Is it possible to add a power on key to your keyboard? - bit-tech.net Forums

brodel · 3rd Nov 2009, 12:22

I bought a Microsoft Digital Media 3000 Keyboard recently to replace my 10 year old £5 keyboard. I guess it was stupid for me not to check, but I figured that 10 years down the line and with all the media buttons on the new keyboard that it would have a Power button. I was wrong.

Now I have a keyboard that is fine, but it doesn't have a Power button which I use all the time to turn my computer on. It has a lot of customizable buttons but you can only link them to .exe's so I'm guessing that there is no work around for this?

I know there is an option to power on by mouse, but I don't want to use that as the laser on my mouse is pretty bright and would by annoying to have on in my room all night.

smc8788 · 3rd Nov 2009, 12:26

I lol'd at this.

Where do you think the keyboard gets its power to operate? Yeah - through the USB ports, which are initialised during the boot sequence (i.e. after you power the computer on). Besides, is it really that hard to reach a few feet and press the button on the PC?

brodel · 3rd Nov 2009, 12:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by smc8788

I lol'd at this.

Where do you think the keyboard gets its power to operate? Yeah - through the USB ports, which are initialised during the boot sequence (i.e. after you power the computer on). Besides, is it really that hard to reach a few feet and press the button on the PC?

My 10 year old £5 keyboard has a power button, so it's not that unbelievable to expect a new media keyboard to have one.

It's not that difficult to turn it on from the PC, but it's a lot easier to just hit a button on the desk when I wake up before going to get breakfast, than it is to open the door on my computer and turn it on underneath my desk.

PureSilver · 3rd Nov 2009, 12:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by brodel

My 10 year old £5 keyboard has a power button

How does it work? Surely the computer needs to be powered on, and specifically powering it's USB ports, before the keyboard will function at all?

D'you mean a button that will raise the computer from hibernation or something?

dave_c · 3rd Nov 2009, 12:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by smc8788

I lol'd at this.

Where do you think the keyboard gets its power to operate? Yeah - through the USB ports, which are initialised during the boot sequence (i.e. after you power the computer on). Besides, is it really that hard to reach a few feet and press the button on the PC?

thats not nessassarily true, i have a USB Blue tooth adapter which still receieves power even when my PC is off, so it is possible, however im not so sure about the software side of it

brodel · 3rd Nov 2009, 12:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by PureSilver

How does it work? Surely the computer needs to be powered on, and specifically powering it's USB ports, before the keyboard will function at all?

D'you mean a button that will raise the computer from hibernation or something?

It isn't connected via USB, it has the old ps/2 connection (i'm guessing that is why it isn't an option on my new USB keyboard) . It doesn't raise it from hibernation, it turns it on from being completely off.

stonedsurd · 3rd Nov 2009, 12:46

Wake on USB should work, right?

But that's from sleep mode. If you're looking for something that'll power up the rig after shutdown, I think it's not possible.

Cupboard · 3rd Nov 2009, 12:47

My old motherboard supplied power to USB all the time - great for charging my phone.
As a workaround you could run a couple of cables up from the case and just extend your power button!

Delphium · 3rd Nov 2009, 12:54

It can be done.... go into the bios, set the wake on Keyboard, usually you can set a password too.
So the computer is fully shutdown, you type the password on the computer, hit enter, and bingo, it starts booting from cold.

I had to do this on my ex-gf's pc, as she always switched the pc off by holding down the power button on the pc at the front, mildly angry at this and having to repair the damage to a screwed OS, i simply removed the power button from the motherboard... thus forcing her to goto the start menu to shutdown properly.

Once it was off, she would just type the password in and it would boot

barndoor101 · 3rd Nov 2009, 13:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delphium

It can be done.... go into the bios, set the wake on Keyboard, usually you can set a password too.
So the computer is fully shutdown, you type the password on the computer, hit enter, and bingo, it starts booting from cold.

I had to do this on my ex-gf's pc, as she always switched the pc off by holding down the power button on the pc at the front, mildly angry at this and having to repair the damage to a screwed OS, i simply removed the power button from the motherboard... thus forcing her to goto the start menu to shutdown properly.

Once it was off, she would just type the password in and it would boot

genius

PureSilver · 3rd Nov 2009, 13:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by barndoor101

genius

+1 The only thing that comes to mind is 'serves you right'

grritsshawn · 3rd Nov 2009, 13:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delphium

It can be done.... go into the bios, set the wake on Keyboard, usually you can set a password too.
So the computer is fully shutdown, you type the password on the computer, hit enter, and bingo, it starts booting from cold.

