JSI Tip 8313. ENERGY STAR's free EZ GPO tool allows a network administrator to centrally control power management settings using GPOs.

Provides centralized control of user power management settings to network administrators

Sets appropriate power management settings for both the computer monitor and PC box.

Uses the existing functionality on Windows 2000 and XP.

Requires no special hardware or network processes.

Installs a single binary application executed from the startup group in the "Start Menu" under "All Users."

Reads the desired power management settings that are set using GPOs in integer and string value format.

Changes power management settings using Microsoft's core Application Programming Interface.

Intelligently selects only capable computers when activating "system standby." (Computers generally capable of using system standby reliably run Windows 2000 or higher with Pentium 4 chip sets capable of S3 standby mode.)

Install the ADM GPO template located at GPO/EZ_GPO.adm.

Enable the "Base Options" policy by choosing the defaults.

Enable and configure the "Options" policy if needed.

Enable the "Simple" policy and configure the values (in minutes).

Install the binary GPO/bin/EZ_GPO_Tool.exe on the client work stations (an installer is provided and can be used in most situations).

Configure to run from the "All Users" startup group in "C:Documents and Settings."

Log out and then back in with a user who is set up to have the group policy.