I have an Acer Aspire with Windows 7. Sometimes late at night (early a.m.) it comes on by itself, then shuts back down again. Any ideas as to why, and is it anything to be alarmed about?
nikhil
November 11, 2012 at 4:16 am
theres probably a timer on the computer just try switching it off or remove it
Raghav Gupta
November 3, 2012 at 5:10 am
You must have done auto backup at that time or wake up over LAN
Anonymous
October 25, 2012 at 6:09 pm
haha I never knew something like this existed
Aniket Singh
October 25, 2012 at 3:31 pm
you probably have windows automatic update set to download each night. that is the only site that i know of that can acess your drive. go to the windows security setting in control panel, and check update options. otherwise a mouse is chewing on the wires every night.
Lisa Santika Onggrid
October 25, 2012 at 12:23 pm
You might have set up some automations in that time. Try to open Windows Scheduler. Delete what you think is unneeded. Then check programs you have installed in your computer. Maybe you set them to do something at that specific time? At this point, nothing to be alarmed of.
Second possibility, which is more dangerous, is that an (or more) unwanted program(s) has resided in your computer, making attempt to spread itself or 'phone home' in that schedule. Scan your computer with malware scanner like Malware Bytes.
June Dykes
October 24, 2012 at 9:10 pm
Thanks guys, looks like my grandson set windows to update at 3:00 am.
Henree Arriola de Garcia
October 24, 2012 at 2:35 pm
it's a demon.
Caroline West
October 24, 2012 at 5:51 am
My Laptop used to do this and for me it was when Windows was installing *Updates*. I believe you can change the time Windows installs updates automatically (from Control Panel) or turn it off and Windows will then Notify you of updates. For me I get update alerts in my Task Tray now (bottom on the right) where a 'Bubble' comes up saying to click to install them. Give it a try and see if it works (if I am right!) :-)
Boni Oloff
October 24, 2012 at 5:06 am
I never think a dead computer can wake up itself without anyone press the power button. but based on Dino Pearsons, it should, try to ask someone in the network.
Bill
October 24, 2012 at 12:35 am
Look at the other responses first, this is very likely incorrect:
First ask yourself this: Is the computer truly off? It might be in sleep mode, or possibly hibernated. If you don't need the state of programs to be saved at night, do a full shutdown.
Another possibility (laptops only) is the position of the monitor. My laptop will automatically turn on from sleep or hibernate when the lid is opened. If you don't close the lid, try that. If you do leave the lid closed, the mechanism might be broken, or a setting is incorrect.
Erlis D.
October 23, 2012 at 7:49 pm
Probably there is a ghost turning it on! :PP
I think you should see the devices you have connected your computer with.. Probably it's what Dino said! Try disconnect everything connected with your computer, and see what happens.. (Try disconnecting each device every time, so maybe you can find where the problem come from...)
druv vb
October 23, 2012 at 6:20 pm
You can always shut down and pull the plug or switch the power socket off. Thats what I usually do.
Anonymous
October 23, 2012 at 3:01 pm
Disable Wake on Lan and see if any schedule is activated in windows which automatically turn your pc on.
Dimal Chandrasiri
October 23, 2012 at 11:22 am
Turn off the "Wake Up On LAN" Option. this will help you. and if you have scheduled any windows or program updates to be performed at a certain time, please check them.! they might have set to a late night time...
Saurabh Banwaskar
October 23, 2012 at 8:35 am
Ya It's Possible When wake on lan enabled !!! Disable It And Check It Out
ha14
October 23, 2012 at 7:48 am
check event viewer and see what info it gives you then you can check which process is doing this and terminate it.
Click Start. In the Start Search box, type task scheduler. see if there is any task to be run at night.
perhaps your windows update is doing this?
Roi Ezekiel Arcega
October 23, 2012 at 7:44 am
Please do check your BIOS settings in "Power Management" -> "Auto On Time" and set it to "Disable".
Hope it helps. Cheers!
shaurya gupta
October 26, 2012 at 3:31 pm
yes that is right...i think...quite spooky.
David Cornish
October 23, 2012 at 7:32 am
It's possibly the Wake-on-LAN setting, or I wonder if Windows Update is set to receive updates at 3am?
