[Robert] wrote-:
From
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/evaluation/features/fastresume.mspx :
StandBy-
With Standby, the system shuts down your monitor, hard drive, and other devices, but
maintains power to random access memory (RAM). Your open documents and applications
are stored in RAM as if your system were fully powered, so you can pick up where you
left off very quickly. Many newer laptops resume from Standby in less than two
seconds with Windows XP.
Windows XP includes an improved algorithm that tells your monitor, hard drive, and
other devices when to come out of Standby. It restores devices in the most efficient
order and, wherever possible, restores more than one device at the same time.
Hibernate-
In the same way, Windows XP helps your computer start faster when you use Hibernate.
This feature saves the contents of RAM to your hard disk in compressed form so you
can turn your laptop or desktop computer completely off. When you turn on the power,
your documents and applications are open just as you left them so you can start work
quickly.
For more info, see:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/mobility/getstarted/hibernate.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/tabletpc/getstarted/standby.mspx
can you shedule the pc to do either? Thanks
Yes. You can use Power options - Control Panel > Power :
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/tabletpc/learnmore/powerschemes.mspx
or you can use "Scheduled Tasks" feature - Control Panel > Scheduled Tasks :
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/agent_add_task.mspx