Microsoft KB Archive/909311

= Known issues in Away mode for Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 =

Article ID: 909311

Article Last Modified on 10/27/2005

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005

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SUMMARY
This article describes the known issues in Away mode for Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005.

Away mode is a new feature that introduces a power management mode of operation in Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005. If Away mode is enabled, the computer enters Away mode instead entering standby. The computer enters Away mode when you press the power button on the Media Center remote control or when you press the Sleep button on the keyboard. After the computer enters Away mode, the computer appears to be turned off. However, the computer is still running. For example, the computer can still record TV shows, serve Windows Media Extender sessions, and perform other functions. For more information about Away mode, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

902437 Description of the new Away mode for Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005

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 by a system builder.
 * The Away mode component was preinstalled on a new Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005-based computer that supports Away mode technology.



MORE INFORMATION
The following describes the known issues in Away mode for Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005.

Some special keyboard buttons do not wake the computer from Away mode
Some special buttons on some OEM keyboards do not wake the computer. These buttons do not wake the computer even when you select the Away mode option to wake the computer when keyboard or mouse activity is detected. For example, pressing the following buttons on some OEM keyboards does not wake the computer from Away mode:
 * Shopping
 * Sports
 * Finance
 * Connect
 * Search
 * Chat
 * E-mail

Note Some buttons on some OEM keyboards wake the computer if you press them two times. For example, the following buttons on some OEM keyboards wake the computer if you press them two times:
 * Photo
 * Music
 * Video

Workaround
To work around for this issue, press other buttons or keys on the keyboard to wake the computer.

Keyboard status lights do not turn off when another user logs on by using Fast User Switching in Away mode
When another user logs on by using Fast User Switching, the keyboard status lights do not turn off if the computer is in Away mode. The keyboard status lights that do not turn off are associated with the following keys:
 * NUM LOCK
 * F LOCK
 * SCROLL LOCK
 * CAPS LOCK.

Cause
This problem occurs because the power broadcast message is not sent to alternative Windows sessions.

After you erase a CD-RW, the computer wakes from Away mode
If the computer is in Away mode when the process of erasing a CD-RW finishes, the computer will wake from Away mode.

Cause
This issue occurs because when the process of erasing a CD-RW is finishes, a media arrival event notification is sent. This notification is the same notification that is sent when a new device, such as a memory card, is inserted. Away mode is designed to wake the computer when media is inserted. When the process of erasing a CD-RW finishes, the computer responds as if a CD has been inserted into the CD drive or DVD drive.

Narrator announces keys when the computer enters Away mode or wakes from Away mode
When you use the Narrator accessibility option in Windows, Narrator announces the following key names when the computer enters Away mode or wakes from Away mode:
 * NUM LOCK
 * SHIFT

Output from a Web camera device is not blocked, disabled, or turned off when the computer is in Away mode
If you have a Web camera device that is attached to the computer, any output from the Web camera device is not blocked, disabled, or turned off when the computer is in Away mode. Even though the computer appears to be turned off, any Web Camera device that is left running continues to capture video or images.

Cause
This issue occurs because Away mode is not designed to control Web camera devices.

Workaround
To work around this issue, turn off or cover any Web camera devices when the computer enters Away mode.

The system standby timer may not be reset if certain HP keyboard drivers are installed on the computer
If certain Hewlett-Packard (HP) Media Center keyboard drivers are installed on the computer, the system standby timer may not be reset when the computer enters Away mode or wakes from Away mode. Therefore, the computer may enter the S1 or S3 state of Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) standby sooner than expected.

Note The system standby timer puts your computer into standby after a period of inactivity.

The Sleep button on a USB Microsoft Natural Keyboard may not wake the computer from Away mode the first time that you press it
If you use a USB Microsoft Natural Keyboard, the computer may not wake from Away mode the first time that you press the Sleep button.

Workaround
To work around this issue, press the Sleep button two times to wake the computer from Away mode.

Live TV plays buffered content when the computer wakes from Away mode
You watch live TV, and then you put the computer in Away mode. When you wake the computer from Away mode, buffered content plays instead of live TV.

Cause
This behavior occurs if the Prompt for password when the computer returns from Away mode option is enabled on the Away tab in Power Options.

Note Power Options is a tool in Control Panel.

When you enable the Prompt for password when the computer returns from Away mode option, buffered content plays if the following events occur:
 * 1) You watch live TV in Media Center.
 * 2) You put the computer in Away mode.
 * 3) You resume the computer from Away mode.

At this point, the following two events occur:
 * 1) * The Welcome screen appears.
 * 2) * Media Center pauses the live TV, and the TV program is buffered.

During the time that you type your password to log on to the computer, Media Center continues to buffer the TV program. When you successfully log on, the buffered TV program plays.

The status of MSN messenger may not change when the computer enters Away mode or wakes from Away mode
When the computer enters Away mode or wakes from Away mode, the status of MSN messenger may not change.

Cause
This issue may occur if Away mode is installed together with Intel's Quick Resume technology. Intel's Quick Resume technology does not support MSN messenger state changes when the computer is in Away mode.

Note To determine whether Away mode is installed together with Intel's Quick Resume technology, follow these steps:
 * 1) Click Start, click Run, type powercfg.cpl, and then click OK.
 * 2) Click the Away tab.

If Away mode is installed together with Intel's Quick Resume technology, the Intel logo will appear on this tab.

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.

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