[+11] Why would a PC turn itself on at midnight every night?

[Black_Apalachi]

For like the past year or two, my mum's PC has turned itself on at midnight every night. We have no idea how this was set in the first place as we had it long before it started, and a friend who is a computer programmer doesn't understand it either. She basically just leaves it on 24/7 literally, because it comes on itself of a night anyway.

Thought it was worth a shot to see if anyone knows how to alter this setting

[Smits]

I'm not sure why but if you turn the power off at the socket or unplug it it wouldnt be able to do it.

[Nixt]

Some computers have a setting where you can get it to automatically turn on at a certain time. I know because I had my computer do it. I am not 100% how about changing it though because it would be exclusive settings to your mum's computer innit.

[Black_Apalachi]

Did you set it up on your computer originally though?

[Nixt]

Yeah I did, but perhaps it some kind of coincidence on yours? I dunno really!! Might be worth checking to see if the feature exists.

[Black_Apalachi]

OK thanks. Is it done via on-screen settings though? I'm just trying to imagine how it could be done because there's literally no menu or anything that has it.

[xxMATTGxx]

OK thanks. Is it done via on-screen settings though? I'm just trying to imagine how it could be done because there's literally no menu or anything that has it.

Have you tried looking into the control panel looking at power options or anything to do with power that is pre-installed? Might be some setting in the BIOS as well.

[cocaine]

OH MY GOD ITS A GHOST

some computers have setting which allow the computer to be turned on and perform tasks. check to see if any backups, virus scans or disk defragmentations/cleanups or any other tasks aren't set to run at midnight

[Recursion]

It's a BIOS setting, go mash DEL, or one of the F keys during the PC's POST (beginning of boot) and find it.

[Stephen!]

Could be a wake-on-lan setting in the router.