Computer start program

[Roman]

Hello people,

I know there are lots of programs I can turn my computer off with at a definite time.

But are there also any programs which can turn a computer automatically on at a definite time? (If this is possible at all)

Thanks in advance for all answers

[andsome]

How about an electronic plug in timer that plugs into the mains. The type used to switch on the lights when it gets dark and you are out.

[Dencandy]

andsome's "joke" of course won't work because a timer would only turn on the power, not the computer! Only way I know to do this is is to leave the computer on all the time with no user name or password required. But you'll still have to exert yourself to press a key to resume from the screen-saver! Seriously, I think your idea is not possible (or is unwise) because of the scurity and safety risks involved. The nearest thing to it that I can think of is to use Stand By or Hibernation. I think you'll need to experiment a little, Roman, with trying these things with a Restricted User or Guest Account. Make sure you make a Restore Point before experimenting like this, though. Let us know how you get on.

[andsome]

andsome's "joke" of course won't work because a timer would only turn on the power, not the computer! Only way I know to do this is is to leave the computer on all the time with no user name or password required. But you'll still have to exert yourself to press a key to resume from the screen-saver! Seriously, I think your idea is not possible (or is unwise) because of the scurity and safety risks involved. The nearest thing to it that I can think of is to use Stand By or Hibernation. I think you'll need to experiment a little, Roman, with trying these things with a Restricted User or Guest Account. Make sure you make a Restore Point before experimenting like this, though. Let us know how you get on.

I thought again about my post after I went downstairs for breakfast, and meant to remove it later. SILLY BILLY. :lol:

[Roman]

andsome's "joke" of course won't work because a timer would only turn on the power, not the computer! Only way I know to do this is is to leave the computer on all the time with no user name or password required. But you'll still have to exert yourself to press a key to resume from the screen-saver! Seriously, I think your idea is not possible (or is unwise) because of the scurity and safety risks involved. The nearest thing to it that I can think of is to use Stand By or Hibernation. I think you'll need to experiment a little, Roman, with trying these things with a Restricted User or Guest Account. Make sure you make a Restore Point before experimenting like this, though. Let us know how you get on.

The idea with letting my pc in the stand by mode sounds not bad altough I already thought about this. And I think even if I would switch into the stand by mode, my computer would be still eating unnecessary power which would not be so good for the electricity bill since I have a power supply with about 290W.

I've been thinking and it came to my mind that there are those little button cells on each motherboard which allow certain processes(time, date...) even if the computer isnt connected to the power. Do you think there is a possibility to create like another process which can turn on the computer?? How about this idea? (although I certainly must confess that this idea is a little bit exaggerated^^)

[Mike567]

I have found with some PC's the computer will turn on when I plug it on, so the timer switch could work.

Or you could use Wake on LAN to boot the PC.

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

I have found with some PC's the computer will turn on when I plug it on, so the timer switch could work.

That isn't something that should happen! Imagine a big city having a power outage. After the power is restored, all computers in the city would start to boot...

[Dencandy]

What country do you live in, Roman? Contact your government's Secret Service, I'm sure they'll know how to do it!

[keylight]

I think you can use the "Scheduled Tasks" and change some settings in BIOS.

[Roman]

Now I got it! After some searching and thinking I went to the BIOS setup as "keylight" already mentioned and I found out something interesting. I'd like to show you what exactly I did.

Here are 2 pictures. I didnt know how to make a screen capture in the BIOS mode so I simply used my camera^^:

There was an entry called "Power On By RTC Time". I didnt really know what that could be but it looked like something which could be the thing I've been searching for. And I found out it is!

[AlanHo]

The RTC Alarm enables the user to set the option to wake up the computer system from power saving mode. When this option is enabled another field allowing the user to set the alarm time on, appears. The additional field has options for date, hour, minute and second.

