I shut down my computer as usual last night, and as usual Windows turned
itself off. All very routine. But I forgot to turn off the surge protector
power switch, and this morning, I discovered the computer had turned itself
back on about two hours ago.

I'm assuming there's something I have to check or uncheck to make that stop
happening, but I'm unable to find where to do it.

Thanks for your help.

rontiara wrote:
> I shut down my computer as usual last night, and as usual Windows
> turned itself off. All very routine. But I forgot to turn off the
> surge protector power switch, and this morning, I discovered the
> computer had turned itself back on about two hours ago.
>
> I'm assuming there's something I have to check or uncheck to make
> that stop happening, but I'm unable to find where to do it.
>
> Thanks for your help.

Not a function of the operating system.
Since it cannot be loaded without power.
You need to look in the System Setup/BIOS for a setting or two.
Wake-on-LAN and a method for turning on the computer at a given time.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

rontiara wrote:
> I shut down my computer as usual last night, and as usual Windows
> turned itself off. All very routine. But I forgot to turn off the
> surge protector power switch, and this morning, I discovered the
> computer had turned itself back on about two hours ago.
>
> I'm assuming there's something I have to check or uncheck to make
> that stop happening, but I'm unable to find where to do it.

Shenan Stanley wrote:
> Not a function of the operating system.
> Since it cannot be loaded without power.
> You need to look in the System Setup/BIOS for a setting or two.
> Wake-on-LAN and a method for turning on the computer at a given
> time.

rontiara wrote:
> I thought it would be in BIOS, too. I spent quite some time going
> through the setup, but could find nothing about wake up or start
> time -- or, for that matter, LAN settings.

What is the make/model of the computer?
Perhaps we can help you locate it.

If it is coming on - on its own - it is either a BIOS setting or you have it
setup to power on after a power outage (Power Settings in the BIOS) and it
is either plugged into a timer, a bad UPS or you get surges often...

There is *no* function of Windows XP that can turn on the same computer it
is installed/running on...
After all - if Windows XP isn't running - neither is the job to turn on the
computer.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

You are confusing operating system functions with hardware functions.
BIOS is part of the hardware; no Windows involved. After the BIOS
sets up hardware, then Bios goes to read a very first sector on disk
for something called a Master Boot Record. Once the MBR is loaded and
starts executing, then that boot program looks for and loads Windows.
Windows first displays it logo.

Any password before that logo is BIOS - a hardware password. Any
password after is Windows - an operating system password. Those two
passwords have nothing in common.

Do not be scared of anything in BIOS. First, record existing
settings with pencil and paper. This only because you are there a
first time. Then always save those recorded BIOS values. Second, you
have the choice of saving any changes (intentionally or accidentally
made) or of restoring previous settings. Simply take your time when
exiting BIOS. Now you have two reasons why BIOS need not create fear.

Shenan's reply was correct except that the expression Wake-On-LAN is
not accurate. A list of peripherals that can wake the computer only
includes LAN. Look for that port that also connects to UPS. That port
must be disabled so that UPS does not awaken the computer.

Meanwhile UPS does not provide hardware protection. If in doubt, then
look at its own speciation numbers. The UPS has only one function - to
protect your data from blackouts and brownouts.

Interconnecting cable is also part of a function to protect data.
That cable, intended to only shutdown the Operating system, also is
talking to hardware - telling the BIOS to wake up the computer and to
load Windows. You must disable that function by changing CMOS values
in BIOS.

rontiara wrote:
> It's not an off-the-shelf model. It's an AMD Athlon XP 2600+ that was custom
> built, but not for me; it was a floor model. And of course the local company
> that originally built it is out of business.
>
> The computer is not plugged into a timer, but the problem first surfaced
> when I installed an APC UPS with surge protection. Since the one-page
> "user's manual" was less than helpful and said not a word about precisely
> what the power switch controlled, I left it on. There's nothing I can see in
> the UPS software that says anything about automatic power-on.
>
> I can solve the problem by turning off the UPS power switch, and perhaps
> that would be the best way to solve the problem. I've wasted enough of your
> time, although I really appreciate your trying to help!
>
> I'll look at power settings in the BIOS; now I'm just plain curious!
>
> But I have another question you might be able to help me with: since the
> company that built the machine is out of business, I'm not sure if an
> administrator password was set, and I didn't want to monkey with it in the
> BIOS (I'm fairly familiar with computer technology, but the registry and BIOS
> still scare me).
>
> Is there any way to change and/or delete an administrator password if you
> don't know the original settings? The computer is a one-user (me) PC I use
> for my home-based business, and once in a while I get an error message saying
> I don't have administrative rights to do something.

