Mysterious computer happenings.

[Cleita]

Well, you guys haven't seen much of me in the last couple of weeks because of computer problems. First, I fried my hard disk and lost everything on it. My computer guys down the road put in a new hard disk and OP system. I loaded up my usual software. It was the same old computer otherwise with Windows XP as my OP because it suits my needs. I didn't want fancier and more updated. Well, after I got the ole computer with the new hard drive home, I found it turning itself on in the middle of the night after I turned it off according to the rules of course. I then turned off the surge protector after I turned off the hardware to keep it from turning on.

Then last week we had a power outage that messed something up because I found myself unable to boot the computer. I took it back to the computer guys who had to reinstall everything. I mentioned the "turning itself on" phenomena to them and they just said, "Whoa! Do you have ghosts?" I said that I didn't think so. I forgot about it and re-hooked up the computer and peripherals with appropriate software after I got home. I turned it off for the evening and lo and behold, it has turned itself on again!

Any thoughts my psychic friends? I am going to turn it off again and the power surge afterward this time cause I want to sleep. I will be looking forward to any speculation about this in the morning. According to the geeks, there is no way it should be turning itself on if it's shut down with the red button.

[crikkett]

1. You may need a new power supply.

Your guys may want to consider that whatever caused your hard drive to fail could also be causing your machine to turn on at night. I'm not sure what red button you're talking about but I do know it's attached to a power supply.

Those things have limited lifetimes (hint: vacuum its vent once in a blue moon.) The problems I have experienced with power supplies are 1) them actually burning up and 2) them turning machines OFF for no reason.

Going down the line, if your power strip is old and doesn't have a light to indicate your circuit is grounded, then your house wiring could be the problem. Wonky circuits fry equipment sooner or later.

Does your power strip have a surge protector in it? If not get one. Power surges aren't uncommon, and are known to damage equipment they don't destroy outright, leading to mysterious problems later on.

Some computers have ethernet cards that can turn on/restart a machine through an ethernet signal. I beleive your red button stops that behavior.

If you have a recently installed version of Windows XP be sure that you or your people run all of the security updates that Microsoft offers, and load antivirus software for extra insurance.

There's a way to exploit XP using that ethernet card trick. (I don't think this is your problem, but there are so many ways to exploit XP, you MUST run those updates, for the sake of your security and your sanity).



But you were asking about ghosts, not power surges... this is an old story, gosh maybe 10 years ago, I have it saved to one of my archives but can't find it without waking someone up, so you have to trust me.

A cardinal in Rome actually announced that hard drives have grown large enough for demons to inhabit them. This was back when 2G was a big deal. So yeah, the experts say it can happen.

My own house was built in the 20s and it's got very fickle wiring. My telephone and ethernet wiring is especially tender, affected by humidity, etc. I've accused my house of mucking with my data transfer several times.

[Celebration]

2. when I go into "hybernation mode"

I have my computer set to hybernate when I turn it off at the power supply. That helps when the 14 month old grandkid punches the blue button because it is pretty. But, if it hypernates for a few minutes, it turns itself on again.

This is highly annoying, but I just compensate by never using hybernation mode. I would have considered ghosts, but I have enough symbols, etc., in this room to drive any ghost nuts. I think it is some sort of computer glitch, but don't know what.

[crikkett]

4. hybernation mode is buggy. shutting down is preferred.

So what state is your machine at when it turns on mysteriously? Hybernation, sleep or "shut down" and powered off?

Is your desk positioned in such a way that someone walking by (well clomping) could cause your mouse to vibrate? Bumping into my desk will wake up my machine.

What screensaver are you running? What programs to you leave running when the machine goes into hybernation?

How old is your machine? Make/model?

[Celebration]

5. it isn't a big problem

I can live without hibernate. Now the only time it is put in hibernate is if the toddler punches the button when it is on.

Sleep is somewhat of a problem, too, but I haven't used that lately. I think I stopped the sleep mode because of the same issue.

It happens more often than when the mouse just vibrates.

It never starts back up when it is shut down and powered off. Therefore, that is my standard thing now.

My screensaver is pictures of mine that rotate, and that has gotten to be somewhat of a problem, because sometimes they get stuck. I solved that by making it longer to go into sleepsaver. Also, I have started using a different computer program for clearings of various things, and I like to leave it operating for an hour or so. So, I don't want the screensaver to come on during that time (and it would, despite the fact that the pictures are shaking).

I have an HP (Pavilion I think) about three years old.

There is a reasonably good computer group on DU that I have used. Usually there is someone there that tries to answer questions. Of course, if the computer is haunted, I would probably opt not to bring it up there.

[crikkett]

7. I honestly doubt the computer is haunted.

I wouldn't have mentioned the cardinal's story about possessed hard drives except that you asked.

After learning a little more about your machine I now think your screensaver is your problem, and I would recommend you remove it.

Remember to run your Windows Updates and to keep your antivirus software up to date, or you'll be back for more help later on.

C

PS I just realized that I thought I was helping the same person and I'm actually answering 2 difft people, Cleita and itsjustme.

Sorry, I'm distracted today. I hope I helped, PM me for more if you want it, I'm pretty good at this stuff.

[Celebration]

9. I have to sort of laugh at all this

Our plumber went to a house and they told him the house was haunted because the toilet "flushed" by itself. Really it was just losing water. No ghosts, just a mechanical thing.

I had my other problems before the screensaver, but you are right, I should probably remove it. I do all those other things.

Alas, I just shut down the computer completely or have it on.

[Mist]

3. I've been told that the point where the power cord connects to the

mother board is very prone to loosening, etc. Just my .02. Anyway, good to check mundane stuff first!

[NJCher]

6. same here

I once had a computer that did that and they told me it was the motherboard. It turned itself on at the most inopportune times. It was a notebook computer and I would take it to bed with me sometimes and read. After reading, I would turn it off and slip it under the bed so as not to step on it if I got up while still sleepy.

Well, wouldn't you just know, it was Halloween and this thing turned itself on under my bed. I had that Microsoft Halloween screensaver on that had an old haunted house and screams on it. In the middle of the night, the screaming "under my bed" awoke me. I was terrified!!!

But then I figured it out.

Sheesh!

So Cleita, tell your guys to check into the motherboard.


Cher

[crikkett]

8. LOL that was a very funny story.

thanks.

[Cleita]

10. Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

Whatever it was, it seems to have stopped with nothing done by me. It's still a mystery though. :-)