I had to do this on my ex-gf's pc, as she always switched the pc off by holding down the power button on the pc at the front, mildly angry at this and having to repair the damage to a screwed OS, i simply removed the power button from the motherboard... thus forcing her to goto the start menu to shutdown properly.

Once it was off, she would just type the password in and it would boot

how is this done?

barndoor101 · 3rd Nov 2009, 13:33

it would be a setting in the BIOS. but im not sure if every MB would support it.

brodel · 3rd Nov 2009, 14:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delphium

It can be done.... go into the bios, set the wake on Keyboard, usually you can set a password too.
So the computer is fully shutdown, you type the password on the computer, hit enter, and bingo, it starts booting from cold.

I had to do this on my ex-gf's pc, as she always switched the pc off by holding down the power button on the pc at the front, mildly angry at this and having to repair the damage to a screwed OS, i simply removed the power button from the motherboard... thus forcing her to goto the start menu to shutdown properly.

Once it was off, she would just type the password in and it would boot

I've tried this in the BIOS but it still doesn't work. When using my old keyboard I had Power on by keyboard enabled. I have tried changing it to password enabled and setting a password, but it still does nothing. Was your ex girlfriends keyboard a USB keyboard or a PS/2?

I can't believe that this function was taken away, I dind't really want to have to return my keyboard but looks like I might have to and stick with an ancient PS/2 keyboard for the rest of my life, lol.

stuartpb · 3rd Nov 2009, 14:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by brodel

I've tried this in the BIOS but it still doesn't work. When using my old keyboard I had Power on by keyboard enabled. I have tried changing it to password enabled and setting a password, but it still does nothing. Was your ex girlfriends keyboard a USB keyboard or a PS/2?

I can't believe that this function was taken away, I dind't really want to have to return my keyboard but looks like I might have to and stick with an ancient PS/2 keyboard for the rest of my life, lol.

That seems a bit extreme, especially when the alternative is to open the desk door and press the pwr switch on the PC. What's the door made of..cast lead or something?

brodel · 3rd Nov 2009, 14:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by stuartpb

That seems a bit extreme, especially when the alternative is to open the desk door and press the pwr switch on the PC. What's the door made of..cast lead or something?

lol, no but it's just a pain in the arse every morning. it's not that difficult to get up and turn on the tv, but i'm sure most people prefer to just hit on on their remote.

GoodBytes · 3rd Nov 2009, 15:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by brodel

lol, no but it's just a pain in the arse every morning. it's not that difficult to get up and turn on the tv, but i'm sure most people prefer to just hit on on their remote.

You sir, need to go at the gym and do excessive. Start by pressing that power button.

Here are 3 choices:
1- Sleep your computer instead
2- leave your computer on 24/7...
3- make a hole on your bed for you to poo, put a monitor on the ceiling, and invent a mind control keyboard/mouse system... and have a a pipe that provide you food and water directly in your mouth or you know what.. just give up life while you at it... gee, laziness at that level I never seen before., your making him envy you: http://www.srl.caltech.edu/personnel...slothpage.html
Tthe laziest animal known, but I guess that changed. :P j/k with you.

Delphium · 3rd Nov 2009, 15:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by brodel

Was your ex girlfriends keyboard a USB keyboard or a PS/2?

Im fairly confident it was a USB one, however 4 or so years have passed since then so I can't be 100% sure if it was.

Sorry I cant be of more help.

You could always mod your new keyboard.... make a REALLY long power switch extention cable and mount it in the keyboard lulz

Igniseus · 3rd Nov 2009, 16:01

As GoodBytes pointed out, why not just use Sleep?

My Motherboard has serious issues with turning on (wiping BIOS, probably dead battery though, freezing when scanning devices, asking for CD when HDD set as first boot etc) so i just sleep it constantly, probably only fully turn off 1-2 times a year (i.e. only press power button 1-2 times a year also).

brodel · 3rd Nov 2009, 16:22

lol, I don't know why people think it's so lazy. Okay so opening the door on the computer underneath my desk and turning it on that isn't the end of the world, but as I said, nor is getting up to turn the TV on, although I'm sure people would be a bit frustrated if they bought a new TV and had to go over to it to turn it on every time.

In fact I'm sure that if there was a definite way to do this with all keyboards, everyone here would change to it as well.

Anyway, it looks like it isn't an option without using sleep which I didn't want to have to do but it's an option at least.

thanks.

