Time Jumps Ahead One-Hour XP Home

[RAH]

My daughter's new Dell Optiplex GS620 with XP Home has a frustrating
problem with the computer clock. Her time zone is set correctly to
Mountain time, and you can force the correct time by clicking on the
Update Now under Internet Time. However, if she leaves the computer
for a while and comes back she finds that the time has jumped ahead
one-hour as if it wants to set daylight savings time instead of
standard time. It does this over and over. Any clues as to why this
is happening? She does live in the Mountain time zone.

 

[ANONYMOUS]

Have you checked the date properly - especially the YEAR as the date of
daylight savings time is different from year to year.

Is the time difference EXACTLY one hour?

 

[RAH]

I'll find out and get back to you.

Have you checked the date properly - especially the YEAR as the date of
daylight savings time is different from year to year.

Is the time difference EXACTLY one hour?

 

[Detlev Dreyer]

My daughter's new Dell Optiplex GS620 with XP Home has a frustrating
problem with the computer clock. Her time zone is set correctly to
Mountain time, and you can force the correct time by clicking on the
Update Now under Internet Time. However, if she leaves the computer
for a while and comes back she finds that the time has jumped ahead

This is caused by poor software running in the background. If there is
Norton/Symantec software preinstalled, you've found the culprit most
likely. Although this is an aged link, the same problem is still
reported frequently concerning Symantec products.

"System clock loses accuracy under Windows XP after installing Norton
AntiVirus 2002"
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPOR...85256edd00478df3?OpenDocument&src=bar_sch_nam

 

[ANONYMOUS]

I'll find out and get back to you.

Also, as the machine is new, it is a good idea to ask DELL to fix it as
it must still be under a warranty.

Normally, backup batteries may become flat and changing it resolves the
issue but since the difference is one hour, I suspect it has nothing to
do with batteries because flat batteries only resets the date to
01/01/1980 NOT to some 2007 date!!

 

[RAH]

She said that the date is set to January 2007, and the time does jump
ahead exactly one hour.

I will have her look at the Symantec note referred by another poster,
but being as this is a new machine, if she has Symantec it probably
isn't a 2002 version.

Dick

 

[R. McCarty]

Open up the Time applet, Click "Internet Time" (TAB). See which
time server is being used. Click the Update Now button. See if the
synchronization is successful and if the time is now correct. Normally,
XP is setup for time synchronization on a weekly schedule.

Most newer platform PC's have an HPET ( High Precision Event Timer)
which helps the PC to maintain timing operations. Unfortunately,
Windows XP doesn't make use of it, but Vista does.

Listing of Time Servers:
http://tf.nist.gov/service/time-servers.html

 

[RAH]

That works, but it doesn't "stick." Within a couple of hours, or
sooner, it will be right back like it was.

Dick

 

[RAH]

This is caused by poor software running in the background. If there is
Norton/Symantec software preinstalled, you've found the culprit most
likely. Although this is an aged link, the same problem is still
reported frequently concerning Symantec products.

"System clock loses accuracy under Windows XP after installing Norton
AntiVirus 2002"

She is running the trial McAfee that comes with the computer. No
Norton anti-virus. I think calling Dell is the best idea. They have
a 3-year in-home service policy. May as well use it.

Dick

 

[Jane]

Open up the Time applet, Click "Internet Time" (TAB). See which
time server is being used. Click the Update Now button. See if the
synchronization is successful and if the time is now correct. Normally,
XP is setup for time synchronization on a weekly schedule.

Most newer platform PC's have an HPET ( High Precision Event Timer)
which helps the PC to maintain timing operations. Unfortunately,
Windows XP doesn't make use of it, but Vista does.

Listing of Time Servers:
http://tf.nist.gov/service/time-servers.html

What is the easiest way to add all these time servers in WinXP
Professional?

Jane