It will not switch the computer on from an unpowered state - merely wake it up at a set time when it is "asleep"

[Roman]

It will not switch the computer on from an unpowered state - merely wake it up at a set time when it is "asleep"

No, no I already made a test. This feature turns on my computer even when I have completely shut it down. So I just have to set the "power on time" in the BIOS mode and turn off my computer and at a scheduled time my computer turns automatically on. It really works! :)

[Irene]

If it does what you require, Roman, Congratulations!!!! :D

[Roman]

Thankations Irene! :D^^

[Dencandy]

It will not switch the computer on from an unpowered state - merely wake it up at a set time when it is "asleep"

No, no I already made a test. This feature turns on my computer even when I have completely shut it down. So I just have to set the "power on time" in the BIOS mode and turn off my computer and at a scheduled time my computer turns automatically on. It really works! :)

I'm amazed and a bit shocked that this is possible. Seems to have a lot of bad security and safety implications to me. Computers (like TVs) even on Stand-by can catch fire due to electrical faults, you know. AYOR!

[andsome]

I have to admit that I can't see the point in this exercise. I simply push a button and my computer is fully up and running in about one minute and forty seconds. I don't think I would mess about in the bios for a reason such as this. Has Panarchy been influencing you? :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Roman]

I'm amazed and a bit shocked that this is possible. Seems to have a lot of bad security and safety implications to me. Computers (like TVs) even on Stand-by can catch fire due to electrical faults, you know. AYOR!

Well, I dont think at all that there are any risks. It is just a simple little tiny button cell which allows some processes in the computer even when its unplugged. For me that doesnt affect any security of the computer and so I dont really think something in the computer could catch fire.

And you cant just "stop" or remove these processes which are ALWAYS running in the motherboard. Except, of course, you would remove the little button cell from your motherboard :D but that wouldnt be very intelligent

[Roman]

I have to admit that I can't see the point in this exercise. I simply push a button and my computer is fully up and running in about one minute and forty seconds. I don't think I would mess about in the bios for a reason such as this. Has Panarchy been influencing you?

^^Maybe there are some people like me who want their computer to be turned on automatically at a definite time. Just imagine, you wake up and your electrical friend is already on and expects you. :lol: But one question andsome(maybe that sounds weird^^), did you just forget to put the letter "h" at the beginning of your username when you typed it in or did you knowingly write the word "andsome" without the "h"?^^

And, I dont know if I have some education gaps but who or what in the world is "Panarchy"???

[Dencandy]

Roman, I assumed you want your computer to power up in your absence or while you are sitll asleep, which is the main reason for my safety worries. I know computers run on very low power, but normal monitors (i.e. a cathode ray tube) do not. They run on a very high voltage to power the electron gun at the back. A couple of weeks ago my TV (a very well-known Japanese make) started emitting sparks at the back when it was turned on and probably would have caught fire if we hadn't pulled the pluck. Some one I know had his TV ignite (same make) when it was only on Stand-by, some years back. If you have a flat screen, I think they run on a much lower voltage.

If your idea really works (and from what you say, it does) I presume industrial spies, hackers, and so on could also do this with a company's or bank's computer. Hence my concern about security.

:0 :0

[Roman]

Roman, I assumed you want your computer to power up in your absence or while you are sitll asleep, which is the main reason for my safety worries

And you were completely right with what you assumed. With the feature in the BIOS mode I am able to power up my computer while my absence. But I still dont understand why you mean this would be a security risk. Look, assuming that I'm sleeping at 3 am in the night and my computer powers up automatically, what could happen then in your opinion? I dont really think it could catch fire since I often let me computer running for hours or even days.

[Dencandy]

I'm not saying it's necessarily a risk for you Roman, since you seem to know what you are doing. But for other less experienced or unscrupulous people who might use this technique....... Also the monitor safety issue I mentioned (short-circuiting and catching fire due to to the high voltage) is a real one. Do you have a good insurance policy!

B) B)

[Roman]

Well I dont know, but I have an overvoltage protector and what a cheap computer would it be, when I had to worry about dont letting my computer running for too long. Isnt that what computers are made for? ^^

[andsome]

Well I dont know, but I have an overvoltage protector and what a cheap computer would it be, when I had to worry about dont letting my computer running for too long. Isnt that what computers are made for? ^^

Running continuously they use more power than you might think. The bills mount up. :D

[Roman]

Of course^^ Its bad for the bills, but for the computer itself? :D

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

No problem at all. You should configure your power settings - turn off the monitor after xx minutes of non-use; turn off HD after yy minutes of non-use.