Clock keeping time too fast

[Lori]

Hi again. Here is my newest issue. First off, running on Windows XP Home,
SP3. Out of nowhere, my clock is now keeping time too fast. I noticed it
this morning and manually changed it back to the right time but here I am
again with it running about 45 minutes fast. I don't know if it will stay 45
mins. ahead of the actual time or will continue to just keep adding minutes.

What on earth could cause a computer to do this? Please don't say a battery
because that is not the problem.

Thanks for any input.

 

[Tim Meddick]

This could be due to incorrect setting in Window's time zones. I'm not too
sure how you might check/set this without the correct tool which is
TZEDIT.EXE but it is free and downloadable at:

http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/8/a/58a208b7-7dc7-4bc7-8357-28e29cdac52f/tzedit.exe


==



Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

 

[Lori]

Tim,
This is the thing: This computer is about five years old. A friend of mine
said he thinks it's the motherboard. If that's the case, I'd better back up
everything and get ready for the crash...the fun never ends.

Thanks!

 

[smlunatick]

Tim,
This is the thing:  This computer is about five years old.  A friend of mine
said he thinks it's the motherboard.  If that's the case, I'd better back up
everything and get ready for the crash...the fun never ends.

Thanks!

Defective motherboard would not cause any loss of data. I would first
consider replacing the coin-cell battery. This is usually used for
storing the date/time and the CMOS settings.

 

[Lori]

Okay. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I always thought that failing batteries
caused a lack or total cessation of performance, not an increase in
performance. I would think if my complaint was a slow clock or one that
stops working, it could be a battery situation.

However, I figured out what the problem was. It was an online game where
the levels are timed. If I don't play the game, my clock keeps perfect time.
If I do, the clock speeds up. Weird, but happens every time. If I
re-synchronize my time settings and don't play, my clock stays right on time.
If I play, it speeds up.

Thanks for your suggestion.

 

[smlunatick]

Okay.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but I always thought that failing batteries
caused a lack or total cessation of performance, not an increase in
performance.  I would think if my complaint was a slow clock or one that
stops working, it could be a battery situation.

However, I figured out what the problem was.  It was an online game where
the levels are timed.  If I don't play the game, my clock keeps perfecttime.
 If I do, the clock speeds up.  Weird, but happens every time.  If I
re-synchronize my time settings and don't play, my clock stays right on time.
 If I play, it speeds up.  

Thanks for your suggestion.

Failing batteries can affect most PCs differently. If the BIOS / CMOS
behaving in "questionable" matter, then a "cheap" battery is an easy
test.

 

[Lori]

I would never have thought that way, but I appreciate your input. Problem
solved, anyway.

Thank you!

 

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

Okay. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I always thought that failing batteries
caused a lack or total cessation of performance, not an increase in
performance. I would think if my complaint was a slow clock or one that
stops working, it could be a battery situation.

It's gradual; when it has run down altogether, the mobo might forget all
sorts of important settings (though I think some modern ones use
non-volatile memory). But when it's _beginning_ to run down, the clock
running at the wrong speed is one of the common symptoms. And in my
experience (very limited, as IME these cells last _far_ longer than
they're expected to), running fast is commoner.

However, I figured out what the problem was. It was an online game where
the levels are timed. If I don't play the game, my clock keeps perfect time.
If I do, the clock speeds up. Weird, but happens every time. If I
re-synchronize my time settings and don't play, my clock stays right on time.
If I play, it speeds up.

Glad you "sorted" it - though it's an interesting problem!

One thing you might do (especially if you want to keep playing the rogue
game!) is get one of the utilities that checks your clock against one of
the international time servers; my internet software (Turnpike) does
that anyway, but for other people I've frequently installed Dimension 4
(http://www.thinkman.com/dimension4/) which has worked faultlessly.
(IIRR the time server it chooses by default isn't a working one, but it
comes with a list of several, so you just pick another one.) Dimension 4
corrects your clock, at first connection and at intervals you specify; I
imagine other similar utilities do similar.
[]
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G.5AL-IS-P--Ch++(p)Ar@T0H+Sh0!:`)DNAf
** http://www.soft255.demon.co.uk/G6JPG-PC/JPGminPC.htm for ludicrously
outdated thoughts on PCs. **

I'm in shape ... round's a shape isn't it?

