[SOLVED] [XPSP3 x86] My PC Powers Up When Router Is Connected. FIX: AVOIDED ME WOL IN BIOS

[MGB]

My PC keeps powering up when I connect the Router or reboot my Router. I see all the LED's light up, the fan turns on and all the drive start up then the system shuts down as if it was expecting something but didn't get it. Even when my ISP reboots the modem-router at night the PC starts a power up then shuts down. How can I stop this? It is annoying at best and worries me about security.

PC has Windows XP

Network Card: Intel 82566DM-2 Gigabit Network Connection
In Network Connection Properties: Allow this device to bring the computer out of standby is not check

 

[xilolee]

Re: Why does PC Power Up When Router Is Connected?

Hi MGB. :welcome:

WinXP, what service pack, what edition, what version, what bit architecture?
Motherboard used? Or make and model of your PC?
What ISP? (not sure why they can reboot your router)
Did you verify your BIOS settings? (usually the options to allow some devices to wake up your PC are there)

 

[MGB]

Re: Why does PC Power Up When Router Is Connected?

Hi MGB. :welcome:

WinXP, what service pack, what edition, what version, what bit architecture?
Motherboard used? Or make and model of your PC?
What ISP? (not sure why they can reboot your router)
Did you verify your BIOS settings? (usually the options to allow some devices to wake up your PC are there)

ISP's can reboot their own modem-routers which they often do after repair work is don or software upgrades to the modem-router so I was told. The PC turning on will happen even if I plug or reboot my own router to the PC. So, my ISP is not the problem. The fact that the PC does this creates a potential problem.

I have not checked the BIOS.

System:
XP Professional
32 bit
Service Pack 3
Version 2002

Computer:
OptiPlex 755
BIO Version: A11
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU
E8200 @ 2.66GHz
Physical Address Extension
Processor Info: 64 bit Technology, Intel EM64T

My ISP is Spectrum. I have broadband width connection.

Under Power Management:
* AC Recovery - OFF
* Auto Power On - OFF
* Auto Power Time
* Low Power Mode - OFF
* Remote Wake Up - OFF
* Suspend Mode

 

[Tekno Venus]

Re: Why does PC Power Up When Router Is Connected?

Ah, the Optiplex 755 - a workhorse PC that I still see far too often...

First thought is BIOS, but those settings are correct from your post above (i.e. Remote Wake Up needs to be Off)

In Device Manager, go to your network card and the advanced tab. There should be a property called Wake On LAN, Wake on Link or similar. Make sure those options are disabled

Also, I'm sure you've heard this before - but why are you still on XP?? XP is a 16 year old OS, and has been out of support for nearly 4 years now. This PC shouldn't be connected to the internet at all really. Modern OS's (e.g. Windows 10) are much faster more and secure.

 

[MGB]

Re: Why does PC Power Up When Router Is Connected?

Ah, the Optiplex 755 - a workhorse PC that I still see far too often...

First thought is BIOS, but those settings are correct from your post above (i.e. Remote Wake Up needs to be Off)

In Device Manager, go to your network card and the advanced tab. There should be a property called Wake On LAN, Wake on Link or similar. Make sure those options are disabled

Also, I'm sure you've heard this before - but why are you still on XP?? XP is a 16 year old OS, and has been out of support for nearly 4 years now. This PC shouldn't be connected to the internet at all really. Modern OS's (e.g. Windows 10) are much faster more and secure.

Bios is set to OFF

Device Manager -> Network Adaptor -> Intel(R) 82566DM-2 Gogabit Network Connection
What I see under Properties Advance tab
Wake on Settings with a value set to Wake on Magic & Directed

The options for the the Wake on Settings are:

Disable
OS Controlled
Wake on Direct Packet
Wake on Magic & Directed
Wake on Magic Packet​

As for why I still use this pc. It still works and have software I use on it. Also, have a couple of Mac computers which I use for everything else. The PC is on the LAN primarily to transfer files between it and my Mac's. Only internet sites I go to are very specific that are work related.

 

[Tekno Venus]

Re: Why does PC Power Up When Router Is Connected?

Change the Wake On setting to Disable and see if that makes a difference.

Have you thought about using a Virtual Machine to replace the physical computer if you have old software you need to run on XP? VirtualBox is a good free option: Oracle VM VirtualBox.

 

[MGB]

Re: Why does PC Power Up When Router Is Connected?

Change the Wake On setting to Disable and see if that makes a difference.

Have you thought about using a Virtual Machine to replace the physical computer if you have old software you need to run on XP? VirtualBox is a good free option: Oracle VM VirtualBox.

Tried it and it didn't work.

See no reason to buy another PC just to run xp as a virtual machine just to run software that works fine the way it is. I don't use the PC for much else that is what the Mac's are for.

 

[Tekno Venus]

Re: Why does PC Power Up When Router Is Connected?

Is the machine powering up from a complete shutdown or from a sleep/hibernation state?

Update the BIOS to the latest A22 revision - Dell Optiplex 755 System BIOS Driver Details | Dell UK (Side note - I'm impressed Dell was releasing BIOS updates as late as 2014 for this machine!)

