Pc starting up on it's own after an hour.

Lupylu

I have a PC that is starting up on it's own after being turned off for an hour. Is there any kind of timer that could do this? Also sometimes the cpu fan doesn't always start up. If anyone has any ideas, I would be very grateful.

MoneyMonkey

I have heard of this. Your PC is possessed! You need to get someone to exorcise it!! :rotfl:

Seriously though, the only thing I have heard of is a wake up on LAN signal (ie, turning the PC on from a remote location). I would imagine you would know if you were doing this though.

Perhaps there is a loose connection? Have you tried timing how long it takes exactly? If it is irregular, a loose connection (inside the box) may be that answer.

Sorry I can’t be more help.

MM.

albertross_2

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=123268&highlight=bios

thistleboon

Do you have a virus checker if so make sure it's up to date and then run a full scan.
Worse case scenario is someone has remote access to your PC, this is possible if a virus allowing Virtual Network Computing (VNC) has been secretly (via the virus) loaded onto your machine.

Suggest you look up the term "Illicit servers", it should describe what can happen if your machine is taken over by a third party.
Having said all that, it could be a simple software/hardware problem. Have you installed any new software recently; if running XP go back to a "restore point" when this problem was not occuring.

Lupylu

I haven't installed any new software, it's a fairly new machine, the problems have been happening since I got it. The cpu fan sometimes runs ok & sometimes just shows 0 RPM

ABH_3

Picking up from the post mentioning "Wake On Lan" there is another option inside your bios which is "Wake On Ring" it maybe when your phone company tests their phone lines (something which happens every 24 hours at least) it is triggering WOR and the computer boots up. Or if you have a fax machine plugged into the line, this could also trigger the same response. I would dive into the bios and check the boot options, make sure that WAL or WOR isn't set, as its something easily overlooked when playing around with the bios. If as you say it has been doing this since you purchased the computer, then my money is on this. Or a dodgy power supply unit.

HTH