Computer auto switch-on

[Barquentine]

Every night at around 2-3am my computer switches on. I find it up & running every morning & have still not figured out how to stop this (apart from switching it off at the mains every night). I cannot find a solution via 'Control Panel'. Does anyone know how to fix this? Thanks

[another-view]

Have you seen the movie Terminator? This is how it starts. The machines are alive!

Try checking windows updates. Have you set it to update at 3 am which is the default? Although, I've not heard of a machine switching itself on to check for updates.

[ChuckFickens]

when you first switch it on (before windows starts to to load) it will say something like press f2 to enter setup.... press the button that it says and it will take you into the BIOS.

In there there will be an wakeup or auto switch on time, just disable that.

Sorry it's a little vague, but all computers are slightly different so cant give precise instructions.

[tigersam258]

perhaps its one of those little gremlins doing it! you know, the ones you mustn't feed after midnight.

[carlton23]

If previous ideas don`t work, try putting your PC in Hibernation and disconnect modem. Thats what I do each time I switch off and no harm done. Mine is a ntl 250 modem.

[beso]

There is also a BIOS setting (like Chuck said) in the computer to "Wake On LAN". Your ADSL modem usually communicates on the LAN interface (Ethernet port). If the modem sends a packet of data to the computer it will cause it to boot.

It can be useful if you have a fixed IP address because it allows you to boot your computer remotely.

Switch of fthe Wake on LAN feature.

[Lil O'lady]

I noticed that with Vista, there seem to be two options for shutting down, one of which just sort of sends the PC to sleep temporarily. Could this be your problem?
I shut down my Vista PC by going to the 'very end' of the shut down dialogue - you end up clicking on 'shut down' or pressing 'u' on keyboard.
This probably simply illustrates what a daft old biddy I am, but I am too far gone to mind........

[Barquentine]

Thanks ChuckFickens and Beso. I had a look in the BIOS settings (all new to me I'm afraid) - and both the Alarm and LAN are disabled. I've also switched off automatic updates (not least because that installed MS Office 2007 which I don't like).
However, the machine switches on at 2am. It woke me up this morning because I'd left the printer on and that started running through its reboot when the computer switched on.
It's not on a LAN - it has a wireless adapter that links with the Internet router thing downstairs. I just don't know how to stop it. Thanks for the suggestions though.