I have built a new computer and am having the following problem:

One certain occasions, the computer will power on shortly after being turned off. This will usually happen within 1 to 3 minutes after being turned off. If it doesn't happen within 5 minutes, it will stay off.

My system specs are:

ASUS p5ad2-p mobo
p4 550
1 gig Corsair XMS ddr2-5400
2 Maxtor HDs (non-raid)
SB Audigy 2 ZS
Enermax 550w 24-pin PSU
Radeon x800 pro

Everything in the system is less than a month old.

Here is what I have done to try and solve the problem (based on advice from this and other forums):

1. replaced the PSU (original was an Ultra-X 500w)
2. reformatted and reinstalled Windows
3. disabled all hibernation options in Windows
4. disabled all wake-on options in the bios
5. flashed bios to most current version
6. inspected the mobo (to the best of my relatively limited abilities) for bulging or leaking capacitors (there may be other evidence of a short in the mobo that I wouldn't recognize)

I am truly stumped as to what could be causing the problem. Is it possible that line-noise is the culprit? I have plugged the surge protector into different outlets on the same circuit, and have the same result. Haven't tried plugging it into a different circuit.

Before I RMA the mobo, I want to make sure there's not some other possible cause that I am overlooking.

Any and all advice is greatly appreciated.

Josh

PS - I should add that I've had another computer plugged into the same outlet for two years and never had any problems.

Try unplugging the power button wire from the motherboard to eliminate that. (You can still "switch" by shorting the pins for a moment).

Thanks. What do I use to short the pins? A screwdriver tip, perhaps?

Josh. I had the same issue with an ASUS board. It turned out that I had to install the system drivers in a certain order. I think the first I had to install were the chipset drivers. If you did not do this try it. ALso, do not install any pci cards. I had a similar problem with my pc rebooting because my modem was installed in a certain pci slot. go figure.

I did install the chipset drivers first, so I don't think that's it. My SB card is a PCI card - I'll add pulling it to the list of things to try. Thanks for the advice.

drivers have nothing to do with it. if the computer is powered off and it's doing this, then it's a hardware issue. try inspecing the power button thuroughly, like take the case faceplate off and look at the back of the button. If you don't find anything wrong then let me know.

I plan on doing that this weekend - I'll post and let you know how it turns out.

Thanks for all the tips. Here's what I tried this weekend:

plugged it into a different outlet on the same circuit, and then a different circuit - no change.

plugged computer directly into the wall (not thru surge protector) - no change

reinstalled XP a 2nd time (for the hell of it) - no change

cleared the CMOS settings - no change

disconnected a case light whose wires were very close/sometimes touching the power switch wires - no change

disconnected the power switch from the mobo, shorted with a screwdriver - no change. What I did not try was using the restart lead to start the computer. Any chance that a bad restart switch could cause the problem?

Other than using the restart switch to power up, I am not sure what else to do.

Here's what's weird - the power-on does not occur regularly. Any time I de-power the mainboard (e.g., by unplugging the power cord to the CPU, or switching outlets), it won't happen for about the first three or four times. After that, it will happen approximately 50 percent of the time. Also, if it doesn't happen within a minute or two of powering off, it won't happen (that is, it won't turn on, say, in the middle of the night).

At this point, I am thinking RMA'ing the mobo is the best bet, iunless anyone has any other suggestions. But I waited a long time to build this thing, and I am going to finish HL2 before I send the damn thing back.

seems asus has yet again delivered a bad product. here in the 'states they got into a tangle with the federal trade commission awhile back. yes, an rma would be wise.

Try disabling PME (Power Management Event) in the BIOS

P/S
Check the Windows XP Event Log for information relating to "the computer will power on shortly after being turned off."

Try reading the thread before answering it..

You assume to much Nodsu.

""""Any and all advice is greatly appreciated.""""
I guess I took this literally. but the advice was not directed at you Nodsu.

Josh Martin
PME is far more than a "wake up option" and you may have overlooked it as a troubleshooting option.

Assume (ing) things is a bad habit to get into when troubleshooting computers.

I hope this is not one of those Forums full of know-it-alls RAGING on others posts just to feed their egos.

My PC used to Turn itself on randomly....it might not be very helpful but it turned out to be the modem being faulty.

and something to do with the way the houses telephone wires (although i was on 56k at the time) was making it turn back on through the modem.


