Why does my pc turn itself on?

WindowsStar · 04 Aug 2010

Thank you for all the extra information. For my situation my machines were all loaded Windows XP Professional and I never had an issue. Then in February 2010 I decided to take the plunge and convert may main machines to Windows 7 Ultimate. I started with my Wife’s machine thinking it would be the simplest (wasn’t long story). What I thought was going to take about 4 hours took all day. At the end of the day I powered her machine off and went to bed. When I woke in the morning her machine was on, I thought maybe she turned it on and was trying to use it. I asked her and she said she did not touch it because she knew I was working on it. I dismissed it and continued; hours later I was finished and powered the machine off. I worked on other projects left the house for a few hours but upon return I found her machine on. No one was home so I could not understand how the machine could be on. I turned it off and we enjoyed the rest of our day. Later I was in the office looking at my machine for the Windows 7 upgrade and I heard her machine start powering up, I freaked out because it was 11 at night and everyone was in bed. I watched it turn on and go all the way to logon. I waited to see if maybe someone had hacked into my system and was accessing the machine remotely. Nope the machine just sat there until the power saving turned on. I then moved the mouse pressed the keyboard and the machine jumped to life. I worked on it for a while looking for anything that could tell me why it came on. I could find nothing. I powered it off and the machine stayed off for the next whole day. I then started working on my kids machine and after many hours was done and powered it off. You guessed it a few hours later it powered on. At this point I figured it was a BIOS issue so I downloaded the newest BIOS from Dell. That did not fix it both machines randomly would power on. I began think how could an install of Windows 7 make the machines wake from a complete power off. The next day I called Dell and they replaced the motherboard. Machine still did it. Dell then replaced the motherboard, memory and CPU. Machine still booted up randomly. Next they had me try some experimentally BIOS upgrades. The machines still booted up randomly. Eventually after moths Dell and I gave up. I either leave the machine on 24 hours (my wife and my machine) or turn off the machine via a power strip (my kids).

I have the powercfg –h off on my machine and I have disabled all power management as well has turned off auto updates from Microsoft and the machine still powers up randomly.

At this moment my machine has powercfg –h off, and auto updates on, but I have been leaving the machine on 24 hours. I have no issues with the machine on.

I hope that helps. Sorry so long, but I wanted to let you know what I have done. -WS

1genius · 04 Aug 2010

Well it’s certainly getting interesting. Your scenario really leans towards a Windows 7 issue. But here’s a real monkey wrench for me to throw into the works. While sitting here at my kitchen table composing another post (working on one of these three 8540w’s) at 3:16 PM the replacement 8540w formatted with Windows XP Pro turned itself on, completely booted up and with the lid closed. I even had another 8540w stacked on top of it. I sat here and watched it happen. Yup, real freaky. However since this has been happening for sometime to my other 8540w’s formatted with Windows 7 Ultimate (usually around midnight Saturday) and twice now with the replacement unit running Windows XP Pro, I can’t consider this isolated to Windows 7 Ultimate. Guess it’s getting time to climb out onto the ledge!

Now what?

Robbie

WindowsStar · 04 Aug 2010

Robbie: Somehow my issue seems to have to do with the install of Windows 7. I never had the problem until I installed Windows 7. I wonder by chance is there some low level (i.e. BIOS) change that Windows 7 does when it installs??? Freaky; I did have my Windows XP machine boot up at 12:15am one time, but it was only one time. I put the drives back to Windows 7 and then they boot randomly.

1genius · 04 Aug 2010

That was going to be my next thought however I’ve been thru several BIOS versions and am still having the same issues. This doesn’t mean that the OS couldn’t be backwards affecting the BIOS however that’s a question for a much higher level software/hardware technician than what I’d know.

Both my sons have HP G62t laptops with Intel T series processors. I liked them so much (and they ran so well) I got my Mom a G72t with the Intel T4400 processor. All are running Windows 7 Home Premium with no problems. Wouldn’t the BIOS chipsets for the 8540w be the same? Could the difference have anything to do with the i7 processors? Does HP also sell the chipsets they privately manufacture to other computer companies like, uh, maybe Dell? Can Geico really save me a bundle of money... opps,never mind.

BTW I did climb out onto the ledge (working wirelessly) but just because it’s an incredibly hot and humid night here in Jersey. Still deciding whether or not to take the ‘plunge.’ My fate lies in the hands of HP Tech Support!

