My computer starts on its own?

D

da5176

New Member
Recently when I turn on my computer it starts on its own. I run it off a surge protecter with an on / off switch. Normally when I turn on the power to the surge protector I then push the power button on the computer to start it up. If I don't push this button, the computer will not turn on. But, here's the kicker, when I flip the power switch on the surge protector to "on", the computer starts all by itself, whithout pushing the computers power button. The first screen I see is one I've never seen before titled American Megatrend. It's on for about 2 seconds and the computer starts up just fine. But why does it start by itself? What is this American Megatrend screen and what is it doing? Thanks.
 
It sounds to me like the BIOS got reset. Go into the BIOS and find where it says automatic power on, or something like that, and turn it off.
 
How do you go into the Bios? I searched my computer and found 43 references to bios. How do I go and check something like this?
 
Hav eyou changed any of the wiring on the inside of the comptuer since this happend? IT sounds like the power button plugs are in backwards :P
 
Here is a picture of my screen with the American Megatrend page. Can anybody tell me what is going on and why this page is there?
 
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That pictures fine. Everybodies machine displays a screen of that on boot. It's just setting up the primary and secondary drives for boot and detecting all of the drives etc so that it can boot fine. As for the powering on itself, I cant see how that screen has any relation to the problem because that screen is normal.
 
Some boards have a bios setting to skip the boot screen, since it didnt show before and does now and it starting on its own I would say some how the bios has been reset or someone has been messing around in the bios and changed some stuff
 
Breaks said:
That pictures fine. Everybodies machine displays a screen of that on boot. It's just setting up the primary and secondary drives for boot and detecting all of the drives etc so that it can boot fine. As for the powering on itself, I cant see how that screen has any relation to the problem because that screen is normal.
Click to expand...

It never was there before the date/time was resetting.
 
StrangleHold said:
Some boards have a bios setting to skip the boot screen, since it didnt show before and does now and it starting on its own I would say some how the bios has been reset or someone has been messing around in the bios and changed some stuff
Click to expand...

Nobody has been messing around with the computer, if it was reset, i don't know how it happened.
 
Took comp. BB to see what they had to say about this problem. They said there was a problem in the bios and to call HP to get a download to reset the bios. Did an online chat with them but they could't help.


TRANSCRIPT OF CHAT:

HP: Welcome to HP Total Care for Desktops.
My name is Stevie. How may I assist you today?

Hello . How are you doing today?
ME: farely well
HP: How can I assist you?
ME: my comp. is resetting the date/time to Dec. 31 2000 or 2001 every time it's tunred on. i tried taking out the battery inside but that didn't work. i took it to bestbuy and they said the bios needed to be reset or "flashed" something or other and to contact hp for a download driver to reset things
Stevie K: Please confirm the model # of the computer.
ME: I also get an American Megatrend screen on startup , oh and buy the way, my comp. starts up on its own when power is applied
ME: a320n
Stevie K: Okay.
Stevie K: This seems to be an issue with the motherboard as a whole.
ME: hoe to fix?
ME: how to fix?
Stevie K: Let me see the options available.
: it doesn't seem to cause any other problems, the comp. work fine otherwise
Stevie K: I will get back to you in 2 minutes.
ME: ok
Stevie K: Thank You for your patience.
ME: no problem
Stevie K: The motherboard may need a service or replacement.
Stevie K: It is recommended before the entire computer becomes dead.
ME: BB said nothing was wrong except the bios, the did some king of trouble shooting
Stevie K: Yes, the BIOS is the important thing in a motherboard.
ME: can it be reset? the bios that is
Stevie K: It is possible that the BIOS may need to be changed to a new one. In case it is not available since it is a comparatively old one the entire motherboard may need to be replaced.

BIOS can be reset but only at HP.
ME: i'd rather try that before getting a new mother board
Stevie K: For resetting you have to send computer to HP for a bench repair.
ME: is there no download or something i can do?
Stevie K: No, it cannot be done by you. We need special devices for that and needs a technician.
Stevie K: When you send the computer, they will check and in case a new motherboard replacement is done they will do it and no extra change will be done to you at that time.
Stevie K: *extra charge
ME: what's the cost?
Stevie K: The cost would be approximately $200. Includes all charges and multiple parts replacement with the same amount. No extra charge after that.
ME: thanks. i'll think about it


Does this sound like the truth? Is there any way for me to fix the problem? Anybody know how I can reset the bios on my own? Any help would be greatly appriciated:)
 
It could actually be that the battery on your motherboard has died, or rather is on the verge of dying (as I'm sure that if that's on the verge of dying and stopped functioning for a few minutes, that would reset a few things with your motherboard). Get a replacement one of those for a start. Flashing the bios to an older or newer version, in my opinion, doesnt seem to be of any help if you've been running the one you have now for many months and not experienced this problem until now.
 
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