rontiara wrote:
<snip>
> But I have another question you might be able to help me with:
> since the company that built the machine is out of business, I'm
> not sure if an administrator password was set, and I didn't want to
> monkey with it in the BIOS (I'm fairly familiar with computer
> technology, but the registry and BIOS still scare me).
>
> Is there any way to change and/or delete an administrator password
> if you don't know the original settings? The computer is a
> one-user (me) PC I use for my home-based business, and once in a
> while I get an error message saying I don't have administrative
> rights to do something.
<snip>

If you have a BIOS password (one that comes up when you try to enter the
BIOS before Windows even boots) --> The easiest methods of resetting this
are:

- Removing the motherboard battery for several hours.
- Finding the jumper setting on the motherboard to 'short' the power to the
BIOS and reset the whole thing.

If you mean a Windows XP administrator password - you have a few options...
I'll play this the same as if you have forgotten the administrator
password...

Try here..
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/lostpass.htm

Use this as a last resort:
http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/bootdisk.html

And after you fix it so you can log on as the actuall 'administrator'
user...
Set a good strong password for that user.

Understanding what a good password might be is vital to your
personal and system security. You may think you do not need to password
your home computer, as you may have it in a locked area (your home) where
no one else has access to it. Remember, however, you aren't always
"in that locked area" when using your computer online - meaning you likely
have usernames and passwords associated with web sites and the likes that
you would prefer other people do not discover/use. This is why you should
understand and utilize good passwords.

Good passwords are those that meet these general rules
(mileage may vary):

Passwords should contain at least six characters, and the character
string should contain at least three of these four character types:
- uppercase letters
- lowercase letters
- numerals
- nonalphanumeric characters (e.g., *, %, &, !,

Passwords should not contain your name/username.
Passwords should be unique to you and easy to remember.

One method many people are using today is to make up a phrase that
describes a point in their life and then turning that phrase into their
password by using only certain letters out of each word in that phrase.
It's much better than using your birthday month/year or your anniversary
in a pure sense. For example, let's say my phrase is:
'Great new job in November 2006'
I could come up with this password from that:
'Gr8n3wj0bNOV2006'

The password tip is in the one time section, but I highly
recommend you periodically change your passwords. The suggested time
varies, but I will throw out a 'once in every 3 to 6 months for
every account you have.'

Also - many people complain that they just cannot remember the passwords
for all the sites they have - so they choose one password and use it for
everything. Not a good idea. A much better method would be to use a
Password Management tool - so you only have to remember one password,
but it opens an application that stores your username/passwords for
everything else - plus other valuable information. One that I can
recommend:

KeePass Password Safe
http://keepass.sourceforge.net/

It can even generate passwords for you.

w_tom wrote:
<snip>
> Shenan's reply was correct except that the expression Wake-On-LAN
> is not accurate. A list of peripherals that can wake the computer
> only includes LAN. Look for that port that also connects to UPS.
> That port must be disabled so that UPS does not awaken the computer.
<snip>

You are correct in that it is not the only option - however - the phrasing
is correct for what i was describing and would - in a BIOS - be listed. I
decided not to just say WoL.. *grin*

http://webopedia.internet.com/TERM/W/WOL.html

You did not always (1) have the option of "Wake-on-" anything (may still
not) and (2) when the option first appeared it was only "Wake-on-LAN" - it
was not until later that the whole slew of options for what to "wake up the
computer' with came about. Usually - still (when they even exist) - they
are limted to external communications like Network and Modem for most home
systems.

What I am curious about now is the make of the motherboard itself - so we
might look up the motherboard manual on the Internet and help the OP
further.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

Thanks to you both for your great information! It will take me a while to
digest all that -- but you have a point about passwords. I'll work on it and
let you know how I come out.

I'm getting in over my head, so I'm not sure how to find out the
manufacturer of the motherboard. Does NVIDIA nForce2 sound right?



