The laptop is totally shutdown at night and unplugged from AC (the battery is installed). The last two nights I woke up about 3:30 AM and found that the laptop had booted itself up. Last night I found it just as it was completing the Windows Update procedure. The previous night it was fully up and running. In both cases the soft media keys for volume at the top of the laptop keyboard were lit. The increase volume and the mute were flashing, the decrease volume was solid. The keys seemed to work when pressed.
Look for the Windows Update link on the Start Menu: Start - All Programs - Windows Update.
Click on Windows Update.
When you get to the Update area, look for a setting which tells the computer what time to automatically download and install Windows updates. These will be primarily software, drivers, program updates, etc., from Microsoft. It soulds as if your computer is automaticaly updating your computer, or checking for updates.
BTW, the default time for this as set in Windows is 3 AM, local time - meaning 3 AM Eastern, or 3 AM Pacific, etc - and you have indicated that you found this activity sometime after 3 AM, which makes sense.
Having found that Update section, simply look for a box, or radio button (circle) and de-select the automatic update, or change the time to a time you are awake during the day, or other convenient time.
I don't think you have a problem, just a setting that is working ...
Cheers!
-a.
I did the change as recommended above (changed the time of update to 8:00 PM), but I don't think this is the problem. The laptop is actually powered off and no software including the OS is running. By the way, I have windows Vista installed and it is up to date. Also, last night I again did a shutdown, but turned the WIFI off. The laptop did not turn on. I will try it with WIFI on tonight and the laptop shutdown.
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SOURCE: I have a flashing/blinking orange battery light.
Most likely you have a problem with the battery or electric circut in your laptop. Unfortunatly there is not much you can do, except taking it professional repair service.
SOURCE: dell inspiron 6400 system responding very slow on ac adaptor
can i run my dell inspiron 6400 only on AC adaptor?
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Forgot to mention that I did check BIOS to see if it had a way to turn on the laptop, but could not find anything that allowed that . And yes, the laptop is POWERED DOWN and is not in sleep mode.
It has not happened now for the last 2 nights even though I put Windows Update back to 3 AM . I wonder if it is some intermittent hardware error. The laptop passed all of its diagnostics when I ran them. I have had this laptop for 4 years or so and this is the first time I have seen this behavior.
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