Computer insomnia

[Erkki]

Finally Steam is downloading The Witcher 2 and I want to keep it downloading all night so I could sneak a half an hour of play before work. What is the best way to prevent Win7 from going to sleep mode while downloading?

(I know a quick fix solution: temporarily change power settings and set them back later, but I'm thinking of how to make this easier in the future)

I know ideally Steam would call some Windows API's to indicate it's not idle, but it doesn't seem to do that as the PC just went to sleep a moment ago.

There is supposedly some programs that prevent sleep mode while they run. But ideally it should go to sleep when the download is finished. Is there something that monitors network activity and if it's over some threshold, keeps it from sleeping?

Actually, I think I've seen the PC wake periodically as if by itself. I suppose it might be the network card that is waking it (that setting is enabled). If Steam is downloading at the moment the PC goes to sleep, is it likely the network card will still receive some packets and wake it up?

[toblix]

This sounds like your thing.

[Erkki]

Wow, clever bot.

[ThunderPeel2001]

Why not just follow the quick solution to change the temporarily settings of your computer instead of making things complicated. It's the best way to do for now while thinking or finding a way on your problem/question.

This is the answer to every unsolved problem on SuperUser.com.

[ThunderPeel2001]

Finally Steam is downloading The Witcher 2 and I want to keep it downloading all night so I could sneak a half an hour of play before work. What is the best way to prevent Win7 from going to sleep mode while downloading?

(I know a quick fix solution: temporarily change power settings and set them back later, but I'm thinking of how to make this easier in the future)

I know ideally Steam would call some Windows API's to indicate it's not idle, but it doesn't seem to do that as the PC just went to sleep a moment ago.

There is supposedly some programs that prevent sleep mode while they run. But ideally it should go to sleep when the download is finished. Is there something that monitors network activity and if it's over some threshold, keeps it from sleeping?

Actually, I think I've seen the PC wake periodically as if by itself. I suppose it might be the network card that is waking it (that setting is enabled). If Steam is downloading at the moment the PC goes to sleep, is it likely the network card will still receive some packets and wake it up?

Sorry to bump this topic, but I stumbled across it and happen to know the answer now: Yes, if your network adapter is capable of waking your computer, then downloading something will prevent it from going to sleep.