Windows 8.1 Reboots itself after I attempt to Shutdown

civiltribe

New Member
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About 3 times now this has happened, I'll shutdown my PC using the tile target "C:\Windows\System32\shutdown.exe -s -t 00" and usually there is a delay in between shutting down and it randomly booting itself which makes it really weird that it isn't just an instant restart instead of shutdown. It's not a very long delay really, maybe 1-2 minutes.

The last two times I remember it was around 3:00 AM which is when it was set in Action Center Maintenance Settings to wake up the computer and run the scan. The thing is, I unchecked it from Maintenance Settings Friday night and it still happened last night (and it was kind of weird last night with daylight savings and all..) also, does the "wake up" to scan boot a completely shut down computer or just one idle/asleep?

After searching on this forum there seems to be some issues with Avast 2014 and boot issues. My 8.1 doesn't have any slow booting issues but perhaps it's related that this is the anti-virus I run.

I checked the Event Viewer Log and selected Power-Troubleshooter but I didn't see an event for the past two nights. powercfg lastwake command displays "Wake History Count - 0"

I never encountered this issue with Windows 7 or Windows 8 so it's hard to imagine it could be BIOS related?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel i5-3570 @ 3.40 GHz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z77X-D3H
    Memory
    Corsair 8 GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP x2301, Viewsonic VX2025wm
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial M4 128 GB
    WD 500 GB
    WD 500 GB
    PSU
    Corsair CX 750W
    Case
    Corsair Carbide 300R
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750
    Mouse
    Logitech Performance MX
    Internet Speed
    16 Mbps, 1 Mbps
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    avast! 2014
I think this link should be helpful:

Computer wakes up from sleep at night - Microsoft Community

Regards, Andy

Thanks, I have attempted some of these fixes such as changing the Scheduled Tasks to run during the daytime now.

I'm checking Event Viewer Logs from last night
This is when I tried to first attempt shutdown "2:05:26 AM User32 Shutdown", then after realizing it rebooted I finally performed shutdown at "2:09:03 AM User32 Shutdown" so somewhere in between, I'd imagine I could find some details describing what happened but this is all it says.

"The operating system is shutting down at system time ‎2013‎-‎11‎-‎03T07:05:37.580502700Z."
"The operating system started at system time ‎2013‎-‎11‎-‎03T07:06:26.492380300Z."

Is there something specific I should be looking for that would point to why it decided to start up again, I guess it could have been in the scheduled tasks. It hasn't been a daily occurrence so maybe it was a weekly task. Anyway, I'll be sure to update if this continues to occur.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel i5-3570 @ 3.40 GHz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z77X-D3H
    Memory
    Corsair 8 GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP x2301, Viewsonic VX2025wm
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial M4 128 GB
    WD 500 GB
    WD 500 GB
    PSU
    Corsair CX 750W
    Case
    Corsair Carbide 300R
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750
    Mouse
    Logitech Performance MX
    Internet Speed
    16 Mbps, 1 Mbps
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    avast! 2014
The key is to use powercfg /lastwake in command prompt right after the computer wakes up.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    Haswell 4771
    Motherboard
    Z87 Pro
    Memory
    8g
    Graphics Card(s)
    4600
Well after trying within a minute of booting it still gives me the same result. I thought the issue had gone away since it had been a while but last night it booted right back up again. Even with "Allow wake timers" set to disable something is booting it.

I initiated a shutdown at 2:05 AM last night. The event log then goes from "The operating system is shutting down at system time ‎2013‎-‎11‎-‎17T07:05:50.674602300Z." to "The operating system started at system time ‎2013‎-‎11‎-‎17T07:06:30.491533500Z." Nothing in between so how do I understand what initiated a startup?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel i5-3570 @ 3.40 GHz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z77X-D3H
    Memory
    Corsair 8 GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP x2301, Viewsonic VX2025wm
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial M4 128 GB
    WD 500 GB
    WD 500 GB
    PSU
    Corsair CX 750W
    Case
    Corsair Carbide 300R
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750
    Mouse
    Logitech Performance MX
    Internet Speed
    16 Mbps, 1 Mbps
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    avast! 2014
Right after it wakes up do what I said above and it will tell you what woke up your computer.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    Haswell 4771
    Motherboard
    Z87 Pro
    Memory
    8g
    Graphics Card(s)
    4600
The problem is I've been asleep every time it reboots, I just have to stick around after shutting it down every night for a week so I'll be sure to try and remember to wait every night in case it reboots.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel i5-3570 @ 3.40 GHz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z77X-D3H
    Memory
    Corsair 8 GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP x2301, Viewsonic VX2025wm
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial M4 128 GB
    WD 500 GB
    WD 500 GB
    PSU
    Corsair CX 750W
    Case
    Corsair Carbide 300R
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750
    Mouse
    Logitech Performance MX
    Internet Speed
    16 Mbps, 1 Mbps
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    avast! 2014
For safety, plug your computer into a (Surge Suppressed) Power Strip. Then after you've shut down your PC, flip the switch on the power strip and totally kill the Line Power to your PC. Then it will be impossible for it to come on by itself when you're away from it.

