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Question

Schedule a task to hibernate at a specific time

Aug 30, 2013 1:05AM PDT

When I had Windows 7 I scheduled a task for my laptop to shutdown at 3 a.m. When I would log in the next morning, Chrome would give me the "restore" option so I didn't lose the browser tabs I had been using the night before. Skype would still be logged into, and another program I use nightly, would be logged out, but still on my taskbar.
Now I have Windows 8 and when I used the task scheduler exactly as it had been in Windows 7, everything is gone. I don't get the restore tabs option for Chrome, Skype is completely logged out of, and the other program is shutdown and not in the task bar.
I want to find a way to get it to work as it did in Windows 7. I thought maybe just putting it into hibernation would be the answer, but I can't find clear instructions on how to do this. I tried changing the -s parameter to -h and removing the -f parameter, but this morning when I opened the lid it was as if the computer had just stayed on completely and not gone into hibernation. I've searched Google for a couple days, so I'm hoping someone can give me step-by-step instructions. Thanks in advance!

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Something changed in 8
Aug 30, 2013 1:11AM PDT

I see hibernate has changed. However I have installed Classic Shell, changed Chrome from it's Metro style to that other style and it's working here. The tabs are still there on resume.

However it seems a little borked as I must log on after the resume. My guess is MSFT was being an a*** about this area but I'd be guessing.

Bob

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Didn't answer my question, but thanks anyway
Aug 30, 2013 1:30AM PDT

I already installed the ClassicShell but that still doesn't answer my question, although I appreciate your reply. I am asking for specific step-by-step instructions on how to schedule a task to hibernate my Windows 8 laptop at 3:45 a.m. every morning so that when I open Chrome it asks me if I want to restore my previous tabs, or just leaves my browser tabs open, leave Skype up,....everything the way it was with a shutdown task in Windows 7. I just don't want to have to fool around finding what I was working on by using browser history etc. I just want the computer to wake up and have everything as I left it the night before, but I want the advantage of power saving.
When I scheduled the same task in Windows 8 as I had in Windows 7 it functioned in a completely different way. Skype is completely shut down and gone from the taskbar, the other program that I referred to is shut down and gone from the taskbar, and Chrome doesn't offer me the "restore" tabs option. I don't know if this info is necessary, but I'm using Windows 8 on a Lenovo Y500 laptop.
I'm hoping someone can help with this!

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Let me test it one more time.
Aug 30, 2013 1:42AM PDT

I even had part of my reply written and that survived so my bet is you are not hibernating yet.

Chrome didn't ask to restore tabs but was still there with all the tabs.

It certainly sounds like you are logging out.
Bob

PS. Sorry but it appears you want support beyond what I can offer. That is, I don't mind trying this here but I did have to change a little to get this far (classic shell and change Chrome's mode.)

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You tried..thanks
Aug 30, 2013 4:48AM PDT

Bob,

I already added a Start button and the Classic Shell, and figured out how to make it boot to the desktop instead of the stupid start screen.
But I still need step-by-step instructions on how to schedule a task to have it hibernate or sleep ( whatever will have my browser tabs still active when it wakes) at 3:45 a.m. every day and not lose my open Chrome tabs etc. as I described in my original post.

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Here's the deal. Does it hibernate and resume now?
Aug 30, 2013 4:55AM PDT

I can't tell if the issue is the command to do that or if there's some other issue.

That's why I went and checked it out here first to be sure that such was retained. What you noted sounds like you are not hibernating. Let's walk slowly through this.

