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c++windows-7sleep

how do i prevent screen-savers and sleeps during my program execution?

In a c++ program run on Win7, is there a way to fake a mouse movement or something like that, just to keep the screen saver from starting and the system from going to sleep? I'm looking for the minimal approach and I prefer not to use .NET. Thanks, -nuun

Solution

  • Don't mess with the screensaver settings, use SetThreadExecutionState. This is the API for informing windows on the fact that your application is active:

    Enables an application to inform the system that it is in use, thereby preventing the system from entering sleep or turning off the display while the application is running.

    , and

    Multimedia applications, such as video players and presentation applications, must use ES_DISPLAY_REQUIRED when they display video for long periods of time without user input