Computer starts on its own from full shutdown

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I am having a weird problem, and I thought I would seek advice here. I have an older Windows 7 laptop that I recently shifted to be used only for backup as I bought a new computer. Shortly after I set it aside, I noticed it was running one day. It had turned itself on at 7 pm. This was very surprising. Since I used to have a full backup by Macrium Reflect run every day at 7 pm, I first looked there. Sure enough, it had run the scheduled backup. I assumed it would not do that if the computer was off. When I went into Task Scheduler, i found the tasks for the Reflect backup, and they had an option checked to “Wake computer to run task.” I first disabled that option, and then I removed the Reflect scheduled tasks completely. However, the computer still starts itself up at 7 pm every day. I found out it will not start up if it is unplugged. That is my only workaround so far.

I don’t know if it is related to the Reflect task. Presumably, that wake computer option applies only when the computer is in sleep mode, not full shut down. And, in any case, those tasks are gone. There are no tasks in the schedule with that option checked.

At this point, I have reviewed my power settings to make sure I am actually doing a full shutdown. In fact, I spent quite a while with a Dell Pro Support Tech who was very good who reviewed that and many other settings. Wake timers are disabled. When I run the command for last time the computer was waked, it says never. We ran a register clean with CCleaner. We did the Windows file integrity SFC /sannnnow, which found no errors. When I shutdown, there are no indicators left, no blinking power button, for example, so I am pretty sure it is full shutdown. We also went through the BIOS settings. There were settings for wake on AC, enable USB wake support, wake on LAN/WAN, and timers for auto on. All were disabled. But I still have this issue. Any other suggestions are appreciated. Thanks.

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Does your computer require that you manually enter a password to get into Windows, or does it go into Windows automatically without your doing anything? If it goes in automatically, then you could try changing the password on the Windows account that it logs into. That won’t totally solve your problem, but it should at least keep it from getting into Windows.

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with Windows 10 running in a remote session on my file server

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My computer is set to require a password. When it starts by itself, it stays at the login screen. Of course, it will run tasks that were scheduled in Windows like virus updates and various maintenance tasks without anyone logging on.

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I don’t know if it is related to the Reflect task. Presumably, that wake computer option applies only when the computer is in sleep mode, not full shut down.

I think it must be related to Reflect (which I also use). I was surprised to find that Reflect can wake my XP PC from hibernate as well as sleep, and assume it is using some BIOS ‘wake up’ feature. But as you have turned all those off (that you can see), and removed Reflect tasks, I can’t think what might be left. In your shoes, I would remove Reflect entirely, in case a bit of it is functioning behind your back. Also, try turning off any power settings associated with your network access (ethernet or wifi adapters) – although I can’t see why they would be responsible.

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Try “powercfg -lastwake” in a Command Prompt window – possibly admin.
Also check Event Viewer System log for Event 42 and 1.

cheers, Paul

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Try “powercfg -lastwake” in a Command Prompt window

I assume following means OP did this.

When I run the command for last time the computer was waked, it says never.

Following seems the most suggestive to me, but I don’t have any solution suggestion:

it will not start up if it is unplugged.

Doesn’t that point to something in the power controls settings? Ie sth which isn’t switched on if only on battery power.

Lugh.
~
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Yes, I did try the powercfg -lastwake command, and it came back never. I searched the Event viewer logs for events 1 and 42. I do see event 1 information messages right near when the computer starts up, some about starting Windows Security Service. I also found event 42 which relates to Windows Updates. However, these were an hour or two after the computer started. In both cases, they are just information messages, and I don’t see them telling me anything. I can find event messages that Windows was started right when the computer started, but again there is nothing that would tell me what caused the startup.

The only other things I tried were resetting the BIOS defaults at Dell’s suggestion. That did not correct the problem. I also ran all of Dell’s built-in hardware diagnostics, but the tests all passed. Dell said the only other suggestion they have is a complete reinstall of the operating system. I don’t want to do that at this point because it is just too much work when I can leave the computer unplugged as a workaround. I have not tried completely uninstalling Reflect at this point, but when I have some time I might try that just to see.

It does not seem to be caused by Windows wake functions since the powercfg says it has never been waken this way and there are no wake settings in place. It seems like it has to be something in the BIOS if it is truly waking from full shutdown, but all the “wake on” settings in the BIOS are disabled. Still a mystery.

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