1. Does hibernate and resume work now? (no, we're not talking about command or schedules yet.)

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As of last night.....
Aug 30, 2013 7:18AM PDT

I had copied the scheduled task from my old computer to the new one. That scheduled task was for shutdown. But when I resumed, Chrome would say: Do you want to restore your previous tabs,, and I would do that and be good to go. Skype was still open, and that program had quit, but I could still see it's window.
With this new computer that same scheduled task, it completely shuts everything down and when I log in again, Chrome doesn't ask me if I want to restore tabs, Skype is completely signed out of and gone from the taskbar, and the other program is the same.
So two identical scheduled tasks, one in Windows 7, and one in Windows 8 are performing differently.
Last night I changed the parameter in the .bat file for the scheduled task. I removed the -s parameter which means shutdown, and replaced it with the -h for hibernation. But as I said previously, I don't think it did anything at all. I heard Skype messages and I didn't have to log in to the computer. I lifted the lid and the computer was completely up and running. The other program was still running as if I had just stepped away from the computer, and my Chrome tabs were still there too without restoring them.
So I guess the answer is that it didn't hibernate, and it didn't resume...it was still on as if I was using it all night.

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See Kees reply.
Aug 30, 2013 7:24AM PDT

It sounds as if the hibernation is not enabled yet. I noted a test so with that test out of the way, you have more work to do before we get to commands and schedules.

See Kees reply and links.
Bob

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Re: hibernate
Aug 30, 2013 5:15AM PDT

Three links that might be useful:
http://www.itworld.com/consumerization-it/353100/how-bring-back-hibernation-windows-8
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1488515
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmkPpRl0nb0

So that's about enabling hibernate (assuming your BIOS supports it) and making a file to do it. Now the only thing to do is to schedule the execution of that file with Task Scheduler.

But why can't you shutdown when leaving the PC at, say, midnight when you go to bed. Does it do anything useful between midnight and 3 AM?

Kees

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Why I want it to hibernate
Aug 30, 2013 9:11AM PDT

I''m having trouble sleeping and the only way I can fall asleep is listening to things. So I'm not awake to turn it off myself and want it to hibernate at 3:45 a.m.

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I think that's fine.
Aug 30, 2013 9:14AM PDT

But so far it looks like hibernate is not turned on, enabled or working. I re-read these posts just to be sure but as it stands it looks as if you need to get it turned on then test that it works before we start on the schedule and commands.
Bob

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Question about the first link
Aug 30, 2013 9:14AM PDT

Is there any relationship between having hibernate as a power option and scheduling a task? I want the task so it does it automatically. Can a task not be scheduled unless I bring back that option to the power options? Because I won't bother doing that unless it effects the task scheduler.

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bring back hibernation
Aug 30, 2013 9:16AM PDT

The instructions were simple so I did it anyway, but that doesn't solve hibernation via a scheduled task. Happy

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Regarding the other 2 links
Aug 30, 2013 9:21AM PDT

Both of these are about hibernation shortcuts which requires the user to be awake and operating the computer. My issue isn't any of these. I'm still looking for explicit directions on how to schedule hibernation at a specific time via the Task Scheduler so that my computer goes into hibernation at a specific time when I am hopefully asleep or almost asleep. The last thing I want to do is wake myself up to do this manually.....even as easy as it is. Adding shortcuts and power options isn't addressing my initial question. Happy

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I'll be back later.
Aug 30, 2013 9:54AM PDT

I'd be guessing the hibernation is working or not. You wanted step by step and so here we are stepping through the process. It would do not good to explore scripts and scheduling if hibernation tests are not complete.

You bring up a good point here. That is, should Microsoft provide a tool for folk like us to write an app that gives you a click here to fix the hibernation and schedule it without having to step through the process?
Bob

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Hibernation works
Aug 30, 2013 12:09PM PDT

I just did a test and hibernation works.

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Re: hibernation works.
Aug 30, 2013 10:30PM PDT

Then the next step: does hibernation work if you do it via shutdown.exe /h, as the links tell? If not, what happens?
Run that command from the command prompt, so you can see any error messages that might explain why it won't work.

More steps will follow once you've got this programmatic shutdown working. But one step at a time.

Kees

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Edited my existing .bat file
Aug 31, 2013 7:48AM PDT

Late last night, I edited the existing .bat file I had for the scheduled task. I changed it to :
cd c:\
shutdown /h

Last night it hibernated perfectly! Thanks for all the help!