Computer waking at night, trying to find the cause..

Hi,
A long time ago it used to happen I found out it was windows media center updating it's guide.
I turned it off in windows features since i did not use it.
There are also settings if you open and look in media center to stop it but I did not use it so I turned it off completely.

Windows updates also does it's deeds at 3:am and so might fragmenting hard drive.

Best overall policy is to shut down when not using a machine or at least is my policy :)

Go to step #4 in this tutorial: How to Troubleshoot a Vista or Windows 7 Sleep Mode Problem

Then open a command prompt (cmd) and type/copy/paste powercfg lastwake at the blinking cursor, press enter. The line that you're interested in is Description, that will tell you what was the last device to wake your machine. It may be possible to invoke this cmd every time you see your machine awake in order to create a list of what is waking it.
Most everyone sees the mouse, keyboard, and an audio or network card, maybe you have a balky mouse or a stuck key on your board.

It may be easier though to use step #5 to see all the devices that could wake your machine and then go over each devices settings, be aware that you will need an elevated cmd prompt for this step.

There is also a possibility that a task such as, an overnight malware scan could be awakening your machine.
Do you use a screensaver? try turning it off.

The tutorial is pretty comprehensive and gives links and tips to help like the screensaver link in step #7, and how to open cmd prompts.


Just saw TZ's posting, yep, there can be behind the scenes activity, and I follow his advice; "If I'm not usin' it I shut it down".

unko said:

Hello, 10 waking computer is common but 7.. Never had that! Sometimes multiple times in the same night!!

I look at the windows log entries and see entries from Avira Antivirus. I checked its settings and can't see scheduled wake..?

How many appliances in your house, do you leave running when you go to bed?

Like it or not, a computer is an appliance, made by the lowest bidder from the cheapest parts they can buy.

Just like any other appliance, it should be shut off when you're not using it. Both Sleep and Hibernate are well known to be flawed and should never be trusted. I disable them both!

So when you're done with your computer each day, SHUT IT OFF!
And the best way to do that, is to run the shutdown routine in Windows and then switch off the power strip that it's plugged into. That is especially critical if you have an electrical storm in your area.

Good Luck,
TechnoMage

Glad to hear you found a solution! If you wouldn't mind, would you mark your thread solved? That way others know there is a solution in your case.