Moving my mouse ferociously so that Skype does not default to an "away" status while watching Netflix...Gotta love being "remote".

Download mouse jiggle. You're welcome.

Don't download mouse jiggle. As an IT Person we report shit like this. We can quickly run a tool in all computers running X software. You don't want to be on that list.

Sigh, this is the third time I mention this on fishbowl. You put your mouse on top of a watch. The laser from the mouse detects the movement from the seconds arm and keeps your laptop active.

Or go into Skype settings and change your away timeout setting. Jesus.

A2 - I've not been on the bench in a while but hope to remember this trick when I am.

I see no reason why IT should be upset with someone having a software like mouse jiggle or caffeine. There are lots of legit reasons to have it. So many times during meetings and presentations the freaking thing will go to sleep since you have been talking for a while and it's annoying.

Agree with D4. Especially since IT took away our ability to manage the minutiae of our power settings

IT doesn't care, they just report it. I don't agree.

D5, create a custom power plan and tinker away to your heart's content.

Start your windows media player, play the stock 'nature' video on repeat. Even when minimized, this will keep your laptop from timing out. Then just set your skype settings to a few hours before going to away. Also, turn the sound as high as it goes so you can hear if someone pings you from rooms away