Regards,
Robbie

WindowsStar · 05 Aug 2010

1genius said:

That was going to be my next thought however I’ve been thru several BIOS versions and am still having the same issues. This doesn’t mean that the OS couldn’t be backwards affecting the BIOS however that’s a question for a much higher level software/hardware technician than what I’d know.

Both my sons have HP G62t laptops with Intel T series processors. I liked them so much (and they ran so well) I got my Mom a G72t with the Intel T4400 processor. All are running Windows 7 Home Premium with no problems. Wouldn’t the BIOS chipsets for the 8540w be the same? Could the difference have anything to do with the i7 processors? Does HP also sell the chipsets they privately manufacture to other computer companies like, uh, maybe Dell? Can Geico really save me a bundle of money... opps,never mind.

BTW I did climb out onto the ledge (working wirelessly) but just because it’s an incredibly hot and humid night here in Jersey. Still deciding whether or not to take the ‘plunge.’ My fate lies in the hands of HP Tech Support!

Regards,
Robbie

It is very possible that chipsets, BIOS, etc. are shared between system builders. At one point I read that there were only 5 real manufactures and they distribute to all system builders (Gateway, Dell, IBM, Leveno, HP, Toshiba, Sony etc.).

For me my solution is to leave the machine on or turn it off by power strip. It works; not the best solution but works. I keep my eyes open and read the forums just in case someone figures this out so I can patch my machines.

"....and no Geico cannot save you money...they tried and were higher...opps!" :)

1genius · 05 Aug 2010

Thanks for the prompt reply. At 6 PM today I received another call from HP; they really have been good about keeping in touch. The technician now has an 8540w on his desk that they loaded Windows 7 onto from the setup CD that ships with the unit. His initial thought was for me to format the XP drive with their included Windows 7 disc however this unit is already booting on it’s own in XP. They are going to keep an eye on theirs and see if it boots as well. Only hole I can shoot in their theory is if they relate it to something in Windows 7 then why does my XP machine come on as well. I mentioned your thoughts of anything from Windows 7 affecting the BIOS or sending/installing something back into it. His thoughts were it would be quite unlikely. He also stated that to ‘get the engineers attention’ he really has to be able to replicate and show them the same problem I’m having. I guess they can’t trust John Q Public 100% to not have ‘tampered’ with the BIOS or any of the hardware. I don’t know what good it would do to setup a camera with an intervalometer in an attempt to catch it in the act. All you’d see would be the power indicator come on and the unit booting up. I suppose the test has to be a ’virgin’ unit from their inventory and running in their laboratory under their controlled conditions.

Hope they come up with something soon; I’m getting nervous out here on this ledge!

Regards again,
Robbie

Teerex · 05 Aug 2010

A Windows 7 with Media Center will wake up from sleep to do a Media Center update. The scheduled time is usually 3 or 4 AM.

You can look for it in Event Viewer.

Why does my pc turn itself on?-mcupdate.jpg

WindowsStar · 05 Aug 2010

Teerex said:

A Windows 7 with Media Center will wake up from sleep to do a Media Center update. The scheduled time is 4 AM.

You can look for it in Event Viewer.

Yep, checked that, this is not my issue but read other threads where this fixed it.

Teerex · 05 Aug 2010

WindowsStar said:

Teerex said:

A Windows 7 with Media Center will wake up from sleep to do a Media Center update. The scheduled time is 4 AM.

You can look for it in Event Viewer.

Yep, checked that, this is not my issue but read other threads where this fixed it.

Oh, I was answering a question already solved.

Sorry.

I would offer a very prosaic explanation for your mistery, a malfunctioning mainboard switch. A short circuit, or an electronic malfunction.

WindowsStar · 05 Aug 2010

Teerex said:

WindowsStar said:

Teerex said:

A Windows 7 with Media Center will wake up from sleep to do a Media Center update. The scheduled time is 4 AM.

You can look for it in Event Viewer.

Yep, checked that, this is not my issue but read other threads where this fixed it.

Oh, I was answering a question already solved.

Sorry.

I would offer a very prosaic explanation for your mistery, a malfunctioning mainboard switch. A short circuit, or an electronic malfunction.

No, no quite ok, I have not posted anything about WMC for the OP, so that is a great idea. WMC was not my issue. Thank you for jumping in sometimes it is very helpful to remind us. :)