My computer is getting in the habit of randomly turning itself on. Well, maybe it’s not so random. It’s usually while I sleep, and I fear it is plotting something… maybe it’s doing practice runs during the night, what do I know. I do know for sure that I turned it off the night before, but when I wake up, there it is, waiting for me. It’s especially scary because it sleeps in the same room as I do… How long do you figure before it builds a little droid that is capable actually hurting/maiming/killing me??
Yesterday as I was getting out of the shower, I heard strange noises coming from the bedroom. I stepped out of the bathroom to find my computer going through the boot cycle. Maybe it was planning to make me breakfast? Do you guys think there is any hope of domesticating this wild beast? Is it dangerous?
This is starting to sound ominously like the dealings I have with wimmin - can’t tell if it’s trying to kill me or make me breakfast…
If it starts talking like Hal from 2001 RUN!
Seriously, there may be something waking up your computer. It might be a sticky key on your keyboard, if you have one of those keyboards/computers that you can use to turn on your computer. It might be a power glitch. Go into the BIOS setup and see what the default state is after a loss of power. If it’s set to “ON” then the computer might automatically turn on any time the power blinks. Your computer might also be set to wake up if it gets an ethernet message. This is usually called “Wake on LAN” or some such in the BIOS or windows control panel settings for your network card. It might be a loose or frayed cable inside the computer that is occasionally shorting out due to vibrations of people walking across the floor, making the computer think that someone has pressed the power switch.
If all else fails, it might be gremlins.
I’m betting on gremlins. Water, right? I’m going to keep some handy at bedside.
No seriously - this computer can’t be turned on with the keyboard, default after a loss of power is “off,” it’s connected to a funtional UPS, it isn’t connected to any networks or internet (different computer from this one, obviously), and and and - it’s a well-maintained, newer computer, so I would rule out accidental closing of the “power on” switch circuit.
I think I will leave it alone. I will keep a close eye on it though. Sleep with one eye open, as they say. Any exorcists out there among the Dopers?
If you ain’t whoosin’ :
You might look at START- PROGRAMS- ACCESSORIES- SYSYEM TOOLS- SCHEDULED TASKS.
XP will turn itself on to do a scheduled back up, for example.