After recent XP Update, Computer Now Turning on Automatically on P

[Guest]

I always shut down my computer normally using the Start > Shut Down option
and then I turn the power off on the surge strip.

Since the last XP update from Microsoft (sometime Thursday, 3/15, or Friday,
3/16), when I turn the power on to the surge strip, the computer is starting
to boot on its own and the computer clock is reset to Dec. 31, 2000 11:00pm.
So, I have to reset the clock to the current date.

I've checked for viruses and any other spyware but nothing has come up in my
scans.

Is anyone else having this problem or can help me fix this?
Thanks!

 

[Michael Neal]

I'd start with the CMOS battery. It sounds like the BIOS is reverting to
system deafults because the battery is dead. One of the settings controls
what happens to your box after a power failure. You should have choices
such as "Stay Off", "Power On", "Last State", etc.

 

[Guest]

Hello Michael,
Thank you for your response. The setting is set to "Stay Off" - what does
that mean? This is a newer hp computer - only a few years old! I guess I
have to get someone to replace the CMOS battery for me, right, if that's the
problem?

Thank you. I'm not familiar with the BIOS settings and the hardware of my
system. I'm strictly a computer application person.

 

[Michael Neal]

Hi again.

I thought a posted a reply from a different PC last night, but it's been
almost 24 hours and it has yet to appear. Apologies if this one causes a
duplicate reply.

You can replace the battery yourself. All you have to do is open the PC and
look for a coin-sized battery on the motherboard. After making a note of
its polarity (I think the "+" usually faces up), carefully pry it out of its
cradle, take it to WalMart and buy one just like it, pop it in and away you
go. (Need not mention that all this should be done while computer is
powered off and unplugged from AC!)

These batteries dying is pretty rare these days. PCs usually get replaced
before their batteries fade out, but the symptoms you describe really do
sound like this is the problem. Replacement is only going to cost three
bucks and will either fix the problem or rule it out. Either way, it's an
inexpensive thing to try.

As for the BIOS settings, "Stay Off" simply tells the PC to remain powered
down once electricity is reapplied. "Power On" means it will come back on
automatically after the juice returns. "Last State" simply makes the PC do
what it was doing when the power was removed. If it was on, it comes back
on-- if off, it remains off.

Given your problem, I would have expected it to be set to "Power On", so I
am a little at a loss as to what's happening. I suggest that, after you
change the battery, you select one of the other options, boot, then set it
back to "Stay Off." Perhaps this will make the desired setting stick.

This pretty much exhausts my knowledge of the problem. I'd need to have it
in front of me in order to take it any further. So I wish you good luck
with it.