Slow clock 2

[CoyotePuma]

Another question;

I've a computer that keeps losing time, 15 minutes a day. I replaced the battery, but the clock still runs slow.

Any ideas?

 

[cdogg]

If the clock loses time while Windows is running, it has nothing to do with the CMOS battery. The battery's responsibility is for keeping time while the PC is off. It does keep time while it's running too, but Windows doesn't check it. It only checks at bootup or when you manually adjust the clock.

With that said, your problem is probably low amount of available CPU resources. I recommend taking the small amount of time to do a clean install of Windows on a spare hard drive. Don't install anything and see if the problem continues to occur. If not, then you know for sure it's related to something that's installed in your other instance of Windows.

And for future reference, it would help to know a little about your specs including the version of Windows for starters...

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[wahnula]

There is a free app called TrayHelper:

http://www.trayhelper.com

That allows one free plugin, I choose the Atom Time Synchronizer, that updates the clock from one of several timeservers.. I have it on all my machines and love the date box in the tray. Spyware free, has a lot of interesting options, check it out.

Tony

 

[dakir]

Well, serveral things can be the problem here. By your previous posts, I am going to assume that your using a Windows O/S. First let me cover the server aspect. If your computer is part of a domain server your machine should be in sync with a network time server. If not, it should be using an Internet time server.

To use a Network Time server, just do a google search for one. There are MANY options to choose from. You will unfortunately need to do the research for your best fit. You can use a Network Time server even if you just have a workgroup setup instead of a domain, again research.

To use Internet Time Server, just double click the time in the lower left corner of your screen. (or start/control panel/time,date/then click on the Internet Tab. In here make sure that automaticaly syncronize is checked.

If the above didn't help and the problem still exists, you are either using Unix/Linux or your problem goes beyond simple syncronizing.

-D

 

[cdogg]

dakir,
You are assuming he has Windows XP. If it is, then the option to synch with an internet time server is enabled by default. In that situation, it shouldn't lose time for long.

But because it's noticeable, chances are he's using an older OS.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[CoyotePuma]

Yes, I am running a Windows XP system. It has a P4 1.6G processor and a gig of memory. It runs at or near 100% utilization most of the time and still runs cool. I would be concerned with task overloading if the PFU usage was high, but it normally runs under 10%. Let me add that this time loss problem is only recent. I've had this system for over five years, running the same OS and memory, with the only problem being I wearout hard drives - I am not a fan of Antec caging hard drives or cases without fans cooling the drives.

I think I'll copy the hard drive to another then uninstall everything short of the OS. If it still loses time after that, it must be a hardware problem (?) and time to upgrade. If not, I'll start installing my most critical software first and monitor the clock as I increase tasks.

 

[cdogg]

Better yet, throw in a spare hard drive that you can do a clean install of Windows XP. Without installing any 3rd-party apps, it shouldn't take you too long.

If it loses time, then I suppose there might be a problem on the motherboard causing it or perhaps bad RAM. But generally, Windows has always been configured to keep its own time while running, which would make a hardware issue unlikely. Doing a clean install of Windows will tell you for sure.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[bcastner]

Yes, I am running a Windows XP system. It has a P4 1.6G processor and a gig of memory. It runs at or near 100% utilization most of the time

No wonder your clock is behind.

Find out why this extraordinary high CPU utilization is occuring, as it is not natural. It could well be malware.



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