Time sync problems

[Annie Woughman]

On my Vista, now Win7 desktop I have had an ongoing problem with it failing
to keep the correct time. This happens at night when the machine is turned
off. In the morning I have to manually sync the machine with internet time.
When it was still a Vista machine I found a registry fix that would have it
automatically sync every four hours. Now since the change to Win7, I find
that this registry change is never "saved." It is most annoying because
this machine has a television tuner so I use it regularly to record shows
through the Media Center. That doesn't work so very well if I forget to
sync the machine in the morning and the show I want recorded starts at 9:00
p.m. and my machine still thinks it is 11:00 a.m.

Also, why is it just my desktop that does this and not either of my two
laptops? They are turned off 75% of the time but they always start up with
the correct time.

Does anyone know of a way to fix this, or an app that would make it
automatically do a time sync upon startup?

 

[Chris Sidener]

Your on-board CMOS battery has died...

Chris

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

On my Vista, now Win7 desktop I have had an ongoing problem with it failing
to keep the correct time. This happens at night when the machine is turned
off. In the morning I have to manually sync the machine with internet time.
When it was still a Vista machine I found a registry fix that would have it
automatically sync every four hours. Now since the change to Win7, I find
that this registry change is never "saved." It is most annoying because
this machine has a television tuner so I use it regularly to record shows
through the Media Center. That doesn't work so very well if I forget to
sync the machine in the morning and the show I want recorded starts at 9:00
p.m. and my machine still thinks it is 11:00 a.m.

Also, why is it just my desktop that does this and not either of my two
laptops? They are turned off 75% of the time but they always start up with
the correct time.

Because this is not at all a Windows problem. You need to replace the
inexpensive, easy-to-replace CMOS battery on your motherboard.

 

[SantaUK]

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000239.htm

 

[Annie Woughman]

OK. $3.49 for a new battery later. I will let you know in the morning if
this solved the problem. One thing I did learn while I was reading about my
battery, these Lithium batteries are supposed to "recharge" themselves if
the computer is left plugged in when it is off. Well, at night when I power
everything down, I always turn the power strips off as an additional
protection against power surges if we happened to have a lightening storm at
night or when we are out of town. (Our area seems to be vulnerable to
brown-outs and power surges.) Sooo, that might be why my battery didn't
last so very long. This is one of our newer computers and this is the first
time I have ever had to replace a battery. The average life is supposed to
be about seven years. I've had this computer less than three.

 

[SC Tom]

I don't think that's correct about them recharging. And you may have had a
faulty battery in it to begin with- I also have my PC's on a power strip
(well, a UPS that I turn off when I shut down), and my battery is well over
5 without a change.

SC Tom

 

[Annie Woughman]

I don't think that's correct about them recharging. And you may have had a
faulty battery in it to begin with- I also have my PC's on a power strip
(well, a UPS that I turn off when I shut down), and my battery is well
over 5 without a change.

SC Tom

Here is what I found on the Gateway site that had me thinking it was
"charging" which was a misunderstanding on my part. It was referring to the
life of the battery. According to this, my battery was right on the money--
it will last approximately three years if it isn't plugged in and seven if
it is. For $3.49 I think I will continue with the way I've been doing
things:

"The CR 2032 battery is a 3-volt, lithium, coin-cell battery with a rating
of 220 milliampere-hour (mAh). It provides power to a motherboard's
real-time clock (RTC) and BIOS memory. The battery enables the RTC to be
accurate to ±13 minutes per year at 78 degrees Fahrenheit, or 25 degrees
Celsius, with 3 volts applied.
On a motherboard, when the computer is plugged in, the standby current from
the power supply extends the battery's life. Its estimated lifetime is seven
years when the computer is plugged in to a power outlet and three years when
the computer is not."

