Hi:
I notice in the last couple of days that my computer clock is losing a few min/day.
I have gone into DOS prompt and typed time, and it showed the same--so assumedly it's not a battery problem?
I purchased computer in Jan 2000. It is: HP 6640c pavilion, 500mhz AMD,Windows 98se,15gig HD,312mb RAM,IE 5.5 sp2.

Can you help?
Thanks
trapper.

do run a virus scan just to make sure, When was the last time the battery was replaced? if at all


PCs keep time in two ways: using a hardware and a software clock. The hardware clock, referred to as the RTC (real-time clock), uses your system’s battery to keep time when your PC is off. When your PC is on, the software clock takes over. It sets itself to the hardware clock, and from then on, it keeps time based on the rate of interrupt requests from your system’s BIOS (Basic Input/Output System).

But neither the hardware clock nor the software clock is more accurate than a cheap digital wristwatch. The RTC doesn’t actually stay close to real-time and can gain or lose up to 10 seconds per day. And a software clock is usually less accurate because the frequency of interrupt requests varies, depending on how hard your computer works, how long it stays on, and the ambient room temperature. A software clock can gain or lose up to a minute a day.

Abnormalities in your home or office electrical system might affect the frequency of interrupt requests and cause inaccuracies in your software clock. A strong power spike (such as from a lightning strike) or dip in power (called a brownout) might reset your BIOS and RTC and could ruin your PC. To guard against power surges (periodic voltage increases), plug your PC into an effective surge protector. For protection against power spikes and brownouts, use a UPS (uninterruptible power supply).

If your computer keeps time relatively well when it’s on but loses time while it’s turned off, then your BIOS battery is probably....Shot


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YODA74@windows-sucks.com
CCMR (http://www.dreamwater.net/tech/yoda74/index.html)

PUSH TO TEST. RELEASE TO DETONATE.
[Closed captioned for the thinking impaired.]

And HP Pavilions are particularly susceptible to time variations....one thing I have found that helped on my Pavilion was to get rid of Backweb...it helped the time stay more accurate, and freed up a bunch of resources, the same for the multimedia keyboard stuff (basically I got rid of all the HP extras), now I vary about 3 to 5 secs every two weeks....plus I use a program to sync to the atomic clock...there are several available, this (http://www.analogx.com/contents/download/network/ats.htm) is the one I use.

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mjc
Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

Hey Trap:

What's a battery cost??

Losing a few seconds/day usually because of rounding off between clocks

Few minutes/day usually battery -

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/cool.gif

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Good Judgement comes from Experience - Experience comes from Bad Judgement - but bad judgement is more fun!!

That's a good program; the only problem is, the default server is set on Pacific Time. I had to go back into Adjust Date/Time to reset the clock to Eastern Time after synchronizing the clock.

-Joe-

Originally posted by mjc:
And HP Pavilions are particularly susceptible to time variations....one thing I have found that helped on my Pavilion was to get rid of Backweb...it helped the time stay more accurate, and freed up a bunch of resources, the same for the multimedia keyboard stuff (basically I got rid of all the HP extras), now I vary about 3 to 5 secs every two weeks....plus I use a program to sync to the atomic clock...there are several available, this (http://www.analogx.com/contents/download/network/ats.htm) is the one I use.





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Alternate email: joea64@yahoo.com

joea64,

Under the config option, there is one for a time offset, or you can hunt down an Eastern time zone server......


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mjc
Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.