System clock losing time

[Raqui]

It's true, the system clock is losing time, and I don't know how to fix it.
I have downloaded something called "Atomic Clock Sync", which pings the UTC
and that is how I get correct time. But it seems I must do this every other
day. If I let it go for a week or so, I can be 5 minutes off!!! Is there
anything I can do?

 

[-xiray-]

It's true, the system clock is losing time, and I don't know how to fix it.
I have downloaded something called "Atomic Clock Sync", which pings the UTC
and that is how I get correct time. But it seems I must do this every other
day. If I let it go for a week or so, I can be 5 minutes off!!! Is there
anything I can do?

First, WinXP has a built in feature to sync the clock with an online
clock. So what you downloaded was a waste of time (and I think I've
seen that prog... doesn't it also come with Spyware attached).

But that aside, 5 minutes in one week is really not that big a deal,
and is more common than you'd think..

I have, however, heard that there are some systems that do have clock
problems (didn't I read that about some models of Dell computers?) so
you might want to check your computer manufacturers web site to see if
it is a known issue and if there is a patch.

Then, there is a small chance, and I say small because, again 5
minutes in one week is not a large problem, but there is a small
chance that the battery on your mother board is running low. If your
system is a few years old, you might consider replacing the battery;
its a coin cell and will probably cost you about $20.

 

[NobodyMan]

First, WinXP has a built in feature to sync the clock with an online
clock. So what you downloaded was a waste of time (and I think I've
seen that prog... doesn't it also come with Spyware attached).

But that aside, 5 minutes in one week is really not that big a deal,
and is more common than you'd think..

I have, however, heard that there are some systems that do have clock
problems (didn't I read that about some models of Dell computers?) so
you might want to check your computer manufacturers web site to see if
it is a known issue and if there is a patch.

Then, there is a small chance, and I say small because, again 5
minutes in one week is not a large problem, but there is a small
chance that the battery on your mother board is running low. If your
system is a few years old, you might consider replacing the battery;
its a coin cell and will probably cost you about $20.

This only seems to be happening when the OS running, so I seriously
doubt it's the battery.

I also don't want to be shopping for a battery where you live! The
battery on my MB (and all the others I work on, a large number)
doesn't cost more than maybe $7.00.

 

[-xiray-]

I also don't want to be shopping for a battery where you live! The
battery on my MB (and all the others I work on, a large number)
doesn't cost more than maybe $7.00.

Yeah, I don't like shopping here either.

 

[Alex Nichol]

It's true, the system clock is losing time, and I don't know how to fix it.
I have downloaded something called "Atomic Clock Sync", which pings the UTC
and that is how I get correct time. But it seems I must do this every other
day. If I let it go for a week or so, I can be 5 minutes off!

Instead do it by using the systems own synchronisation - at Control
Panel - Date and Time - Internet time. Use that ( synchronise now)
twice daily for a week or two,running the system continuously, and it
will adjust the system's own idea of the interval between the timer
interrupts until it compensates for the oscillator not being very
accurate (they are not calibrated as time keepers)