time/date getting reset

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

hi,

we have XP SP1 on an old laptop, which isn't used for much except teaching
little kids how to use a computer, so it is not connected to the internet.

however it appears as if one of the kids has deleted something or fiddled
with something accidentally, because nearly every time i switch it on instead
of booting up it says theres an error with the time/date settings, and it
takes me to the BIOS date/time settings.

there it says the time/date is 0:00 and the date is 1/1/1980. so i change it
to the correct time/date and it is then okay for 24 hours. but it then
reverts back to the usual 1980.

obviously i could just reinstall windows but i really dont want to because
theres so much stuff on the computer and reinstalling it all will be such a
headache. so is there a way of solving this?

thankyou very much
 
puthputh said:
hi,

we have XP SP1 on an old laptop, which isn't used for much except teaching
little kids how to use a computer, so it is not connected to the internet.

however it appears as if one of the kids has deleted something or fiddled
with something accidentally, because nearly every time i switch it on instead
of booting up it says theres an error with the time/date settings, and it
takes me to the BIOS date/time settings.

there it says the time/date is 0:00 and the date is 1/1/1980. so i change it
to the correct time/date and it is then okay for 24 hours. but it then
reverts back to the usual 1980.

obviously i could just reinstall windows but i really dont want to because
theres so much stuff on the computer and reinstalling it all will be such a
headache. so is there a way of solving this?

thankyou very much
Click to expand...

This has nothing to do with Windows. The battery on the motherboard has
died. Since replacing a laptop battery is tricksy, the way to get around
this is to keep the laptop plugged into the wall socket with its
adapter. If you want to try replacing the motherboard battery, you'll
need to check with the laptop mftr. for instructions. Easier to just
keep it plugged in.


Malke
 
Malke said:
This has nothing to do with Windows. The battery on the motherboard has
died. Since replacing a laptop battery is tricksy, the way to get around
this is to keep the laptop plugged into the wall socket with its
adapter. If you want to try replacing the motherboard battery, you'll
need to check with the laptop mftr. for instructions. Easier to just
keep it plugged in.


Malke
Click to expand...

Thankyou Malke, but you say that the way around it is to use electricity
instead of using the battery. but we never use the battery ever (probably
used it twice in last few years), so if we're always using electricity why is
this problem still occuring every time we switch the laptop on?
 
That is a different battery. The battery requiring replacement is about the
size of nikel and is on the mother board.
 
puthputh said:
ok but what does the following mean then, i'm no expert:
Click to expand...

Motherboards have a battery on them which saves the BIOS settings. These
are the very basic settings such as time, drives, etc. for your
computer. These settings have nothing to do with any operating system
except as the operating system takes information from the BIOS (such as
correct time, date, drives, processor speed, etc.).

Laptops have an additional removable big battery. The problem you are
experiencing has nothing to do with the removable big battery.

The motherboard battery only comes into use when the computer is not
getting electricity from the wall; i.e., when it is not plugged in. With
desktops, this happens rarely. With laptops, this can happen often. Even
when a computer is off, a modern motherboard will still be getting the
necessary electrical charge to keep the BIOS settings intact without
relying on the motherboard battery.

Motherboard batteries don't last forever. Eventually, they need to be
replaced even if the computer has been kept plugged in while off.
Replacing a motherboard battery in a desktop computer is easy and cheap.
Replacing the motherboard battery on a laptop is a different story. It
can be relatively easy or you might need to completely disassemble the
laptop to get at the motherboard battery. This is not usually something
done lightly and is not suggested for anyone who isn't quite skilled at
taking laptops apart and putting them back together.

Therefore my previous answer to you: 1) Call the laptop mftr. and find
out how to replace the motherboard battery. If this is something you can
easily do yourself, do so. 2) If #1 isn't feasible, leave the laptop
plugged into the wall socket so enough electricity is generated to keep
the BIOS settings. If even keeping the machine plugged in doesn't keep
the BIOS settings, do Step 1).

Hope this was enough information for you.


Malke
 
He is simply saying keep power on. As long as power is supplied to the
motherboard the clock will keep time. Your best bet is to replace the
battery even if you have to take it in to a repair shop. The battery will
last from 5 to 7 years.
You can of course replace it yourself, but look at the computer. Can you
gain access to where the battery is located?
 
Back
Top