My own computer is set, in the Bios, to come on when the line power comes up, so all I have to do to start up my system is flip just the one switch on my power strip and everything comes on. It sounds like your Bios might be set the same way. So if there is a power glitch while you're asleep, you PC will come on. Check it out.

Cheers Mate!
TechnoMage :cool:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win-8.1/Pro/64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer X-1200
    CPU
    AMD 2 Core
    Motherboard
    Acer
    Memory
    Crucial, 4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDEA GeForce 9200
    Sound Card
    On Board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" Acer
    Hard Drives
    Sandisk, SSD 500GB
    PSU
    Acer
    Case
    SFF Slimline
    Keyboard
    emachines 101 key
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless
    Internet Speed
    5 Meg
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Using Classic Shell on Win-8.1 /pro/64
I considered that but unfortunately I also have my router and VoIP ooma plugged into the strip. It would mean not being able to make/send phone calls or using wifi once I shut down plus I'd have to reset my internet connection on a daily basis by unplugging everything and then plugging them back in the right order. Thanks for the suggestion though.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel i5-3570 @ 3.40 GHz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z77X-D3H
    Memory
    Corsair 8 GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP x2301, Viewsonic VX2025wm
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial M4 128 GB
    WD 500 GB
    WD 500 GB
    PSU
    Corsair CX 750W
    Case
    Corsair Carbide 300R
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750
    Mouse
    Logitech Performance MX
    Internet Speed
    16 Mbps, 1 Mbps
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    avast! 2014
Maybe I wasn't plain enough...... plug your computer into a NEW strip, that only controls your computer, monitor and any other peripherals like your speakers. Of course, you need to keep your modem, router, and those things HOT all the time. In fact, those things should be plugged into a UPS, not just a power strip. Sorry, I just took it for granted that you'd know that. My bad!

In fact, I have five UPS's in my house, and everything of importance is plugged into one.
Most of those UPS's, run off of a large battery that can supply between 4 and 8 hours of run time.

Good Luck,
:cool:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win-8.1/Pro/64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer X-1200
    CPU
    AMD 2 Core
    Motherboard
    Acer
    Memory
    Crucial, 4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDEA GeForce 9200
    Sound Card
    On Board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" Acer
    Hard Drives
    Sandisk, SSD 500GB
    PSU
    Acer
    Case
    SFF Slimline
    Keyboard
    emachines 101 key
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless
    Internet Speed
    5 Meg
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Using Classic Shell on Win-8.1 /pro/64
I was able to do powercfg /lastwake right after it rebooted itself but still reports Wake History Count - 0.
I definitely have an idea of something related to this issue though. When I attempt to shutdown, it gives me an error message. I've been trying to grab a picture of this error message with a camera but by the time I get one loaded the computer shuts down. When I saw the error message this time I knew it'd reboot itself especially since it seems to be only on the weekend. Now when I know to expect it on the weekends I'll have that camera ready when I shut down, hopefully the error message will lead me to what the issue is.

I'll be sure to look out for a good deal for a UPS this Black Friday.

Update: Tried looking up the message box that would pop up but it seemed to be a memory issue, everything suggested did not help get rid of it either. I wonder if it's even related to the other issue since sometimes it still restarts itself if there is no error message box.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel i5-3570 @ 3.40 GHz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z77X-D3H
    Memory
    Corsair 8 GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP x2301, Viewsonic VX2025wm
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial M4 128 GB
    WD 500 GB
    WD 500 GB
    PSU
    Corsair CX 750W
    Case
    Corsair Carbide 300R
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750
    Mouse
    Logitech Performance MX
    Internet Speed
    16 Mbps, 1 Mbps
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    avast! 2014
I'm getting a similar problem but with mine it starts back up within a few seconds after shut down. I have no auto tasks running and it is a brand new vanilla install of 8.1

I either press the power button or choose shut down from the start button.

Windows shuts down

Everything is quiet for a second or two.

Windows then starts up again.


I repeat. I have NOT set windows to perform any tasks or wake my PC automatically at any time so this is a bit of a mystery to me.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    WIN 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self built custom
    CPU
    Inter i7 3930K
    Motherboard
    Asus P9x79 DELUXE
    Memory
    6 x 4 Gb Kingston HyperX RAM triple channel 24GB total
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte GTX 760 4GB x 2 in SLI
    Sound Card
    Onboard Realtek 5.1
    Monitor(s) Displays
    BENQ XL2420T 120Hz Gaming monitor
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    1 Mushkin 240gb (primary OS) plus a few other storage drives
    PSU
    Cooler Master Silent Power 1000W
    Case
    Corsair Obsidian 800D
    Cooling
    Swiftech H320 closed loop water cooling system
    Keyboard
    Logitech G510
    Mouse
    Razer Mamba 2012
    Internet Speed
    So fast I go to plaid quite often
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Eset Antivirus 7
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