3rd Nov 2009, 12:22	#1
brodel Multimodder Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 73	Is it possible to add a power on key to your keyboard? I bought a Microsoft Digital Media 3000 Keyboard recently to replace my 10 year old £5 keyboard. I guess it was stupid for me not to check, but I figured that 10 years down the line and with all the media buttons on the new keyboard that it would have a Power button. I was wrong. Now I have a keyboard that is fine, but it doesn't have a Power button which I use all the time to turn my computer on. It has a lot of customizable buttons but you can only link them to .exe's so I'm guessing that there is no work around for this? I know there is an option to power on by mouse, but I don't want to use that as the laser on my mouse is pretty bright and would by annoying to have on in my room all night.

3rd Nov 2009, 12:46	#7
stonedsurd I'm not Sparta :/ Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: CA, USA/Delhi, India Posts: 1,772	Wake on USB should work, right? But that's from sleep mode. If you're looking for something that'll power up the rig after shutdown, I think it's not possible. __________________ Project PC3 - a PC in a PS3! (While the old one is mothballed) We're people who have the patience and know the pain of sleeving. And love it Bit Tech is more than games and hardware - check out the mods too. Don't let modding die in Bit-Tech.net.

3rd Nov 2009, 12:47	#8
Cupboard I'm not a modder. Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Bury St Edmunds/Durham Uni Posts: 1,840	My old motherboard supplied power to USB all the time - great for charging my phone. As a workaround you could run a couple of cables up from the case and just extend your power button! __________________ i7 920, 8800GTS 512, 6GB Corsair all in an Intel DX58SO; 3*320GB RAID5; CM Stacker Samsung Q45.

3rd Nov 2009, 12:54	#9
Delphium You there computer man fix my pants Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: on teh interwebz Posts: 1,254	It can be done.... go into the bios, set the wake on Keyboard, usually you can set a password too. So the computer is fully shutdown, you type the password on the computer, hit enter, and bingo, it starts booting from cold. I had to do this on my ex-gf's pc, as she always switched the pc off by holding down the power button on the pc at the front, mildly angry at this and having to repair the damage to a screwed OS, i simply removed the power button from the motherboard... thus forcing her to goto the start menu to shutdown properly. Once it was off, she would just type the password in and it would boot __________________ \| Asus P5N32-E SLI \| Q6600 G0 @3.0ghz Watercooled \| 8GB Corsair Dominator PC8500 @1066mhz 5-5-5-15 2T \| XFX GTX285 \| BFG 8800GTS \| XFX 9600GT \| 1x 128GB Crucial M225 SSD \| 5x 500GB Seagate SATA-II \| BFG 800W SLI PSU \| Creative X-Fi Music \| Logitech Z-5500 5.1ch speakers \| 3x Dell S2209W 22"wide TFT's (5760x1080res) \| 1x Panasonic 42"Plasma \| All working on Win7 Ultimate x64 \|

3rd Nov 2009, 13:33	#13
barndoor101 Multimodder Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 183	it would be a setting in the BIOS. but im not sure if every MB would support it. __________________ Core i7 920 @ 4Ghz // 6Gb OCZ Obsidian 1600Mhz // XFX HD4890 1Gb CF Asus P6T SE // OCZ SteathXstream 700W // Antec 300 // Titan Fenrir

3rd Nov 2009, 12:26	#2
smc8788 This is bit-tech! Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Southampton, UK Posts: 2,247	I lol'd at this. Where do you think the keyboard gets its power to operate? Yeah - through the USB ports, which are initialised during the boot sequence (i.e. after you power the computer on). Besides, is it really that hard to reach a few feet and press the button on the PC?

3rd Nov 2009, 16:01	#19
Igniseus Multimodder Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: England Posts: 154	As GoodBytes pointed out, why not just use Sleep? My Motherboard has serious issues with turning on (wiping BIOS, probably dead battery though, freezing when scanning devices, asking for CD when HDD set as first boot etc) so i just sleep it constantly, probably only fully turn off 1-2 times a year (i.e. only press power button 1-2 times a year also).

3rd Nov 2009, 16:22	#20
brodel Multimodder Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 73	lol, I don't know why people think it's so lazy. Okay so opening the door on the computer underneath my desk and turning it on that isn't the end of the world, but as I said, nor is getting up to turn the TV on, although I'm sure people would be a bit frustrated if they bought a new TV and had to go over to it to turn it on every time. In fact I'm sure that if there was a definite way to do this with all keyboards, everyone here would change to it as well. Anyway, it looks like it isn't an option without using sleep which I didn't want to have to do but it's an option at least. thanks.