Tip: Standby Problems - for the hardbodies

[bobb]

Can't believe Smartie still alive after all these years! That's what I still use it in my box, best 4-bargraphs on a single LCD software I've found. If interested, look HERE.

Anywhoo, STANDBY, that has always confounded LCD/Display users. I solved any problem simply by permanently powering my LCD from the PSU's VSB feed. VSB is the +5V that is always available (even when the box is completely powered off). And yes, that means u have to open the PSU, or splice the VSB wire from the Mobo's cable (google for cable's pin-out), with the first method cleaner. That's why this is a hardbody project. Leave the backlit be powered by the normal +5V.

Permanently powering your display has the beneficial side effect of having the display shows a message when in standby such as SLEEP. Whatever software you are using has to be able to trap a standby event and issue the message. Looks like Smartie 5.4 does this.

I would think this looks nice on LCDs only. Having permanently lit LED/VFD would be annoying I'd think. Some VFDs have programmable display intensity levels, but that would be YOUR project. Post if u do.

[mattcro]

I've been using Smartie continuously on my desktop PC for the last few years. I've got an external serial LCD powered from the PC's PSU, but not on standby power. I figure if the PC is in standby, there shouldn't be anything much on anyway, but an LCD isn't exactly power hungry...

Note that you can only display a fixed (static text) shutdown message in Smartie 5.4 - no plugin calls are allowed. I simply have a "Smartie is now shut down" message, and this disappears when the PC shuts down or goes into standby.

[b00sfuk]

I still use 5.3 as with that you can display a variable message when in standby (specifically the contents of a text file). On my HTPC I use this to display the program/time/day that the PC will next wake up and what it will record.
Unfortunately this function was removed in 5.4 (but 5.3 still works fine on Vista).

[The Guv.]

I'm building a CarPC at the moment which hibernates when the ignition is turned off and when you restart I get the DLL Initialize error from LCD Smartie.

I have a USB LCD 4x20 which is connected to the motherboards header.

Is it possible to run LCDSmartie as a service which completely starts/restarts during hibernation?