computer clock keeps losing time

  • Thread starter Thread starter Gene
  • Start date Start date
G

Gene

My clock needs to be re-set manually almost every week.
Not sure why it keeps losing time. I'm using Windows XP
home edition. Any suggestions?
 
I doubt that it's Windows, could possibly be a sign that
your CMOS battery (on the motherboard) is reaching the end
of its life (it is replaceable and cheap). Try this:

Double-click on the clock in the lower right-hand corner,
hit the Internet Time tab and see if the "Automatically
synchronize . . ." item is checked. If not, check it and
select a server from the drop-down list. Then watch it for
a few days.

If it is the CMOS battery, eventually the motherboard will
lose critical information and fail to work correctly,
until you replace the battery. The battery is usually
good for at least 3-5 years but . . . not always. You
might also investigate the motherboard manufacturer's web
site, there may have been a problem with the BIOS that was
corrected in a later revision. The BIOS can be updated to
the new rev. but you may need some help with this as it
can be tricky. It can also be simple, depending on the
motherboard.

Good Luck !
 
My clock needs to be re-set manually almost every week.
Not sure why it keeps losing time. I'm using Windows XP
home edition. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Gene, if the time is wrong when you turn on the system - check that time is
set correctly in the BIOS setup screens. If that is correct and time is
still wrong at startup - you need a new battery.

If on the other hand, you are losing time while in Windows, a program is
likely to blame. When Windows is first started, it picks up the time from
the system settings. Once Windows is running, it uses CPU cycles to advance
the clock. Windows will give those up to programs that heavily utilize the
processor and the time will become inaccurate. The trick will be in
figuring out which program does this. Then determine if the program needs
to be updated or if it's a side effect that has no solution but to restart
the system or to reset the time manually. In the past, antivirus programs
were a common cause for a loss of time in Windows.

Early in XP's lifetime there was a situation with the BIOS of some Dell
systems and Windows fighting each other for control of the time. Dell has a
fix for this posted at their website.
 
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