Windows Service is completely redundant (but might be useful by different reasons). Please see my answer. (I did not vote.)
--SA