I have an old Windows 98 desktop that can be turned on by hitting the space bar on the keyboard. Got a new HP laptop with XP that I would like to be able to turn on without opening by using the external keyboard. Is there a way to configure this machine to start up by using the external keyboard?

Is this to come out of sleep mode, or actually turn on after having been turned off?

To turn on after being shut off. I have the laptop connected to a port replicator which sits under a stand for the monitor and I thought it would be nice to not have to slide out and open the laptop every day to start it.

You might have this feture using the FN key; some laptops do. Look for a key that says "On" in the same color as your fn key.

On laptops I think there is something called onetouch that you setup. On mine I have it set so I can touch WWW,it turns on and goes to my home page.

Thanks for the ideas. I will look into these when I get home.