Computer coming on by itself

jeffreybjeffreyb Australia
edited May 2004 in Hardware
Hi,
I have a customer whos computer is switching itselft on at night.
I at first thought that it could be a power failure, and when the power comes back on the computer boots up, but he told me that he has a fax machine (among other things) on the same circuit and nothing else registers a power failure.:hrm:

It is certainly off and not just asleep, as he has stood there and watched it shut down.

I'm thinking it may a faulty PSU, but thought I would go for a second opinion.


Thanks in advance,
JEFFREY

Comments

  • primesuspectprimesuspect Beepin n' Boopin Detroit, MI Icrontian
    edited May 2004
    It's either WAKE ON LAN or WAKE ON RING.

    Go into the computer's BIOS (Usually F1 or DEL upon first booting) and look around in there (probably in the power section). You'll find a "wake on ......" thing... Turn it off.

    Welcome to short-media.
  • qparadoxqparadox Vancouver, BC
    edited May 2004
    A couple things it could be:


    Some computers come with an auto-turn-on feature in their bios. Dell's often have this. Check in the bios for this sort of thing. If it happens everynight this is most likely it.

    Wake on lan on the network card (can probably check this in the bios).

    Bad power supply (this would be more or less random when it happens)

    Animal hits the power button :D.
  • jeffreybjeffreyb Australia
    edited May 2004
    Hi PrimeSuspect,
    I'll check that out - it could be the solution.
    That would also mean that someone is dialing his modem number - which is strange, since its only ever used for connecting to the net.


    Regards.
    JEFFREY
  • jeffreybjeffreyb Australia
    edited May 2004
    Hi qparadox,
    Again - I'll check all these out.
    I dont think Wake on LAN is on, plus it has only just started doing it - and the computer has been around for a while.

    Thanks everyone for the quick replys. :thumbsup:


    Regards,
    JEFFREY
  • BlackHawkBlackHawk Bible music connoisseur There's no place like 127.0.0.1 Icrontian
    edited May 2004
    Poltergeist? Ghost in the machine? Sh*t, maybe it's the boogeyman downloading some pr0n. Can't the man download his pr0n in peace? You see that's the problem with society today. You download too much pr0n and your labeled a pr0n addict. So what if a man wants to have hundred of videos? It's his god given right. You take the pr0n away from him and you might aswell take is life too. A day without boobs is a day without air to breath. So uhh...about that PC..er.... probably wake on lan. Uh yeah...wake on lan. Carry on.




    Yep. I'm bored, sleepy and high on caffeine and sugar ;D
  • edcentricedcentric near Milwaukee, Wisconsin Icrontian
    edited May 2004
    VoE, Be careful, you will prove all of those things that people say about you.

    This computer is on an UPS isn't it? If not that is step #1. It could be power fluxuations. But my money is on the "wake on ..." settings. While you are in the BIOS make sure that it is also set to not restart after power restore.

    People trying to dial into modems is a lot more common than you might think.
  • ArmoArmo Mr. Nice Guy Is Dead,Only Aqua Remains Member
    edited May 2004
    he needs a NO GHOSTS ALLOWED sign inside the case
  • Straight_ManStraight_Man Geeky, in my own way Naples, FL Icrontian
    edited May 2004
    jeffreyb wrote:
    Hi PrimeSuspect,
    I'll check that out - it could be the solution.
    That would also mean that someone is dialing his modem number - which is strange, since its only ever used for connecting to the net.


    Regards.
    JEFFREY

    Um, if Wake on Ring is on, any call into that phone number can wake computer-- even misdialled ones....
  • BoogieBoogie Happy Valley, UT, USA
    edited May 2004
    Yeah! Let m....er...him download the pr0n in peace!


    A day without boobs is a day without air to breath. :D
  • oCoMiKoCoMiK Oswego, IL
    edited May 2004
    jeffreyb wrote:
    Hi PrimeSuspect,
    I'll check that out - it could be the solution.
    That would also mean that someone is dialing his modem number - which is strange, since its only ever used for connecting to the net.

    Regards.
    JEFFREY

    Not necessarily. I have had systems in the past that have had WakeOn Ring set and just a fluncuation in the phone line voltage would fire up the system.

    Doing what either prime suggests or checking "the power on after power failure" setting if applicable (and as I believe was already mentioned) should take care of your problem.


    Ocomik

    www.ocomik.net
    www.ocomik.net/blog/index.html
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