Windows starting up by itself at random times


The Machine

My gaming computer runs Microsoft Windows 10 and has the following hardware:

Case: Corsair Carbide Air 240
CPU: Intel Core i5 4690
Motherboard: ASUS Z97M-PLUS
RAM: Corsair Vengence Pro 1600C9R (2x4GB)
GPU: Sapphire R9 280X Dual-X OC 3GB
PSU: Silverstone Strider Gold 750w ST75F-GS
SSD: Corsair Force LS 120GB
Cooler: Corsair H100i
Fans: Corsair AIR SP120 Twin Pack

The Problem

Sometimes my computer would turn it self on at some random time. It wasn’t at a particular repeatable time, but just every now and then.

What I Tried

  • Disabling the Fast Boot app
  • Uninstalling the Fast Boot app
  • Experimenting with various BIOS settings
  • Disabling boot from network (from BIOS boot priorities)
  • Power options -> power-plan -> advanced -> PCIe -> link state power management
  • (… and a few more that I can’t remember)

But after all that, it would still turn on every couple of days.

The Solution

Eventually I found and disabled Windows Fast Start:

  • Power options -> system (choose buttons) -> fast startup

This turned out to be the culprit and now my computer and I can both stop working through the night!