Windows 7 auto power up

Thanks very much everyone for your help so far. I'll have a look at the software Carl and let you know if I decided to install it.

In my ideal world I would shut the computer down rather than put it to sleep. However I am yet to try this bios idea ealier in the thread, so I will also update you on that.

Auto Poweron & Shutdown is able to allow users to do this all of the following:
Control your computer resume from power-off state (hibernation).
Wake up your computer from sleep mode (standby).
Playback a keyboard and mouse macro, a useful feature for such as TV record.
Run programs, close programs, open files and open URL at any specified time.
Play mp3, wma , wav and flash at any specified time.
Logs on system automatically (Win2000/XP/Vista/7).
Shutdown or reboot , log off, lock session, close monitor, make computer enter sleep mode (standby/hibernation) at any time.
Synchronize your PC's time with an atomic clock server.

I am reading this as this software would not be able to turn on your computer for you. I do not believe any software would be able to do that - when you really turn off your computer - not hibernate or sleep - everything is off, software cannot run.

I am also doubtful about the BIOS feature.

What I mean, if I want my TV to turn itself on in the morning, it has to have at least two features - alarm-like on (not all of them do that) and stand-by. I mean when you press the red button on your remote, your TV just enters sleep, not off.

Same with PCs. When I power down my PC I actually unplug it from the power grid - I have an on/off button on my surge protector. Do you think any software is capable of being aware of that? I don't think so.

Conclusion: if you want to turn your PC into an alarm clock, you should put it to sleep, not turn off, and then use the tutorial posted earlier in this thread.

If anyone knows a better solution, I'd be happy to learn it.

I turn my PC off every night before I go to bed. I don't unplug it I just turn it off the normal windows way. In my BIOS in the power options (Power On By RTC Alarm) I have it set to turn on every day at 8.00 AM. My coffee machine starts at 7.55 AM. My PC auto logs me in so by the time I have my coffee poured and sit down in front of it, its all set to go. As long as you don't unplug the PC the standby 5V power in the power supply will keep running and the PC can turn itself on.

alphanumeric said:

In my BIOS in the power options (Power On By RTC Alarm) I have it set to turn on every day at 8.00 AM.

If your BIOS has this option, then sure. But it won't work if I unplug the PC .

Myself, I just press the button before I go turn my tea kettle on . Well, three buttons - power to DSL router, power to the PC, turn on the PC.

CarlTR6 said:

I just leave mine on and wake it from sleep. The monitor and disk drives have gone to sleep and the fans are a low speeds. Yes, it is still using power as are the the three TV's in our house as well as the microwave, the coffee maker, the kitchen stove, the refrigerator, the hot water heater, etc, etc.

I turn everything off, just the fridge working overnight.