how do i get my computer to automatically start up/shut down?

Answer 1

To wake your system from standby or hibernation at a set time, click Start,Programs (All Programs in XP) Accessories,System Tools,Scheduled Tasks. Double-click the Add Scheduled Task icon to launch the Scheduled Task Wizard, and click Next. Select a program you'd like to run when your system wakes up, and schedule the task. On the wizard's last page, check Open advanced properties for this task when I click Finish before clicking Finish. In the resulting Properties dialog box, click the Settings tab, check Wake the computer to run this task, and click OK.

Now you simply have to make sure you hibernate your PC, rather than shutting it off, when you're ready to call it a day

Answer 2

Some computers have a power on time in the BIOS. I believe Dell PC's have this option. To shut the PC down, create a Scheduled Task that will shutdown the computer at the time you want it to.