Description of the new Away mode for Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005

Away mode is a new feature that introduces a power management mode of operation in Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005.

If Away mode is enabled, the computer enters Away mode instead of standby. The computer enters Away mode when you press the Power button on the remote control. This behavior also occurs when you press SLEEP on the keyboard. After the computer enters Away mode, the computer appears to be turned off. However, the computer is still running. For example, it can still perform functions such as record TV shows or serve Windows Media Extender sessions.

When your computer enters Away mode, the following actions occur:

• The display is turned off.
• The audio is muted.
• Input devices such as keyboards, mouse devices, and the remote control are filtered to make sure that errant keystrokes are not processed.
• Media playback is stopped, except for live TV.
• The CPU may enter a lower power performance state. This condition occurs if a lower power performance state is supported by the hardware.
• The graphics processor may enter a lower power performance state. This condition occurs if a lower power performance state is supported by the computer's graphics hardware and drivers.

To view Away mode options, click the Away tab in Power Options in Control Panel. If there is no Away tab here, the computer does not support Away mode.

The following settings are available on the Away tab:

• Enable Away mode
  When you click to select the Enable Away mode check box, Away mode is enabled. After you enable Away mode, the settings for the Sleep button on the Advanced tab of Power Options are unavailable. When you click to clear the Enable Away mode check box, Away mode is disabled, and the settings for the Sleep button are restored.
• Return the computer from Away mode on mouse or keyboard activity
  When you click to select the Return the computer from Away mode on mouse or keyboard activity check box, any keyboard, mouse or remote control activity returns the computer from Away mode. When you click to clear this check box, the computer returns from Away mode only when you press the Power button on the remote control, or SLEEP on the keyboard.
• Prompt for password when the computer returns from Away mode
  When you click to select the Prompt for password when the computer returns from Away mode check box, you are prompted to log on to the computer when you return from Away mode.

Note Away mode is not installed as part of Update Rollup 2 for Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005. Away mode is available only if the following conditions are true:

• The Away mode component was preinstalled by an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) or system builder.
• The Away mode component was preinstalled on a new Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005-based computer that supports Away mode technology.

Media Center Technical Support

Because Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition was included with your hardware device or system, the hardware manufacturer provides technical support and assistance for this software. Your manufacturer may have customized the installation with unique components such as specific device drivers and optional settings to maximize the performance of that manufacturer's hardware. If you require technical help with Windows XP Media Center Edition, contact your manufacturer directly because the manufacturer is best qualified to support the software that the manufacturer has installed on the hardware.

You can also visit the Windows XP Media Center Edition product information Web site at the following Microsoft Web site: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter/ (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter/)