Windows xp not keeping time on clock

[Kremerica]

this is a basic question that I have seen answered millions of times,
when I turn the power off this computer shuts down, then when turned on again it has the time that it was last shutdown at. seems like the CMOS battery won't hold the time.

BUT the thing is that I replaced the CMOS battery about a month ago and the clock is already getting out of wack

could the bios/motherboard be draining the battery that fast or is it just a bad battery I got ?

thanks

 

[johnjkr1]

It's not the CMOS battery. It is never the CMOS battery. It's windows. Windows can change the bios time.

Simple test. Power on the pc, go into the bios. set the time. Turn it off. Turn it on again and go straight into the bios, the time will be correct 99% of the time. If it's not, then you have a hardware problem.

 

[Zepper]

As others have pointed out, the OS time can be maintained completely separate from the RTC. Apparently XP is so network-centric that it can rely entirely on clock sync via a network. I would think that it would be a good idea to start with a local RTC sync and then pick up a network sync as available, but M$ must have some obscure reason for not doing so, like perhaps maintaining consistent time stamps on system files. So somehow you may have to find a way to set XP up to get its time sync from the local RTC if your conditions are not network-centric. I have no idea where to find such a setting, but either the clock setting or networking tools of Control Panel would be a good place to start looking. I think it can even be set up to get a time sync from the internet, so until you log on and it has a chance to sync up, the time can be in error.
.bh.

 

[spyordie007]

If your clock keeps showing up off by a consistant amount (i.e. it always ends up off by 8 hours) than the timezone is set incorrectly and windows is syncing the current time for the timezone you've set.

If this isnt the case follow the suggestions listed above.

-Erik

 

[corkyg]

Try 1st Clock - I have used t for 6 months now, and it is a winner. Not only does it have an atomic clock synch capability, it can display seconds as well as minues and hours in the tray. It overrides the XP clock - a bargain with a free trial.1st Clock

 

[daSarge]

Was having problem with clock. Logged on and immediately saw your recommendation for 1st Clock.
Program works great. Thanks for posting good info.