Visser Labs

Windows Vista misses out on a critical feature for mobile users, an audio alarm! There are limited solutions available via sidebar gadgets or dodgy home-made Visual Basic style applications but I wanted something that would (a) wake me up, and (b) be flexible and unpredictable enough to wake me up.

I pulled this by using an old trick I’ve been taking advantage of since Windows 95, the brute that is Task Scheduler. By creating an audio playlist (*.wpl) in Windows Media Player and creating a schedule event that loads this playlist I now have a consistent music alarm which can play something new every day. Walk through is after the break.

1. Open Windows Media Player
2. Open the Library tab
3. Create a new playlist (this can be a standard playlist of auto playlist)
4. Select Save Playlist As… from the right list pane (title of currently selected playlist)
5. Save the playlist
6. Open Task Scheduler (Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools)
7. Click Create Basic Task…
8. Provide a Name and Description
9. Press Next
10. Select Daily as the event frequency
11. Press Next
12. Provide Start date and time as well as recurrence
13. Press Next
14. Select Start a program
15. Press Next
16. Click Browse and select your new playlist file
17. Press Next
18. Press Finish to confirm changes
19. Right click the new task and select Properties
20. Switch to the Conditions tab
21. Ensure Wake the computer to start this task is checked
22. Press OK to confirm changes

That’s it! What music did you add to your alarm music playlist? I’m a big fan for listening to Beck and The Postal Service as part of my morning routine.