Keep Your PC Awake with a Simple PowerShell Script

Are you tired of your computer going to sleep or your screen locking during important tasks or presentations? Whether you’re downloading large files, attending long online meetings, or simply need your PC to stay active, our enhanced PowerShell script provides a professional solution that subtly moves your mouse to prevent your computer from entering sleep mode.

Understanding the StayActive.ps1 Script

The enhanced PowerShell script, StayActive.ps1, leverages Windows API functions to simulate mouse movements while providing professional-grade features like command-line parameters, verbose logging, and progress indicators. Unlike simple scripts, this version is designed for production use with proper error handling and user feedback.

You can find the complete script on GitHub.

Key Features and Improvements

Our enhanced version includes several professional features:

• Command-line parameters for easy customization
• Built-in help system with detailed usage examples
• Progress indicators showing runtime and movement statistics
• Verbose logging with timestamps for monitoring
• Parameter validation to prevent errors
• Graceful error handling and clean termination
• Professional output formatting with color-coded messages
• Runtime statistics including average intervals and total movements

Breaking Down the Script

1. Advanced Parameter Handling

[CmdletBinding()]
param(
    [Parameter(HelpMessage="Time between movements in seconds (default: 60)")]
    [int]$MoveInterval = 60,
    
    [Parameter(HelpMessage="Number of pixels to move (default: 1)")]
    [int]$SmallMove = 1,
    
    [Parameter(HelpMessage="Show progress indicators in console")]
    [switch]$ShowProgress,
    
    [Parameter(HelpMessage="Show this help message")]
    [switch]$Help
)

The [CmdletBinding()] attribute automatically provides the -Verbose parameter, making the script behave like professional PowerShell cmdlets.

2. Enhanced Windows API Integration

Add-Type -TypeDefinition @"
using System;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
public class Mouse {
    [DllImport("user32.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Auto, CallingConvention = CallingConvention.StdCall)]
    public static extern void mouse_event(uint dwFlags, uint dx, uint dy, uint cButtons, uint dwExtraInfo);
    
    [DllImport("user32.dll")]
    public static extern bool GetCursorPos(out POINT lpPoint);
}

public struct POINT {
    public int X;
    public int Y;
}
"@ -Language CSharp

Beyond basic mouse movement, the enhanced version can track cursor position for detailed logging.

3. Professional Logging System

function Write-DetailedLog {
    param([string]$Message)
    Write-Verbose "$(Get-Date -Format 'yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss') - $Message"
}

Uses PowerShell’s built-in Write-Verbose for consistent, timestamp-based logging.

4. Intelligent Movement Logic

The script performs precise movements and tracks them:

# Move the mouse right/down
[Mouse]::mouse_event($MOUSEEVENTF_MOVE, $SmallMove, $SmallMove, 0, 0)
Start-Sleep -Milliseconds 100

# Move back to original position using proper negative coordinates
$negativeMove = [uint32]::MaxValue - $SmallMove + 1
[Mouse]::mouse_event($MOUSEEVENTF_MOVE, $negativeMove, $negativeMove, 0, 0)

Command-Line Parameters

Usage Examples

Basic Usage

# Default settings (60-second intervals)
.\StayActive.ps1

# Show progress indicators
.\StayActive.ps1 -ShowProgress

# Custom interval with progress
.\StayActive.ps1 -MoveInterval 30 -ShowProgress

Advanced Usage

# Verbose logging for monitoring
.\StayActive.ps1 -Verbose

# Full features for long-running sessions
.\StayActive.ps1 -MoveInterval 45 -SmallMove 2 -ShowProgress -Verbose

# Quick testing with frequent movements
.\StayActive.ps1 -MoveInterval 10 -ShowProgress -Verbose

Getting Help

# Display comprehensive help
.\StayActive.ps1 -Help

How to Use the Script

Method 1: Direct Execution

1. Save the Script: Copy the enhanced script and save it as StayActive.ps1
2. Right-click Execution: Right-click the file and select “Run with PowerShell”
3. Monitor Output: Watch the professional startup banner and progress indicators