This probably wont help. But its worth a shot

:knock:

Here is one possibility because I have been experiencing this problem for some time now. First, A Brief History.

I had a P5AD2 Premium and 1Gig of your memory, 2 Maxtor Drives, Leadtech 6600 GT, Antec NeoPower 480 and LGA775 3.2 Processor.

I also built a system with the exact same hardware used in the above system but with a P5AD2-E Motherboard/

I also changed every part of the above MB's with deffent video cards, power supplies, processors, sound (and no sound), Hard Drives (Seagate&Maxtor) and I experienced the exact same problems with both boards.

I even tried fresh installs of Win XP Pro with SP1 only and with SP2 only.

I got the same problems you are having except the system would usually only take a few seconds to power up (3-8 seconds).

While to system was running I never had even one problem.

I took the first system listed above to my office so I could just get it out of the house (to make sure it wasn't my power in any way :-) ) and guess what!!!! ...... I have never had a problem with it starting up by itself.

Now the new P5AD2-E is having this problem but ever time I power down. I think I found the root of the problem but not the solution.

I am using a router from linksys plugged into the back panel Yukon Gigabit PCI-E ethernet card (the one with all the other ports and not the one from the MB internal connector). When I unplug the cable to the router the system stays off but when it is plugged into the system it powers up every time after a normal shut down.

I suspect that it might be some kind of bad BIOS problem that is letting the ethernet card wake up the system based on activity from the LAN.

I have disabled all the options that might let the system wake up by itself from some event.

I havent contacted ASUS about it yet because I am still working to make sure this is the problem. However, if you find that this is the same problem for you then we have support in numbers. Let me know.

Good Luck.
P.S. Sorry this is such a long explaination - I like detail.

http://aumha.org/win5/a/shtdwnxp.php
"""Hidden “wake on” power settings If you have an Ethernet card integrated into your motherboard, you may have hidden “wake on” settings that are harder to find. Site visitor Jim Porter found that his Asus P5GDC-V Deluxe motherboard had a “wake on” setting in Device Manager | Properties | Advanced rather than in the BIOS or Power Management settings. (The Asus P5AD2 and P5GD2 boards have this also.)"""

I guess at this point we can point to the ASUS P5AD2-E motherboard being the issue. It is driving me crazy. Anyone solve it yet?

I'm having the same problem, every time I shut down my computer, it restarts within a few seconds. Only i don't have an asus motherboard, I have a Gigabyte GA7VKMLS. The problem started when i installed a new pci graphics card, but i think it's more to do with my network, as my network (i connect through a belkin wireless card in another PCI slot) stopped working when I installed the graphics card.

I have an asus p5gdc that has exhibited this turning itself on behavior for the past few days ever since I hooked up to DSL! I tried everything to fix it but the only thing that worked was tritons advice, There was infact a hidden wake setting I went to DEVICEMANAGER/NETWORKADAPTERS/PCIE GIGABIT/PROPERTIES/ADVANCED/WAKEUPCAPABILITIES. What I found was it was set to MAGICPACKET & PATTERNMATCH as soon as I turned it off my problem was solved. I noticed the ethernet led on my router turned off now when my pc is off as it used to stay on indicating some kind of ethernet activity! Anyways thanks maybe this advice is usefull someone else who knows!

my problem was a bad transistor on the mobo. After an ASUS repair job, she's running fine.

One word, CUPS buy a CUPS if you don't have one then get one and use it get one you can run your phone line through and then to your modem. even if this doesnot fix it it will stop other problems that may strike. A power bar just won't cut it with new computers. A CUPS will give you even and proper power all the time just remember they are like power supplies go be cheap when you get one, get something that gives you 2-4 extra outlets then what you will need and plug anything that is conected to your system to the cups if you have alot of things eg; modem, router, scanner, printer, monitor, tower, powered speekers, external harddrive(s) I would think about splitting this between two CUPS even though there are some very good ones with 8 - 10 outlets. Allso make sure you donot had things like stoves, fridges, freezers, washers, dryers, arc welders... you get the point on the same braker.

I used to have the Same problem with my brother's old HP in our last home and it stoped when I gave him my old CUPS.