Computer clock gains days

I've got this odd problem - every so often I find my computer clock has gained a day - yet the time, itself, remains more or less accurate. This happens whether or not I have 'automatically synchronize' on. I've just downloaded YACS ( DeRamp Software) to see if that helps... But, irrespective of that, I'd like to try to understand why this is happening.

Has anyone else had a similar problem? Or does anyone have any ideas?

Laptop is HP Compaq nx5000, running WinXP SP2 (fully updated), F-Prot AntiVirus, ZoneAlarm Pro, Spywareblaster, Spybot S&D. Browsing with Firefox (with Foxclocks extension installed, but I can't imagine why that should affect my local 'day', since all it does is display days/times elsewhere in the world)

 

Thanks Pete - it was, of course, one of the first things I checked. I'm in London and I do have GMT ('daylight saving') correctly set.... So that's not the answer, I'm afraid....
David

 

Mmm... Keeps hours and minutes correctly, though...

I doubt...

Something else going on, I'm sure...

Guess I'll just have to live with it - see what YACS does, eh?
David

 

Days, not hours or minutes. I wonder if there is a setting somewhere that is on PM rather than AM and the day is changing at midday rather than midnight.

Matt

 

Thanks mattman - but no, nothing evident - showing PM when PM and AM when AM... Also - last time I spotted it, it had gone forward 2 days, probably 1 day at a time, but I wasn't paying attention. Why it's so annoying is because it just shouldn't happen, firstly, but secondly, anyone who is receiving my emails may have a problem with where they appear in their in-box....

But it looks like there is no-one else out there who has encountered this, which is most odd - I don't usually have such unique problems!!

 

Check to see if the time and date are correctly set in the Bios. If not reset it then save the settings and exit. If it gains days again after the Bios reset you may have a cracked crystal on the motherboard.

 

Interesting, though worrisom, thought Whiskeyman. I can find no system (or any other) time on the BIOS screens. On my HP Compaq Nx5000, you hit F10 on bootup to access 'ROM-based setup'. None of the surface options appear to show the date or time... Actually, I'm just going to have another go - in case I missed something. If I don't post again, either I've trashed my computer, or I haven't but still can't find date/time on my BIOS. Give me half an hour to be sure

David

 

Nope - no time-based settings in BIOS (if that's what F10 ROM-based setup accesses)...
David

 

Try installing the Intel Chipset Installation Utility and System Enhancements from the Operating System section:
http://h18007.www1.hp.com/support/files/hpcpqnk/us/locate/64_5930.html

Matt

 

Mattman -thank you very much. Please forgive my ignorance - but I cannot identify the particular item (items?) you are recommending I install. Nothing on that page unambiguously matches your recommendation(s). While it is unlikely I would do any harm by installing anything of a later date than what is on my system, I prefer to err on the side of caution. Especially as I cannot match the stated functions of possible candidates to anything I may need to do (specifically, check and, if necessary, modify the system clock). Could you be more explicit please?
David

 

In the list at the top of the the page, click on the link that says "Operating System - Enhancements and QFEs ". You'll see the things mattman mentioned there.

 

Maybe it's my shorthand (I was heading off to work). The full title of the section is:
Operating System - Enhancements and QFEs
It is located toward the bottom. (Sections above are specific drivers, sections below are software). I hope we can both see the same page, otherwise go to www.hp.com/support, go to the downloads section or search for the model. You will find an information, downloads and troubleshooting for that model.

The "Intel Chipset Installation Utility" allows the installation of updated drivers for your chipset. If you look in Control Panel -> System -> Hardware tab -> Device Manager and click the plus next to System Devices you will probably see a listing/s for clocks or timers. These are controlled by the chipset drivers. These drivers may need to be reset, updated or reinstalled. If you right-click on a set of drivers/hardware and select Properties it will say "this device is working correctly" (it shows a notification if they aren't). That means that Windows can run the drivers, it does not mean they are running as the manufacturer intended. Drivers are supplied by the manufacturer of the hardware, not MS. Anyway, recess time for Drivers 101 (let me know if you would like any further explanation). I VERY STRONGLY suggest that you install the updated version of the chipset inst. utility (I just went through an experience of a Win 2000 Dell computer that was not shutting down correctly. After 3 weeks of testing I found the "Intel Chipset Installation Utility" fixed the problem ).

"System Enhancements" is actually "System Enhancements Disk for Microsoft Windows XP ", "System Enhancements Disk for Microsoft Windows XP (Service Pack 2) version 2.00A or 1.00B. These may or may not have an effect on the problem. Since they could (possibly solve it, one thing connects to another), I would install the update. Many changes were made with SP2 and some hardware drivers will not work correctly unless updated.