Dino Pearsons
October 23, 2012 at 12:38 am
It's possible your computer has Wake-on-LAN turned on, and that's what turns it on.
Also, some apps "phone home" at pre-scheduled times, usually during night so they don't disturb the user. There are some viruses and trojans that do this as well, but if you have anti-virus software installed, you should be fine.
You can turn off the Wake-on-LAN option in your BIOS settings.
Douglas Mutay
October 23, 2012 at 7:43 am
Yes, Dino. You're right. If it has suddenly started to turn itself on after you have installed a new software you shoud check setting of the program. Unless you have activated the Wake-on-lan option yourself. This setting is usually off by default. The other option is to check your Scheduled Task on control panel and see if there is no a task that is scheduled to run at a certain time.
theres probably a timer on the computer just try switching it off or remove it
You must have done auto backup at that time or wake up over LAN
haha I never knew something like this existed
you probably have windows automatic update set to download each night. that is the only site that i know of that can acess your drive. go to the windows security setting in control panel, and check update options. otherwise a mouse is chewing on the wires every night.
You might have set up some automations in that time. Try to open Windows Scheduler. Delete what you think is unneeded. Then check programs you have installed in your computer. Maybe you set them to do something at that specific time? At this point, nothing to be alarmed of.
Second possibility, which is more dangerous, is that an (or more) unwanted program(s) has resided in your computer, making attempt to spread itself or 'phone home' in that schedule. Scan your computer with malware scanner like Malware Bytes.
Thanks guys, looks like my grandson set windows to update at 3:00 am.
it's a demon.
My Laptop used to do this and for me it was when Windows was installing *Updates*. I believe you can change the time Windows installs updates automatically (from Control Panel) or turn it off and Windows will then Notify you of updates. For me I get update alerts in my Task Tray now (bottom on the right) where a 'Bubble' comes up saying to click to install them. Give it a try and see if it works (if I am right!) :-)
I never think a dead computer can wake up itself without anyone press the power button. but based on Dino Pearsons, it should, try to ask someone in the network.
Look at the other responses first, this is very likely incorrect:
First ask yourself this: Is the computer truly off? It might be in sleep mode, or possibly hibernated. If you don't need the state of programs to be saved at night, do a full shutdown.
Another possibility (laptops only) is the position of the monitor. My laptop will automatically turn on from sleep or hibernate when the lid is opened. If you don't close the lid, try that. If you do leave the lid closed, the mechanism might be broken, or a setting is incorrect.
Probably there is a ghost turning it on! :PP
I think you should see the devices you have connected your computer with.. Probably it's what Dino said! Try disconnect everything connected with your computer, and see what happens.. (Try disconnecting each device every time, so maybe you can find where the problem come from...)
You can always shut down and pull the plug or switch the power socket off. Thats what I usually do.
Disable Wake on Lan and see if any schedule is activated in windows which automatically turn your pc on.
Turn off the "Wake Up On LAN" Option. this will help you. and if you have scheduled any windows or program updates to be performed at a certain time, please check them.! they might have set to a late night time...
Ya It's Possible When wake on lan enabled !!! Disable It And Check It Out
check event viewer and see what info it gives you then you can check which process is doing this and terminate it.
Click Start. In the Start Search box, type task scheduler. see if there is any task to be run at night.
perhaps your windows update is doing this?
Please do check your BIOS settings in "Power Management" -> "Auto On Time" and set it to "Disable".
Hope it helps. Cheers!
yes that is right...i think...quite spooky.
It's possibly the Wake-on-LAN setting, or I wonder if Windows Update is set to receive updates at 3am?
It's possible your computer has Wake-on-LAN turned on, and that's what turns it on.
Also, some apps "phone home" at pre-scheduled times, usually during night so they don't disturb the user. There are some viruses and trojans that do this as well, but if you have anti-virus software installed, you should be fine.
You can turn off the Wake-on-LAN option in your BIOS settings.
Yes, Dino. You're right. If it has suddenly started to turn itself on after you have installed a new software you shoud check setting of the program. Unless you have activated the Wake-on-lan option yourself. This setting is usually off by default. The other option is to check your Scheduled Task on control panel and see if there is no a task that is scheduled to run at a certain time.
yes i think that too.