My PC has an Asus B550 motherboard with Restore AC Power Loss set to Power Off. During a recent outage, the power fluctuated and the PC shut down and started again several times. Is there another setting I should use, or should I just disconnect it when this happens?
How can I keep my PC off when the power keeps cutting out?
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Kivrit
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That setting controls what happens when AC power returns after a recognized power loss. It doesn't give the PC time to shut down cleanly when the power starts failing.
A possible explanation is that the voltage dropped without the motherboard recognizing a complete loss of power, causing resets instead. That would explain why the setting didn't seem to help, though it doesn't prove what happened in your case.
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If you want it handled automatically, look for a UPS with USB communication and shutdown software that supports your PC. The battery keeps it running long enough for the software to send a clean shutdown command. You can usually configure when that happens, such as at a certain battery level.
Check the UPS capacity against your PC's power needs and make sure the computer is connected to a battery-backed outlet. A surge protector alone won't keep it running through an outage.
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For an occasional outage, manual is fine. Shut the PC down before a storm if you can, then unplug the surge protector. If the power is already cycling and you can't shut down normally, switching the protector off or unplugging it stops the repeated restarts.
Disconnecting it during the outage was a reasonable move. Wait until power is stable before plugging it back in.
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drizzle~and+dash!:
Also check that the shutdown software is installed and configured. Just plugging the PC into a UPS doesn't necessarily set up an automatic shutdown.