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

OK. $3.49 for a new battery later. I will let you know in the morning if
this solved the problem. One thing I did learn while I was reading about my
battery, these Lithium batteries are supposed to "recharge" themselves if
the computer is left plugged in when it is off. Well, at night when I power
everything down, I always turn the power strips off as an additional
protection against power surges if we happened to have a lightening storm at
night or when we are out of town. (Our area seems to be vulnerable to
brown-outs and power surges.) Sooo, that might be why my battery didn't
last so very long. This is one of our newer computers and this is the first
time I have ever had to replace a battery. The average life is supposed to
be about seven years. I've had this computer less than three.

Three points:

1. The battery does *not* recharge.

2. There's nothing unusual about a three-year battery life. That's
fairly typical

3. If you want protection against nearby lightning strikes (and you
should), turning off the power strips does nothing for you. You should
unplug the computers.

 

[SC Tom]

*****Reply in line

Here is what I found on the Gateway site that had me thinking it was
"charging" which was a misunderstanding on my part. It was referring to
the life of the battery. According to this, my battery was right on the
money-- it will last approximately three years if it isn't plugged in and
seven if it is. For $3.49 I think I will continue with the way I've been
doing things:

"The CR 2032 battery is a 3-volt, lithium, coin-cell battery with a rating
of 220 milliampere-hour (mAh). It provides power to a motherboard's
real-time clock (RTC) and BIOS memory. The battery enables the RTC to be
accurate to ±13 minutes per year at 78 degrees Fahrenheit, or 25 degrees
Celsius, with 3 volts applied.
On a motherboard, when the computer is plugged in, the standby current
from the power supply extends the battery's life. Its estimated lifetime
is seven years when the computer is plugged in to a power outlet and three
years when the computer is not."

***** Leaving power to the PC extends the life of the battery because it
keeps alive the same circuit that the battery does, therefore not using
battery power. It does not charge the battery.

SC Tom

 

[Bob Hatch]

OK. $3.49 for a new battery later. I will let you know in the morning
if this solved the problem. One thing I did learn while I was reading
about my battery, these Lithium batteries are supposed to "recharge"
themselves if the computer is left plugged in when it is off. Well, at
night when I power everything down, I always turn the power strips off
as an additional protection against power surges if we happened to have
a lightening storm at night or when we are out of town. (Our area seems
to be vulnerable to brown-outs and power surges.) Sooo, that might be
why my battery didn't last so very long. This is one of our newer
computers and this is the first time I have ever had to replace a
battery. The average life is supposed to be about seven years. I've
had this computer less than three.

My computers will go for months and never be shut down. Right now I have
2 systems in an RV that have been in every State of the lower 48 and the
only time I shut them off is when we move. No lightning damage, ever.

--
"To announce that there must be no criticism
of the President, or that we are to stand by
the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic
and servile, but is morally treasonable to the
American public."
Theodore Roosevelt
http://www.bobhatch.com
http://www.tdsrvresort.com

 

[Andy]

I always turn the power strips

off as an additional protection against power surges if we happened to
have a lightening storm at night or when we are out of town. (Our area
seems to be vulnerable to brown-outs and power surges.) Sooo, that
might be why my battery didn't last so very long.

Annie,

From the deepest recalls of my memory, the cheap-o power strips
deteriorate over time. It's not like you can buy one and it will last
forever.

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong!?!

Best,

Andy

 

[Annie Woughman]

My computer started up with the correct time this morning. Thanks for the
heads ups about the battery guys. This is the first CMOS battery I've ever
had fail--and we've had a boatload of computers. Now it makes my wonder
what kind of batteries our other two Gateways have--those machines are at
least two years older than this one. I will have to check them out.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

My computers will go for months and never be shut down. Right now I have
2 systems in an RV that have been in every State of the lower 48 and the
only time I shut them off is when we move. No lightning damage, ever.

That's your choice, of course, but that's like saying "I drive an RV
that has been in every state of the lower 48 and I never wear a seat
belt. No accidents, and resulting injuries, ever."

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

From the deepest recalls of my memory, the cheap-o power strips
deteriorate over time. It's not like you can buy one and it will last
forever.

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong!?!

