WoL needs to unplug/replug the power to work!

Hi,

I've been using Wake On Lan for few years without any problem on my W7 x64 and an Intel 82567LF-2 Gigabit controller inside the motherboard.

Now since few weeks, it doesn't always work. Sometimes I must unplug the power cord (when PC is off) and re-plug it. Then, sending a magic packet (by another computer on LAN) works and wake it up.

I had seen this behavior also few years ago but very rarely and I though it was because of static electricity accumulated on power circuitry (please note that I have an external laptop-like AC power adapter). Now it becomes almost systematic. That is every time I want to wake it up I have first to unplug re-plug the power cable on the back of the PC (I unplug the cable from the 4-pin DC power port).

What is this problem ? Did anyone experience this kind of behavior ? any solution ?

In the case my BIOS settings have been altered (which doesn't explain why it works after unplug/re-plug of the power cable), would you remind me those settings (don't remember the states S4 or S5, ...).

Also on my Intel card properties, I have enabled "Wake on Magic Packet". But there is also "Wake on Magic Packet from power-off state" that is not enabled. Should this be enabled ?

thanks

Is your computer a desktop or laptop?

"Also on my Intel card properties, I have enabled "Wake on Magic Packet". But there is also "Wake on Magic Packet from power-off state" that is not enabled." Where are this settings, on BIOS or under Windows?

There are many questions and answers here intel 82567lf 2 wol - Pesquisa Google

Do you want to WOL from sleep or from off state?

Megahertz07 said:

Is your computer a desktop or laptop?

a desktop

Megahertz07 said:

"Also on my Intel card properties, I have enabled "Wake on Magic Packet". But there is also "Wake on Magic Packet from power-off state" that is not enabled." Where are this settings, on BIOS or under Windows?

There are many questions and answers here intel 82567lf 2 wol - Pesquisa Google

Those settings are from Windows.

I also obviously set BIOS parameters so the card can wakeup the desktop from poweroff (don't remember the exact state S5 or something but when the desktop is off, the Intel gigabit controller's led is on so it can receive magic packets)

Barman58 said:

Check the properties tab of the actual network adaptor - Network and sharing Center - Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network Connections and check that the power setting is unchecked to allow windows to control the power of this device

When this is checked Windows will switch off the adaptor to save power when it is not in use for a while, this means that the WOL command cannot be received

I can't find what you said.

But if you mean the power management, I set it so that my desktop never goes to sleep. Also I never put it in sleep intentionally. When I don't need it, I simply shutdown Windows (I don't power it off physically by turning the switch off. That is the LAN card inside the desktop has its led on - it can listen for magic packets)

Megahertz07 said:

Do you want to WOL from sleep or from off state?

As I said it never goes to sleep mode. I don't do it myself and also configured the power management so it NEVER goes to sleep

If you want to WOL only from off state, all settings related are on BIOS. Whatever you do under Windows settings has no effect.

Barman58 said:

There is an additional sleep mode for the Ethernet adaptor - Take a look at the link below, The adaptor power is by default set to be switched off when not in use - this can make WOL fail as the wakup is not fast enough to allow full operation

check out the Prerequisites sub heading

Power Management for Network Devices in Windows 7

Maybe I didn't see it but if you talk about *DeviceSleepOnDisconnect in the the link, it is the Ethernet jack (RJ45). I never unplug the Ethernet RJ45 jack

EDIT: I suspect a PSU problem even if when the computer runs, it provides enough power. Maybe when switched off the PSU can no more supply the real 5v necessary for the LAN card circuitry to listen for magic packets ?!
Also maybe there is some static electricity on the cable preventing the right voltage going to the chassis (this is an external brick PSU like those for laptops). By unplugging it I may discharge that static electricity without knowing si it works again after replugging ?!!