My system clock keeps resetting!!

Can anybody please give me any information as to why for some reason my clock keeps resetting itself to the 1/1/2004? This seems to happen constantly when I turn off my laptop or put it on stand by? Its starting to get really annoying because all my programmes keep running out of trial periods as soon as I install them. I have unsynchronised it with an internet time server, but even if that was the problem i doubt all time servers at set at 1/1/2004... i'm running off an XP Pro O/S.. any help and explanations of how to fix this retarded problem would be great!

 

Dead battery on the mobo maybe.

 

Hmm.. I don't think its that though because for days on end when I kept it at home without bringing it to uni with me, the time was accurate so I'm guessing that suggests that the battery isn't dead (which confuses me even more). Plus my laptop is only 2 months old. I called HP tech support and they told me that it might be a programme screwing with my settings or a network connection doing it or something? No idea. They said they could check my laptop for me but I'm not sending it away for a week so someone can fix my system clock...

 

It could be a dead CMOS battery, methinks, but why would it be shutting down just after two months? Batteries tend to last longer than that...

I understand your plight in not wanting to send your laptop away just to change a battery. It's a pain in the butt and also why I am not a fan of laptops (they're portable, sure, but so is my Palm.).

You could check your BIOS settings and see if there's anything you can do in there. Just a hunch, though, I don't work with laptops that much.

 

JK84, If it is not happening when you are at home (try weekend test) but is only happening at uni, I would tackle the uni IT people. Anyone else at uni with a laptop having a similar problem? Can you post your problem on a uni electronic notice board? Anyone else there with the same make and model, by chance? Once it is set at the uni to 01/01/2004, does it keep relative time from then on, ie if you work for a few hours, does the incorrect time advance by the same few hours? All things point to uni network settings IMHO. Bazza

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I use Neutron v1.03 from http://keir.net --Atomic clock synchronizer.

Easiest program I have ever used. Synchronise your laptop with atomic time in seconds, whenever you want to. Bazza

 

Jaykay84, a motherboard battery is only cheap, and is the most likely culprit, especially as you say it does it when switched off or in standby.

XP has a built-in time synchroniser that automatically updates once a week, however it won't update if your clock is more than 15 hours out.

Try changing the battery, set the time and update it.(double-click the time in systry, then Internet Time tab, then click Update now)