"Cheap-o power strips" are essentially nothing more than fancy
extension cords. They provide next to no protection and there's very
little there to deteriorate.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

My computer started up with the correct time this morning. Thanks for the
heads ups about the battery guys. This is the first CMOS battery I've ever
had fail--and we've had a boatload of computers. Now it makes my wonder
what kind of batteries our other two Gateways have--those machines are at
least two years older than this one. I will have to check them out.

Batteries last different amounts of time, depending on who made them,
what type they are, how strong they were when made, how they were
used, and how old they were when your computer was built. Two
identical computers next to each can have batteries with unequal life
spans.

There's really nothing to check regarding your batteries in the two
other computers. You can either wait for them to start giving you
trouble, or replace them now, as a preventative measure.

 

[Bob Hatch]

That's your choice, of course, but that's like saying "I drive an RV
that has been in every state of the lower 48 and I never wear a seat
belt. No accidents, and resulting injuries, ever."

I've been doing it that way for over 20 years. It's only the last 5 that
my computers have been in the MH. I can see no logical reason to shut
down the system every night when all my maintenance items can be done
during non-use times. Virus checks are done in the middle of the night.
MS Updates are done in the middle of the night. Backups are done in the
middle of the night. When I had my business all systems were left on
except for weekends when none of the staff computers would be used.

Can you give me a good reason to shut the computers down every night?

--
"To announce that there must be no criticism
of the President, or that we are to stand by
the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic
and servile, but is morally treasonable to the
American public."
Theodore Roosevelt
http://www.bobhatch.com
http://www.tdsrvresort.com

 

[Andy]

"Cheap-o power strips" are essentially nothing more than fancy
extension cords. They provide next to no protection and there's very
little there to deteriorate.

Ken,

I have a "PowerWedge" surge protector for my home theater. Almost the
size of two cinder blocks with 3 sections of four outlets with fuses for
each section.

I've happily watched monster movies on the monster 10' screen at monster
volume in the midst of monster thunderstorms without incident.

I wouldn't trust the cheap-o strips for that!

Best,

Andy

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I've been doing it that way for over 20 years. It's only the last 5 that
my computers have been in the MH. I can see no logical reason to shut
down the system every night when all my maintenance items can be done
during non-use times. Virus checks are done in the middle of the night.
MS Updates are done in the middle of the night. Backups are done in the
middle of the night. When I had my business all systems were left on
except for weekends when none of the staff computers would be used.

Can you give me a good reason to shut the computers down every night?

No, and I didn't suggest that you should. I keep all my systems,
except the laptops, up almost every night too.

My point was that systems should be shut down (*and* unplugged) when
there are nearby lightning storms.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Ken,

I have a "PowerWedge" surge protector for my home theater. Almost the
size of two cinder blocks with 3 sections of four outlets with fuses for
each section.

I've happily watched monster movies on the monster 10' screen at monster
volume in the midst of monster thunderstorms without incident.

I wouldn't trust the cheap-o strips for that!

I'm not familiar with the PowerWedge, but it sounds better than the
cheap ones.

Let me just add one comment however. If a lightning strike hits your
power line nearby, no surge protector or UPS really provides
protection. The thousands of volts in a lightning strike can jump over
gaps and go right through these devices to reach the thing you are
trying to protect. That's why the best protection against nearby
lightening storms is unplugging.

 

[SC Tom]

I'm not familiar with the PowerWedge, but it sounds better than the
cheap ones.

Let me just add one comment however. If a lightning strike hits your
power line nearby, no surge protector or UPS really provides
protection. The thousands of volts in a lightning strike can jump over
gaps and go right through these devices to reach the thing you are
trying to protect. That's why the best protection against nearby
lightening storms is unplugging.

I agree 100%. We had some top-of-the-line surge protectors on our 3 CAD
stations when our business first opened here, and there was a direct strike
on the pole about 1/4 mile away. All 3 surge protectors blew up like there
was dynamite inside, and 2 of the 3 CAD stations were toast. I don't know
what saved the 3rd one, but I ended up replacing 2 fried daughter boards to
bring it back online.

SC Tom