Help me with my Carputer project: Shutdowns are taking forever

[nobb]

Hi.
I have a computer installed in my car and it is working perfectly. I am currently using a program which automatically shutdown the computer when pins 4 and 8 on the serial port are shorted (loss in ACC power triggers a relay, shorting the pins). The program has a 10 second delay before initiating the shutdown process. However, once this program initiates the shutdown process, I get another shutdown countdown timer window. But this shutdown timer seems to be part of windows and it is a 30 second countdown. Here is a screenshot of the dialoge box that I get:
http://img183.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img7428bm6.jpg]

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I am guessing that when the program tells windows to shutdown, windows gets the message, but displays a countdown dialogue box before actually shutting down.

Here is the link to the autoshutdown program I am using:
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/showthr...hp?t=27018&highlight=inverter+shutdown

I would like to get rid of this shutdown timer and have windows shutdown immediately once the autoshutdown program tells windows to shutdown.

I would really appreciate it if someone could provide me with some suggestions on what to do to get rid of this dialogue box when shutting down. When I do a normal shutdown (start>shutdown), I do not get this dialogue box. Thanks!

 

[mendocinosummit]

I would say some kind of registry hack. A shutdown coming from a com port would be considered something abnormal. To bad there is not a way to use the ATX power switch.

A quick question; I have seen a car that puts the computer to stand by for a quick start and will shutdown the computer when the battery voltage reaches a certain point, you don't have this?

 

[pcgeek11]

Did you attempt to set this up here:

To configure the UPS service in Windows 2000

1. In Control Panel, select the Power Options option.
2. Select the UPS tab, and then click the Select button.
3. From the UPS Select dialog box, select the manufacturer and model of the UPS unit you are using.
4. In the On port field, select the port to which the UPS is connected, and then click Finish .
5. On the UPS page of the Power Options Properties dialog box, click the Configure button.
6. From the UPS Configuration dialog box, select the configuration options that best suit your needs.
7. Click OK .
8. On the UPS page of the Power Options Properties dialog box, click OK or Apply to commit the new settings.

It looks like you are using the power failure signal on the COM port to run this program, I don't think you need this program as the UPS abilities in Windows 2000 can do what you want already. Try unchecking the block at the top left that says Enable all Notifications. and set the times to minimum levels.

See: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodte...eskit/core/fndb_con_mbiq.mspx?mfr=true

pcgeek11

 

[nobb]

Thanks for your replies.

mendocinosummit: That is with a specialized DC-DC power supply (expensive). Right now, I am using a system of relays to control my inverter. After my engine shutsdown, a relay triggers the shutdown, but my inverter is setup to not shutoff until the computer has safely shutdown. Therefore, I am worried that my computer may hang, thereby killing my battery. Right now, I sit in my car waiting ~1 min for my computer to shutdown since I am a bit paranoid.

I am also guessing that there is some sort of registry hack, which I am hoping someone knows of.

pcgeek11: No I am not using the UPS service. I am using a program that someone else made. This program initiates a shutdown once it detects that pins 4 and 8 on the serial port are shorted. I have read that the UPS service shutsdown the computer when there is not a constant +5 volts being supplied to pin 4 on the serial port. I guess I could use the UPS service to accomplish my goal of automatic shutdown, but that would mean I would have to completely rewire my system of relays to accomplish this. I really dont have the time for that right now since I am too busy with homework to be working on my car.

I am just wondering if someone has a quick fix for my problem so that I can avoid having to completely rewire my network of relays.