I have a feeling that disabling Intel AMT might fix this. When the machine boots, you should be able to press Ctrl + P to access the Intel MEBx BIOS. This is the BIOS for the iAMT built into the CPU. If you've configured it before, enter your password. If not, the default password is admin. Then create a password (needs to be complex - 8 chars with upper/lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. Once you're in the MEBx BIOS, you should be able to disable AMT entirely (or at the very least, disable the network adapter for iAMT). If you're totally stuck, the iAMT/ME user manual is here: http://downloads.dell.com/manuals/a...desktop/optiplex-755_user's guide 2_en-us.pdf

VirtualBox works on Macs too - so you wouldn't need another PC.

 

[plodr]

Re: Why does PC Power Up When Router Is Connected?

My husband's XP computer has been disconnected from our router for several years. We still use it, off the network. We have a printer attached to it and he simply takes a USB stick with a database to the XP computer puts it in and prints out name labels. (He prefers that very old, slow printer for this task rather than one of the newer ones).

Is there a particular reason you feel the need to attach the XP computer to the router?

 

[MGB]

Re: Why does PC Power Up When Router Is Connected?

My husband's XP computer has been disconnected from our router for several years. We still use it, off the network. We have a printer attached to it and he simply takes a USB stick with a database to the XP computer puts it in and prints out name labels. (He prefers that very old, slow printer for this task rather than one of the newer ones).

Is there a particular reason you feel the need to attach the XP computer to the router?

It is just simpler and faster to transfer files between computers via the router than with a USB stick. Also, all my HD's were formatted for PC not Mac and converting the HDs is just not worth the time and money.

Is your printers ink jet? I prefer Laser printers. They last a lot longer and have a lot less problems. Cost per page is lower too. Only downside to laser printers is when it does become time to replace the toner cartridge they cost a lot more but if you add up the cost of replacing ink cartridges the cost is really lower.

 

[MGB]

Re: Why does PC Power Up When Router Is Connected?

Is the machine powering up from a complete shutdown or from a sleep/hibernation state?

Update the BIOS to the latest A22 revision - Dell Optiplex 755 System BIOS Driver Details | Dell UK (Side note - I'm impressed Dell was releasing BIOS updates as late as 2014 for this machine!)

I have a feeling that disabling Intel AMT might fix this. When the machine boots, you should be able to press Ctrl + P to access the Intel MEBx BIOS. This is the BIOS for the iAMT built into the CPU. If you've configured it before, enter your password. If not, the default password is admin. Then create a password (needs to be complex - 8 chars with upper/lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. Once you're in the MEBx BIOS, you should be able to disable AMT entirely (or at the very least, disable the network adapter for iAMT). If you're totally stuck, the iAMT/ME user manual is here: http://downloads.dell.com/manuals/a...desktop/optiplex-755_user's guide 2_en-us.pdf

VirtualBox works on Macs too - so you wouldn't need another PC.

The PC is shutdown not in sleep mode when this happens

In the Intel MEBx BIOS I see:
Intel(R) ME State Control
Intel(R) ME Firmware Local Update Qualifier
Intel(R) ME Power Control >

The State Control is Enabled
Firmware Local Update Qualifier is set to Always Open
Power Control > Intel(R) ME ON in Host Sleep States
[ ] Desktop: ON in S0
[ ] Desktop: ON in S0, S3
[ ] Desktop: ON in S0, S3, S4-5
[ ] Desktop: ON in S0, ME WoL in S3
[x] Desktop: ON in S0, ME WoL in S3, S4-5
[ ] Desktop: ON in S0, S3, S4-5, OFF After Power Loss
[ ] Desktop: ON in S0, ME WoL in S3, S4-5, OFF After Power Loss

Which of these settings do I change?

I am not interested in setting up a virtual XP on my Mac or any virtual OS.

 

[Tekno Venus]

Re: [XPSP3 x86] Why does PC Power Up When Router Is Connected?

Ok - so that means it's a BIOS thing, not an OS issue - since the only way a PC can be booted from power off is via the BIOS. The OS settings have no effect from a full power off (S5).

Under Intel(R) ME Power Control select Desktop: ON in S0, S3, S4-5, OFF After Power Loss (the 6th option in the list). As per the table below, this should disable the WoL feature from states S4/S5, and ensure the ME is off after a power loss.

If that doesn't work, select the first option (Desktop: ON in S0) and see if that works.

 

[MGB]

Re: [XPSP3 x86] Why does PC Power Up When Router Is Connected?

Ok - so that means it's a BIOS thing, not an OS issue - since the only way a PC can be booted from power off is via the BIOS. The OS settings have no effect from a full power off (S5).

Under Intel(R) ME Power Control select Desktop: ON in S0, S3, S4-5, OFF After Power Loss (the 6th option in the list). As per the table below, this should disable the WoL feature from states S4/S5, and ensure the ME is off after a power loss.

If that doesn't work, select the first option (Desktop: ON in S0) and see if that works.

That worked!!!
Thanks for your help.

 

[Tekno Venus]

Great news :)