Clock Resetting on Power Up

[Elayna]

I have a problem with the clock on my computer resetting on power up to 01
January 2002 00:00. This happens every time I start the computer and has a
knock on effect to other applications.

I am running a desktop with Windows XP Media Centre Edition.

About four weeks ago I had a problem with pop-ups and advertisements on the
computer. The clock then started to change time dramatically. As i thought
I had a virus and restoring the system from a previous date would not work, I
performed a system recovery.

The issue with the pop-ups and advertisements has now been resolved but I
was still having trouble with the clock. Then, about two weeks ago, it began
to reset each time the computer was switched on.

Time synchronisation will not work at all and this problem persists despite
now leaving the clock on manual.

Can anyone offer any advice?

Thanks

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I have a problem with the clock on my computer resetting on power up to 01
January 2002 00:00.

Almost certainly you need to replace the battery on the motherboard.
It's a disk around the size and shape of a US quarter. A new one cost
just a few dollars.

 

[Unknown]

All indications of a dead battery.

 

[Charly]

I have a problem with my clock losing time. I have been told that it may be
neccessary to change the motherboard battery.

This would be a problem because I am not skilled enough to mess about inside
the base unit.

I am wondering if there is any other solution to this problem.

By the way the computer is not connected to the internet so I can't set the
time from the net.

Thanks,

Charly.

 

[Frank Saunders MS-MVP IE,OE/WM]

I have a problem with my clock losing time. I have been told that it may be
neccessary to change the motherboard battery.

This would be a problem because I am not skilled enough to mess about
inside
the base unit.

I am wondering if there is any other solution to this problem.

By the way the computer is not connected to the internet so I can't set
the
time from the net.

If it resets to the same date a few years ago, replacing the battery is the
only way. Call around to the small computer shops; it shouldn't cost much.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I have a problem with my clock losing time.

How much time does it lose over what period?

I have been told that it may be
neccessary to change the motherboard battery.

Maybe, maybe not. Before anyone whose clock is running slow rushes out
to buy a new battery, he should first take note of whether he is
losing time while the computer is running or while it's powered off.
If it's while powered off, the problem *is* very likely the battery.
But if it's while running, it can *not* be the battery, because the
battery isn't used while the computer is running.

If the clock loses time while running, try this:

Open a command prompt window (Start | Run | cmd) and enter the
following commands:

net stop w32time
w32tm /unregister
w32tm /register
net start w32time

Also note that losing small amounts of time is normal. The clock is
not perfectly accurate. Look for a solution only if the clock loses
large amounts of time.

This would be a problem because I am not skilled enough to mess about inside
the base unit.

I am wondering if there is any other solution to this problem.

If the battery is failing, it needs to be replaced. There is no other
solution.

Replacing the battery is easy and doesn't require great skill. The
battery is a small flat disk, around the size and shape of a US
quarter, held in place by a clip. A new one costs 2-3 dollars. Take
note of its model number, buy a new one, remove the old, and insert
the new.

If you're really uncomfortable doing it yourself, you can of course
take the computer to a service facility and pay someone else to do it,
but it's likely to cost you $50-75. Do you have a more knowledgeable
friend who can help?

By the way the computer is not connected to the internet so I can't set the
time from the net.

You can also set it manually yourself. Right-click on the time in the
system tray, and choose "Adjust date/time." But that's a stopgap
measure. The battery is used for more than keeping the clock running
while the computer is powered off. If it's failing, you *need* to
replace it. If you don't, you will soon find that the clock being
wrong is the least of your problems.

 

[Elayna]

That is great. Thank you so much for the help.

Elayna

 

[Elayna]

Following the previous response to my problem I can recommend checking out
the website for the company who manufactured your computer.

My computer is a HP and HP provided a step by step instruction sheet on
their website on how to change the battery, which was very easy to follow.
The battery itself is one that I can pick up from the supermarket for very
little money.

Elayna

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

That is great. Thank you so much for the help.

You're welcome. Glad to help.

 

[Charly]

Thanks for your helpful replies. I am only losing time when the computer is
running. So it looks as if I am lucky and I won't need to change the
motherboard battery.

Also the time loss is not all that much so maybe there is nothing to worry
about anyway.

Charly.

 

[Charly]

I am wondering if there is any way of checking whether or not the motherboard
battery is getting low.

Any suggestion would be welcome.

Cheers,

Charly.

 

[Unknown]

There is NO WAY to check if battery is getting low.

 

[Charly]

Thanks for your reply. It looks like the only way you get to know the battery
is running low is when it effects the computer performance eg. the clcok
losing time when you switch the computer off.

Cheers,

Charly.

 

[John John (MVP)]

That is why they invented battery testers.

John

Thanks for your reply. It looks like the only way you get to know the battery
is running low is when it effects the computer performance eg. the clcok
losing time when you switch the computer off.

Cheers,

Charly.

:

 

[Unknown]

A battery tester for a BIOS battery is totally useless.