My PC turned on by itself and I am scared

**CJDMaster804** · July 8th, 2004, 12:50 PM

Yep, after being off for 10 min it shut on by itself.

Why/How would it do this??

**cunokyle** · July 8th, 2004, 12:54 PM

Overheating...Virus...any number of things...what are your system specs? What is your CPU temp?

**Undeadlord** · July 8th, 2004, 12:56 PM

Cunokyle,

I think you read it wrong

or maybe I did .. CJD, are you saying your system turned itself ON?

Undeadlord

**Detritus** · July 8th, 2004, 01:03 PM

My computer was doing this before and killing hard drives. That was when I took it apart and found several swollen and leaking caps on the motherboard.

**cunokyle** · July 8th, 2004, 02:06 PM

Originally Posted by cunokyle

Overheating...Virus...any number of things...what are your system specs? What is your CPU temp?

ooo...I did read that wrong!

**jman01pa** · July 8th, 2004, 02:09 PM

Go into the BIOS and turn off the "Wake on xxxx" or "Power on xxxx" functions/events

**FatalException** · July 8th, 2004, 02:26 PM

If the above solutions don't work, I know this great group of people...

1-800-GHOSTBUSTERS

Ask for Peter or Egon, they know what they're doing...

But really, I think it may be something with a short inside of your PC. Like someone else mentioned, it could be a leaking capacitor or the like. I'd suggest unhooking all components except your motherboard, RAM, video card, and fans. If your computer still turns itself on randomly, it is likely one of those 4 components or the power supply. If it stops turning itself on after unhooking your hard drives, CD-ROM's, expansion cards, etc, then it is likely an issue with one of them.

Be sure to check the BIOS for that wake on time setting too!

**LeftCoast** · July 8th, 2004, 02:28 PM

Originally Posted by cunokyle

ooo...I did read that wrong!

Understandable. Not the most reader-friendly use of the English language.

I'd disconnect from the net and see if it happens. If it does, Detritus may be onto something.

**samwichse** · July 8th, 2004, 04:40 PM

I've got an old emachines that does the same thing, except even more randomly. It can be off for days and then at 2:30 in the morning "whiiiiir beep" and it's over in the corner turning itself on. I think I've narrowed it down to an intermittant short around the PCI slots (maybe the board grounding against the case) that sporadically shorts itself enough that the power supply (which is "shorted" to turn on in the first place, look at the ATX spec) turns on. My guess is a short against the case like that.

Sam

**jman01pa** · July 8th, 2004, 04:54 PM

Originally Posted by samwichse

I've got an old emachines that does the same thing, except even more randomly. It can be off for days and then at 2:30 in the morning "whiiiiir beep" and it's over in the corner turning itself on. I think I've narrowed it down to an intermittant short around the PCI slots (maybe the board grounding against the case) that sporadically shorts itself enough that the power supply (which is "shorted" to turn on in the first place, look at the ATX spec) turns on. My guess is a short against the case like that.

Sam

The scary part is that the pc isnt even plugged in.

**nurdonsite2** · July 8th, 2004, 05:18 PM

^^^^

WTF???? lol

**ollie5050** · July 8th, 2004, 05:44 PM

Originally Posted by FatalException

If the above solutions don't work, I know this great group of people...

1-800-GHOSTBUSTERS

Ask for Peter or Egon, they know what they're doing...

Uh, Its got no power? thats a new one...........

ANywho. like so many have said before, remove everything but the basics, and seee what it does. also, you dont have any animals? cause i was sitting in my room once and my computer suddenly turrned on. i was like what in the world????? so i kept trying to figure it out, finaly i borrowed a buddies laptop powered with a small web cam, i made sure the area was lit while i was gone, (or home for that matter) and what did i see? one of my roommates cats walked by and brushed up against the tower (which sits on the floor) and accedently pushed the button. just a thought...

Ollie

**CJDMaster804** · July 8th, 2004, 06:46 PM

My cas isnt really into computers, Also, this hasnt happened since but when it turned itself on, I decided to let it boot and I checked my Email.

After I chekced my email, I found an email that promised me I can increase my size of "that special part of the mans body" by %25!!!!! for only $19.99!!!

So it was like meant to be by some higher power!!, the PC turned itself on then lead me to this amazing pill for only $19.99!!!

WOW

**sweeper2** · July 9th, 2004, 07:09 AM

do you leave your pc on 24/7, but like in standby or somthing, because the slightest touch of the mouse can turn it on, mine has done that several times, but i think the cat hit the desk and the mouse moved a bit or it could be a program kicking it on.

i am assumming the pc is not fully turned off and turns itself back on (via the pwr button). If so...your **** out of luck on that one... ......."their here...Carolan...Carolan....."

**ted61** · July 9th, 2004, 05:26 PM

Does it plug itself in?

**jman01pa** · July 9th, 2004, 05:39 PM

I had an Epox mother board once that had an option in the bios that allowed you to turn on the pc by moving the mouse or selecting a key on the keyboard.

**CJDMaster804** · July 9th, 2004, 11:56 PM

Yes it plugs itself in.

lmao

**sweeper2** · July 10th, 2004, 12:12 AM

do i smell a fib here.....hmmmmmmmmm

**ArcticFox** · July 10th, 2004, 01:10 AM

Funny you mention this kind of phenomena. Earlier today someone came over to my house and I installed a video card for him. While we were talking the phone rang.....

And a week later........

No, so my dad picks up the phone, and then after a bit hangs up........

And a week later......

Maybe 2 seconds later....
He says he heard me and the guy talking in my room......
There is only one 900Mhz cordless phone in my room, no one touched it, it was on my bed sitting in the base station...... I seriously don't know what happened. My wireless router (2.4Ghz) was turned off at that time.

**StealthyV** · July 10th, 2004, 01:22 AM

*--confused--*

it's prolly a "wake on ____" issue. if your phone rings, it'll turn on, the computer thinking someone is trying to "dial-into" your system.

sometimes if there's a power interruption, and you've set your computer in the BIOS to be "on" in the case of power failure, well there you go.

it could be a hibernate mode, where your computer virtually shuts down, but is awakened by you dropping something on the floor (thus jarring the mouse, etc) which turns it on...

I'd say check your Wake On ____ settings, and make sure nothing is set to remain "on" should an event occur.

~Branson
and JP chicks dig guys with Einstein hair!