Method 2: PowerShell Command Line

1. Open PowerShell: Navigate to the script directory
2. Execute with Parameters: .\StayActive.ps1 -ShowProgress -Verbose
3. Stop Gracefully: Press Ctrl+C to see termination statistics

Method 3: Handle Execution Policy

If you encounter execution policy restrictions:

# Check current policy
Get-ExecutionPolicy

# Set policy for current session
Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope Process

# Run the script
.\StayActive.ps1 -ShowProgress

Sample Output

Startup Banner

============================================================
StayActive Enhanced Script Started
============================================================
Start Time:     2024-12-07 14:30:15
Move Interval:  60 seconds
Move Distance:  1 pixel(s)
Show Progress:  True
Verbose Mode:   False

Press Ctrl+C to stop the script
============================================================

Progress Indicators

[14:31:15] Move #1 | Runtime: 00:01:00 | Next in: 60 sec
[14:32:15] Move #2 | Runtime: 00:02:00 | Next in: 60 sec

Termination Summary

============================================================
StayActive Script Terminated
============================================================
End Time:           2024-12-07 16:45:30
Total Runtime:      02:15:15
Total Movements:    136
Average Interval:   59.8 seconds
============================================================

Use Cases

Professional Environments

• Long Presentations: Keep your screen active during extended presentations or demos
• Remote Work: Prevent disconnection during video conferences or screen sharing
• Automated Processes: Ensure uninterrupted execution of long-running automated tasks

Development and Testing

• Build Processes: Keep systems active during lengthy compilation or deployment processes
• Monitoring: Use verbose logging to monitor system activity patterns
• Testing: Customize intervals and movements for specific testing scenarios

Personal Use

• Large Downloads: Prevent sleep mode during substantial file downloads
• Media Streaming: Keep systems active during long media sessions
• Gaming: Prevent AFK timeouts in certain applications

Best Practices

Security and Compliance

• Check Organizational Policies: Ensure compliance with your company’s IT policies
• Use Responsibly: Only use for legitimate purposes that require system activity
• Monitor Usage: Use verbose logging to track when and how the script runs

Performance Optimization

• Adjust Intervals: Use longer intervals (60+ seconds) for minimal system impact
• Minimal Movement: Stick to 1-pixel movements unless specifically needed
• Monitor Resources: Check system resource usage during extended runs

Troubleshooting

• Use Verbose Mode: Enable -Verbose for detailed diagnostic information
• Check Permissions: Ensure proper execution policy settings
• Test Parameters: Start with short intervals to verify functionality

Advanced Customization

Custom Intervals for Specific Scenarios

# For presentations (every 2 minutes)
.\StayActive.ps1 -MoveInterval 120 -ShowProgress

# For downloads (every 5 minutes)
.\StayActive.ps1 -MoveInterval 300

# For testing (every 10 seconds)
.\StayActive.ps1 -MoveInterval 10 -Verbose

Monitoring Long Sessions

# Full monitoring for extended operations
.\StayActive.ps1 -MoveInterval 60 -ShowProgress -Verbose

Conclusion

The enhanced StayActive.ps1 script represents a significant evolution from simple mouse movement utilities. With professional features like command-line parameters, comprehensive logging, progress indicators, and robust error handling, it’s designed for production environments where reliability and monitoring are essential.

Whether you’re a developer managing build processes, a presenter delivering extended demos, or someone who needs reliable system activity simulation, this enhanced script provides the professional-grade functionality you need.

Key advantages of the enhanced version:

• Professional: Command-line interface with proper parameter validation
• Monitorable: Comprehensive logging and progress tracking
• Reliable: Robust error handling and graceful termination
• Flexible: Customizable intervals and movement distances
• Maintainable: Clean code following PowerShell best practices

Feel free to customize the script parameters for your specific needs, and remember to use it responsibly within your organization’s guidelines. The script is available under the GPL-3.0 license on GitHub.

Download the enhanced script: StayActive.ps1 on GitHub