dial-up connection starting computer

**Sand99man** · 2004-12-18 23:46

My friend has a Pentium 3 with Windows XP Home. He uses his computer mostly for email and Internet with a dial-up connection - same as family line. He had a new replacement hard drive installed recently. He turns his computer off when not in use. When the phone rings it starts his computer, from power off. Nothing else happens. The only way to prevent this so far is to unplug the phone line to computer. We have no idea how this is happening nor how to stop it. Any suggestions? thanks

**viking33** · 2004-12-19 00:04

I don't have dial up service. so I can't give you the specifics, but check the options for the modem. Go to Control Panel>Phone and modem options.
There should be one to have the modem "wake" up on an incoming ring. ( or something like that ) That option was mostly for Fax modems, so they could turn on to receive an incoming call.

**Rebel** · 2004-12-19 03:14

I may be incorrect, but I think this is physically (and electrically) impossible. If the computer is actually powered off (i.e. absolutely no power to the computer), then the phone can ring 'till the cows come home and the computer will not power on. In reality, that's like saying that if the phone rings, the lights in the house will turn on. Is your friend perchance shutting down in "standby" mode?

**Leif** · 2004-12-19 07:52

With most modern computers, shutting down from within Windows simply turns off the main power, but leaves a logic supply running to allow the 'soft-touch' ON button to work, not to mention wake-on-call modems and wake-on-LAN NICs to operate. For example, see this short article at BuildOrBuy.

**StuartR** · 2004-12-19 09:25

Many computers have a setting in their BIOS setup to control which interrupts can wake the computer. Try looking through the various BIOS menus to see if you have something similar.

StuartR

**Rebel** · 2004-12-19 15:18

Thanks for the clarification Leif. I guess I was thinking within my own envelope. My computers are plugged into UPS units, and after I shut down the computers, I also power off the UPS's. With this configuration, nothing will wake my systems.

**viking33** · 2004-12-19 18:10

John,
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that's like saying that if the phone rings, the lights in the house will turn on.
-----------------------------------------
There is a device available to do just that. It's mostly for the hearing impaired, so that when the phone rings, it does turn on a lamp to signal them.

**Rebel** · 2004-12-19 19:56

<img src=/S/clever.gif border=0 alt=clever width=15 height=15> That's neat Bob. But what I need is some sort of device that alerts me before the kids use the LAST roll of toilet tissue. <img src=/S/laugh.gif border=0 alt=laugh width=15 height=15>

**DaveA** · 2004-12-20 01:40

Hide a roll in a cabinet they can NOT reach

**Rebel** · 2004-12-20 04:30

Thought about that, but unfortunately they seem to be able to find anything and everything, EXCEPT the dishwasher and their laundry hampers <img src=/S/bwaaah.gif border=0 alt=bwaaah width=123 height=15> .

**skitterbug** · 2004-12-20 11:48

Rebel, give them a "Two Stroke Penalty" if they can't replace the roll of toilet tissue properly!! <img src=/S/laugh.gif border=0 alt=laugh width=15 height=15>

**Sand99man** · 2004-12-20 22:45

I tried the modem settings from Control Panel, but it made no difference to the problem. thanks

**Sand99man** · 2004-12-20 22:46

good idea, but shut down is for power off.

**Sand99man** · 2004-12-20 22:51

This sounds promising, can you be more specific about what to look for. I had a look in the Setup, but nothing was obvious. I have learned painfully to be careful what I change in the Bios setup.
Interesting how talk of phones leads to indepth advice on managing children and household resources.
thanks

**LegareColeman** · 2004-12-20 23:52

This option is usually in the BIOS setup. Look for an option like "Wake on Call," "Wake on Ring," or "Power On on Ring or Call."

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