"Shenan Stanley" wrote:

> rontiara wrote:
> <snip>
> > But I have another question you might be able to help me with:
> > since the company that built the machine is out of business, I'm
> > not sure if an administrator password was set, and I didn't want to
> > monkey with it in the BIOS (I'm fairly familiar with computer
> > technology, but the registry and BIOS still scare me).
> >
> > Is there any way to change and/or delete an administrator password
> > if you don't know the original settings? The computer is a
> > one-user (me) PC I use for my home-based business, and once in a
> > while I get an error message saying I don't have administrative
> > rights to do something.
> <snip>
>
> If you have a BIOS password (one that comes up when you try to enter the
> BIOS before Windows even boots) --> The easiest methods of resetting this
> are:
>
> - Removing the motherboard battery for several hours.
> - Finding the jumper setting on the motherboard to 'short' the power to the
> BIOS and reset the whole thing.
>
> If you mean a Windows XP administrator password - you have a few options...
> I'll play this the same as if you have forgotten the administrator
> password...
>
> Try here..
> http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/lostpass.htm
>
> Use this as a last resort:
> http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/bootdisk.html
>
> And after you fix it so you can log on as the actuall 'administrator'
> user...
> Set a good strong password for that user.
>
> Understanding what a good password might be is vital to your
> personal and system security. You may think you do not need to password
> your home computer, as you may have it in a locked area (your home) where
> no one else has access to it. Remember, however, you aren't always
> "in that locked area" when using your computer online - meaning you likely
> have usernames and passwords associated with web sites and the likes that
> you would prefer other people do not discover/use. This is why you should
> understand and utilize good passwords.
>
> Good passwords are those that meet these general rules
> (mileage may vary):
>
> Passwords should contain at least six characters, and the character
> string should contain at least three of these four character types:
> - uppercase letters
> - lowercase letters
> - numerals
> - nonalphanumeric characters (e.g., *, %, &, !,
>
> Passwords should not contain your name/username.
> Passwords should be unique to you and easy to remember.
>
> One method many people are using today is to make up a phrase that
> describes a point in their life and then turning that phrase into their
> password by using only certain letters out of each word in that phrase.
> It's much better than using your birthday month/year or your anniversary
> in a pure sense. For example, let's say my phrase is:
> 'Great new job in November 2006'
> I could come up with this password from that:
> 'Gr8n3wj0bNOV2006'
>
> The password tip is in the one time section, but I highly
> recommend you periodically change your passwords. The suggested time
> varies, but I will throw out a 'once in every 3 to 6 months for
> every account you have.'
>
> Also - many people complain that they just cannot remember the passwords
> for all the sites they have - so they choose one password and use it for
> everything. Not a good idea. A much better method would be to use a
> Password Management tool - so you only have to remember one password,
> but it opens an application that stores your username/passwords for
> everything else - plus other valuable information. One that I can
> recommend:
>
> KeePass Password Safe
> http://keepass.sourceforge.net/
>
> It can even generate passwords for you.
>
> w_tom wrote:
> <snip>
> > Shenan's reply was correct except that the expression Wake-On-LAN
> > is not accurate. A list of peripherals that can wake the computer
> > only includes LAN. Look for that port that also connects to UPS.
> > That port must be disabled so that UPS does not awaken the computer.
> <snip>
>
> You are correct in that it is not the only option - however - the phrasing
> is correct for what i was describing and would - in a BIOS - be listed. I
> decided not to just say WoL.. *grin*
>
> http://webopedia.internet.com/TERM/W/WOL.html
>
> You did not always (1) have the option of "Wake-on-" anything (may still
> not) and (2) when the option first appeared it was only "Wake-on-LAN" - it
> was not until later that the whole slew of options for what to "wake up the
> computer' with came about. Usually - still (when they even exist) - they
> are limted to external communications like Network and Modem for most home
> systems.
>
> What I am curious about now is the make of the motherboard itself - so we
> might look up the motherboard manual on the Internet and help the OP
> further.
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
> --
> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
>
>

rontiara wrote:
> Thanks to you both for your great information! It will take me a
> while to digest all that -- but you have a point about passwords.
> I'll work on it and let you know how I come out.
>
> I'm getting in over my head, so I'm not sure how to find out the
> manufacturer of the motherboard. Does NVIDIA nForce2 sound right?

Go here:
Belarc Advisor
http://belarc.com/free_download.html

Get it, run it - and it should tell you what your mainboard is and MUCH MUCH
more.
I suggest printing the results for safe keeping.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html