Electronic apparatus, such as a personal computer, is described comprising
main operative functionality and a power provisioning system for powering
the apparatus from an external power source, the power provisioning
system comprising:--a main power supply output for energizing the main
operative functionality of the apparatus when said power provisioning
system is connected to said external power source, and a standby power
source for energizing a subset of the components of the apparatus when
said main power supply output is not energized, the apparatus further
comprising a self contained subsystem including a memory for storing at
least one parameter reflecting an internal state of the apparatus, said
self contained subsystem being powered by said standby power source and
including an encoder for encoding the parameters in an output signal and
a transducer for generating a wireless transmission from the output
signal, which transmission can be detected in the vicinity of the
apparatus, so as to enable the parameter to be received and decoded.