 

[Lori]

John,
Coolest! Thanks so much. I downloaded it and instantly after activating it
reset the clock to the RIGHT time. I am going to have to go play my game now
and see if it holds. I really appreciate your letting me know about
Dimension 4.

Okay. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I always thought that failing batteries
caused a lack or total cessation of performance, not an increase in
performance. I would think if my complaint was a slow clock or one that
stops working, it could be a battery situation.

It's gradual; when it has run down altogether, the mobo might forget all
sorts of important settings (though I think some modern ones use
non-volatile memory). But when it's _beginning_ to run down, the clock
running at the wrong speed is one of the common symptoms. And in my
experience (very limited, as IME these cells last _far_ longer than
they're expected to), running fast is commoner.

However, I figured out what the problem was. It was an online game where
the levels are timed. If I don't play the game, my clock keeps perfect time.
If I do, the clock speeds up. Weird, but happens every time. If I
re-synchronize my time settings and don't play, my clock stays right on time.
If I play, it speeds up.

Glad you "sorted" it - though it's an interesting problem!

One thing you might do (especially if you want to keep playing the rogue
game!) is get one of the utilities that checks your clock against one of
the international time servers; my internet software (Turnpike) does
that anyway, but for other people I've frequently installed Dimension 4
(http://www.thinkman.com/dimension4/) which has worked faultlessly.
(IIRR the time server it chooses by default isn't a working one, but it
comes with a list of several, so you just pick another one.) Dimension 4
corrects your clock, at first connection and at intervals you specify; I
imagine other similar utilities do similar.
[]
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G.5AL-IS-P--Ch++(p)Ar@T0H+Sh0!:`)DNAf
** http://www.soft255.demon.co.uk/G6JPG-PC/JPGminPC.htm for ludicrously
outdated thoughts on PCs. **

I'm in shape ... round's a shape isn't it?

 

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

John,
Coolest! Thanks so much. I downloaded it and instantly after activating it
reset the clock to the RIGHT time. I am going to have to go play my game now
and see if it holds. I really appreciate your letting me know about
Dimension 4. []

(http://www.thinkman.com/dimension4/) which has worked faultlessly.

[]
You're welcome! Actually, when I looked at that page, I didn't see any
mention of Windows 98 any more, but there certainly are versions of it
that do work with it, and do so fine. (I know this is an XP group, but
'9x people might hear of it, and/or see you using it.)

It was only when looking at it last night that I twigged - after having
used it for many years! - where the name comes from ...

Do tell if it works with your game; it should, I imagine!
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G.5AL-IS-P--Ch++(p)Ar@T0H+Sh0!:`)DNAf
** http://www.soft255.demon.co.uk/G6JPG-PC/JPGminPC.htm for ludicrously
outdated thoughts on PCs. **

I'm in shape ... round's a shape isn't it?

 

[Lori]

John,
YES ~ it worked with the game. Thank you again for the great suggestion.

Hope those 98-ers got the message, too.

Have a great day !!!

John,
Coolest! Thanks so much. I downloaded it and instantly after activating it
reset the clock to the RIGHT time. I am going to have to go play my game now
and see if it holds. I really appreciate your letting me know about
Dimension 4. []

(http://www.thinkman.com/dimension4/) which has worked faultlessly.

[]
You're welcome! Actually, when I looked at that page, I didn't see any
mention of Windows 98 any more, but there certainly are versions of it
that do work with it, and do so fine. (I know this is an XP group, but
'9x people might hear of it, and/or see you using it.)

It was only when looking at it last night that I twigged - after having
used it for many years! - where the name comes from ...

Do tell if it works with your game; it should, I imagine!
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G.5AL-IS-P--Ch++(p)Ar@T0H+Sh0!:`)DNAf
** http://www.soft255.demon.co.uk/G6JPG-PC/JPGminPC.htm for ludicrously
outdated thoughts on PCs. **

I'm in shape ... round's a shape isn't it?