Starting a computer without the on/off switch

S

Seated

Weaksauce
Joined
Nov 16, 2005
Messages
116
Question please: is there a way to start a computer by just supplying power to the computer? For instance, if I have a computer plugged into a wall, and when I walk into the room and flip the light switch the computer turns on. Is this available? How would you do it?

I'm assuming that I would need to unplug the on/off button on the front of the computer from the motherboard. Is that all that's to it or what else is involved?

Thanks!
 
The only way I know how to is to take the main motherboard rail (the 12-pin plug) and jump the green wire with one of the adjacent black ones. This can be accomplished by using a metal paper clip. Simply put one end of the clip in the pin-hole leading to the green wire, and the other end in a pin hole leading to a black wire. This will allow your power supply to turn on just by pressing the rocker switch on the PSU back (or by supplying power if the PSU is on the on state.)

Unfortunately, this method requires that the motherboard remain powerless so that you have access to the 12-pin connector. Clearly this method is useless if you actually want to operate you computer . Certain motherboards may have what you are looking for as a feature, or perhaps there is another way to accomplish this while leaving the motherboard powered. Sorry to not be of more help.
 
You can do this a number of ways. Some safe, some not.

Assuming you already have a light switch that controls a wall outlet (as for a floor light):

1) Plug a UPS into the wall and set up the UPS to boot the computer when power is restored. When power is off, set the UPS to shutdown the computer immediately. This is likely the safest option.

2) Plug the computer directly into the wall socket and set it to boot on power. If you turn off the power, you will risk trashing files, etc - you have to do a shutdown before powering off the light switch. This is a less prefereble method.

I'd recommend the UPS approach. The UPS doesn't need much capacity since you'll set it to shutdown immediately on power off.

PS - Boot on power-up is a BIOS setting.
 
Thank you for the responses. I did not know about the boot on power up BIOS setting. I will look into that.

By the way, I do not plan on having my computer setup so that if I flip a light switch, it turns on. This was strickly an analogy in terms of something I want to do but didn't know if it could be done.

Thanks.
 
Seated said:
Thank you for the responses. I did not know about the boot on power up BIOS setting. I will look into that.

By the way, I do not plan on having my computer setup so that if I flip a light switch, it turns on. This was strickly an analogy in terms of something I want to do but didn't know if it could be done.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

So what do you REALLY want to do?
 
Okay, since you asked. I am wanting to move all computer equipment into my basement. I can set up some stuff (using home automation) to be able to turn devices on and off (X10) and wanted to do this with the computer. So, I could be upstairs in my house and flip a switch/push a button and my computer turns on. I would have the monitor/keyboard/mouse upstairs of course. I just wasn't sure if you could turn a computer on by applying power to it or not.
 
You bet, I'll let you know.

By the way, does it matter if the keyboard is USB or PS2?
 
Seated said:
Question please: is there a way to start a computer by just supplying power to the computer? For instance, if I have a computer plugged into a wall, and when I walk into the room and flip the light switch the computer turns on. Is this available? How would you do it?

I'm assuming that I would need to unplug the on/off button on the front of the computer from the motherboard. Is that all that's to it or what else is involved?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I would strongly urge you to reconsider using the light switch as your computer power switch. Just think about the first time your mother walks in the room and shuts off your light as an indication that you should go to bed.... *SHUDDER*

202276
 
Tytalus said:
I would strongly urge you to reconsider using the light switch as your computer power switch. Just think about the first time your mother walks in the room and shuts off your light as an indication that you should go to bed.... *SHUDDER*
Click to expand...

Some tape will solf that potential issue. :p
 
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