Computer Time Problems
If you have noticed that your computer is losing time lately there are a few things that can be done to fix it. Usually it is first noticed as losing a minute here and there or even a few minutes a day on your computer clock.
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Daylight Savings Time Update Setting
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If your computer suddenly slipped about an hour from the correct time around daylight savings time (DST) it can be due to one of two problems. This problem shouldn't arise if you live in a state that does not participate in time changes. Barring that, the first problem may be as simple as the fact that the computer settings are incorrect. In many versions of Windows and on Macs the settings for date and time are located in the control panel area. By choosing the tab for time zone, you may notice whether or not the box for automatically adjusting the clock for DST is checked or not. If it isn't then check it and it should fix the problem. If it is checked there could be another problem due to the recent changes in when DST is applied.
Daylight Savings Time Patch
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Once the computer has gone off an hour you may experience a similar problem again several days later, due to the absence of a daylight savings time patch for Windows. Daylight saving time was traditionally instituted on specific days before the dates were changed by legislation in 2001. What happens is that the computer changes the clock setting at the old dates. If you suspect this is the problem, Microsoft recommends that DST and time zone updates be installed to fix it.
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CMOS Battery
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If the CMOS battery is going bad the computer will start slowing down a little at a time. Usually it will lose a minute or two over time, then it will get slower as it runs down. This battery runs down over years and eventually needs to be changed.
The CMOS battery is located on the computer's motherboard, which is the largest board inside the computer. On most modern computers, it is round and flat, about the size of a quarter. This battery is designed to retain system settings and power the computer's internal clock. When replacing the battery it is important to save these CMOS or BIOS settings and reset them after putting in the new battery. Failure to do so can cause your computer to work incorrectly or not to start up at all.
If replacing the battery doesn't solve the problem, then you may have a bad CMOS program and you should take the computer to a service center to have it repaired.
Network Time Problems
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If the computer is connected to a network then it could be a problem with the time synchronization with the network server. Check with the server owner or operator to see if that is the problem. If this is the source of the problem then it will affect all the other computers on the network as well.
Another Time Option
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To maintain time via the Internet, you must make sure that automatic Internet synchronization is enabled on your computer. Using the date and time icon in control panels, choose the Internet time tab and click the box to automatically synchronize with an Internet time server. Then click on the button labeled Next. This automatically updates the computer clock once a week.
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- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Blake Patterson
