e1-531  boot on usb or power

emilianoheyns
emilianoheyns Member Posts: 3 New User
edited March 2023 in 2014 Archives

I want to use my laptop mostly in a docking station with the screen closed, but that makes the power button inaccessible. Is it possible to boot the system on usb or power event? I see no option for it in the bios.

Answers

  • philetus
    philetus ACE Posts: 4,759 Pathfinder

    It's probably easier to lift the lid.

     

    You'll need a wired connection to your network and an Android or iPhone/iPad

    Boot into your BIOS and find an option for Wake On LAN (WOL). Make sure it's enabled. In the case of my laptop it only works on wired ethernet, which is fine. Also, I have an option to make it only work when on AC power (which is great because I don't want to slowly drain battery power when transporting/storing my laptop).
    Boot ino Windows and record your MAC address. You can get it by clicking the Window key on your keyboard + R, in the window that pops up type "cmd" (obviously without the quotes). And in the black window that pops up type "getmac" [hit enter]. If you see 2 different MAC addresses you can determine the correct one by paying attention to which one says "media disconnected." You want the wired network, so if you are connected to your home wifi (not LAN) you want the one that says "media disconnected." If you're on the wired network and your wifi is off ignore the one that says "media disconnected."
    Make sure your network card is set properly in Windows to allow Wake On LAN. Open the device manager (right click "My Computer", then click "manage." In the new window select "Device Manager" on the left, then under "Network Adapters" on the right doubleclick the one that refers to your LAN network card (ignore anything that says "a/b/g/n" or "wireless" or anything like that).
    Under the Advanced tab find and click either "Wake on LAN" or "Wake on Magic Packet" then set the value to "Enabled." Then under the "Power Management" tab check all three options. Click OK.
    On your smartphone/tablet: Make sure your phone/tablet connects to your home wifi. Get an app to send your computer a magic packet. On Android some options are "Wake on LAN" or "WOL Wake on Lan Wan." On iPhone "Mocha WOL." Enter the MAC address you recorded earlier in the correct field in the app. If you look at a screenshot of the app before downloading/installing you can confirm the proper format of the MAC address (MAC addresses use formats in which characters are separated by colons, dashes, nothing, or sometimes even periods). Make sure you use the correct format. If it asks for an IP address usually giving 192.168.1.255 is great because it makes sure your router sends to your computer no matter what IP address your home network gives it.

    Now you're ready to test. Shutdown your computer. Plug in the network cable and power! Naturally you'll probably also want to use a Monitor, keyboard, and mouse. Confirm you have blinking lights near the network cable on your laptop. If not this may not work. Open the app on your smartphone and send to your device. Tada! You're all set!

  • emilianoheyns
    emilianoheyns Member Posts: 3 New User

    IOW: the answer to my question is "no" Smiley Very Happy

     

    I've tried WOL (no need for apps or stuff -- my router can send out the packet), but I'm specifically looking for USB or power-insert wake. My other laptop does this flawlessly, and I have a suspicion the Acer could too -- if the stoopid Insyde BIOS hadn't locked out the menus.

     

    Thanks anyway. I will probably flash a modded Insyde when the warranty lapses.

  • emilianoheyns
    emilianoheyns Member Posts: 3 New User

    Since the system won't boot on USB event, the remote isn't going to help.