Computer keeps waking up and booting after it’s shut down
Question:
I have tried EVERY remedy to stop my computer from restarting after it is shutdown except an exorcism. Never had this problem before installing XP.
The ONLY way to stop this box from re-starting is to unplug the phone line or power supply since it will restart if the phone rings and/or the phone line is reconnected to the jack. We don’t have any call forwarding or other phone services that could be responsible for this strange behavior.
I have adjusted the modem and bios settings that experts claim can be the source of the problem to no avail. This box doesn’t have a virus and this glitch is the only problem I have experienced after installing XP “over” Windows 98. I use the term over but some say “alongside” but the point I want to make is I didn’t not remove Windows 98 or otherwise clean or reformat the drive before installing XP.
Any suggestions?
Answer:
I have adjusted the modem and bios settings that experts claim can be the source of the problem to no avail.
Which settings were these?
This box doesn’t have a virus and this glitch is the only problem I have experienced after installing XP “over” W98.
A function that Windows XP has over Windows 98 is to “wake up” the computer from a power-down state if, for example, the phone rings. This is what’s happening in your case, though I need to know the settings mentioned above – I’m thinking we missed one somewhere! Either that or we have a malfunctioning modem or network card. Let me know more detail and I’ll try to help.
Response:
2 (most recent) attempts to resolve this problem:
MODEM setting – Unchecked “allow this device to bring the computer out of standby”
BIOS adjustments – Disabled modem ring on/wake on lan and then PME event wake up (no idea what PME was but it sounded like I could disable it without creating problems)
The really strange aspect of this problem is how the box will restart even when the phone doesn’t ring………. when I have simply REplugged in the phone line when the box is shut down. No network stuff installed or used on this. this box (does it HAVE a network card?) and the inexpensive modem was replaced last year during a trouble shooting session but the modem that was removed was OK. Still have this back up modem available which I can stick in to rule out this component as the source of the restart problem.
Prior to the failed attempts above I seem to recall also doing something with disabling AUTO RESTART but that was when a “conflict” was the suspected culprit. Since the box ALWAYS goes through the correct shutdown process, and never reboots after a shutdown, I no longer suspect a conflict as being the source.
I now rely an X-10 remote key FOB to interrupt the power supply after I shut the box down to prevent restarts, although I don’t always remember this extra step. Unplugging the phone line is another option.
The ONLY other bizarre glitch which surfaced after the XP install is a taskbar clock that frequently resets itself and it ALWAYS goes back TWO hours every time it goes wacky. It can go a week or so without the clock reset problem or a few days. Replaced the battery last year even though the box is only 3 years old. Gigabyte KT 400 series mother board. Could the restart glitch and clock problem be related?
Good stuff at your site on audacity. Local shop guru had suggested using audacity also but without the type of information available at your site I was reluctant to proceed.
Answer:
The modem and BIOS adjustments are the first place to go with your problem. Since you’ve already done this, there are a few other possibilities:
1) BIOS upgrade
2) Modem driver upgrade
3) Bad hardware (PC or modem)
I’d start with #3 – since you already have an old modem, swap that with your current modem, install it in Windows, and see if the problem still exists:
If the problem still exists, you have a problem in your computer’s BIOS – the automatic wake functions aren’t working properly – and you can possibly try a BIOS update to see if the issue has been fixed. If a BIOS update doesn’t work, you’re out of luck. If you install the other modem and the problem goes away, then the problem is with your other modem, either a bug in the hardware or driver.
Could the restart glitch and clock problem be related?
Possibly. I’m concerned that your clock keeps getting pushed back. Assuming you have your time zone set correctly (double-click the time on your taskbar, and verify your PC is set to sync automatically with a time server), there may be another physical problem here. Something messing up your computer’s clock could be:
1) A virus (not probable, assuming you keep your PC protected)
2) Dying CMOS battery (which you say you’ve replaced, so that’s probably not it unless the replacement battery you got went bad in the last year. Wouldn’t hurt to try a new battery.)
3) Hardware / BIOS problems. A BIOS update might be in order for this too.
I also wrote a separate article about computer time problems.