These updates of driver/software files are "recommended" by the manufacturer (HP) and could not be harmful to your system (unless there are unforeseen problems already happening).

You can see the information about the update by clicking on the wording, eg., the wording "System Enhancements Disk for Microsoft Windows XP (Service Pack 2) " highlights for a link if you hover your cursor over it, it will have detailed information about the update and how to install it.

Matt
PS Thanks Zander, you posted at the same time. Glad you can see the same page.

 

Many thanks Matt (and Zander). I suspect I'm not seeing quite the same screen here in the UK as you two appear to be seeing. I need to concentrate on some work for the next day or so - but will explore further when I get the chance, and get back with positive or negative results of the exploration.
David

 

Hi Matt. You've been very kind. I found the stuff by looking harder.

'System Enhancements Disk for Microsoft Windows XP (Service Pack 2)' and the earlier one with the same name, but not mentioning Microsoft, appear, from their descriptions, etc to hold no enhancements which might be of any possible use to me. Please correct me if I'm wrong. In any case - I've got a feeling I may have installed them some time ago in my usual random fit of updating stuff for no particular reason

As regards the Intel Chipset Utility - I have now installed it, on your advice - but I've got no idea what I'm supposed to do with it - if anything. I found the CMOS clock stuff under Device Manager - but there isn't a ready source for updating the driver that I can point it to. It certainly can't find an update by itself. I'm reluctant to go to the Intel site - because it is possible that HP/Compaq specified changes for its computer range and vanilla Intel drivers could therefore be unhelpful or even counterproductive - even if I could be sure which ones to download: if HP ain't supplying them, best to leave it out, no? (Unless you know, for sure, differently)

I think I'll just give this a rest. But many many thanks - anyway.
David

 

I agree with you that the Intel Chipset Installation Utility that you got from HP is the best for your system. If you have run/installed the download and there is no change then the Chipset drivers are not the probable cause. The system clock should be running correctly now if they were the reason.

Me, I would not hesitate to uninstall any clocks/timers that were listed in Device Manager now because I would know that the latest chipset drivers were installed. You may feel a little squeamish about something like that. I always completely remove drivers if I know I have a set of original or updated ones to install and make Windows install them from scratch. System Devices are easy to reinstall if the correct chipset drivers are in place, Windows should automatically install them at the next boot. When I started using XP I thought all the driver installation issues would have evaporated...mmm...nope , I was soon back to "ripping 'em out and shoving them back in again" from my very first install.

Do not do anything you feel uncomfortable with. The bigger the problem the more effort can be expended in solving it. I could live with an incorrect date (I don't know what day it is most of the time anyway ). Think about the problem. Is there any software (maybe even malware) that could be causing it? You may find a link/cause further down the track.

Luck
Matt

 

Thanks Matt

Trouble is, I've installed YACS - so I don't know if my clock would be running properly or not, now. Are you saying that all I have to do is uninstall my CMOS Real Time driver under Device manager (hit 'uninstall'), and Windows will reinstall it again automatically on next Windows restart? Guarantee?

Just in case it doesn't, where do I tell it to look?

Malware is very unlikely - I have Spywareblaster and Spybot S&D well up to date. Until I uninstalled it yesterday (pain in the arse - as we Britishers spell it) I was running Windows Defender Beta as well, plus I'm using Zonealarm Pro (well up to date) and have Windows critical (whatever they call it now) updates scrupulously installed, running F-Prot anti-virus (which, talking of up-arse pains, sometimes wants to update itself as often as 2 or 3 times a day!) do the occasional ad-hoc check with Adaware. And use Firefox and Thunderbird, mainly. Not that I'm paranoid you understand...

Funny thing is, though - nobody else seems to be encountering the precise clock issue I have been encountering - which makes me think it is not a software issue at all - more probably an intermittent hardware problem.

Ho Hum...
David

 

Guarantee...only death and taxes Intel system devices would have to be the easiest drivers to install because they are included in Windows (note that the chipset installer was a utility, not a full set of drivers). The only thing you may need is the Windows disk and maybe to point it to the i386 folder. There is also the C:\Windows\Inf folder that should contain the relevant inf file already (the inf file will tell Windows which files to use). The risk of any problem is minimal. If for some reason you were to find that the drivers would not install that may mean there is something wrong with the hardware.

You may need to turn off YACS to see if there has been any changes already.

I think PeteC suggested changing the CMOS battery. I would still investigate this, I know that some battery powered equipment, when their system battery is very depleted, may draw on this battery. Another test maybe if you could run it continuously for two or three days using the power adapter and see if the date changes.

Matt