My computer is stuck in the past...

[Onionsoilder]

Since I don't have a car, I have to take the bus to school every day. Last Thursday I left at 10:10 to catch the bus, which normally works out fine. However, I noticed my cell phone said it was 10:20. All the other clocks in my house confirmed it was 10:20. I actually missed the bus because of this, and had to call a taxi. To make sure this didn't happen again, I set my computer to the correct time, and also set the alarm on my cell phone. The 9:00 alarm just went off, when my computer read 8:52, so it lost 8 minutes in no more than a week. Is there any way I can fix this?

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

CMOS battery?

 

[Genocidicbunny]

Check to see that its syncing with the time servers. If its not, it may start to fall behind b/c of an older CMOS battery.

 

[Cutlass]

I'm assuming if it's Windows, it's pre XP. Either that or you for some reason have time syncing shut off. A little program like this, and there are several to choose from http://www.worldtimeserver.com/atomic-clock/ will allow you to periodically ping an Atomic Clock and update your time settings.

As to why it happens, seems weird considering the precision of computers, but I have never encountered a computer that will keep correct time without an external clock updating it.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

As to why it happens, seems weird considering the precision of computers, but I have never encountered a computer that will keep correct time without an external clock updating it.

Maybe something to do with CPU cycles?

 

[IamJohn]

The speed of the cpu shouldn't matter, and it's something that varies according to the processing needs of the computer anyway.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Well, my theory is because of the CPU cycles/ticks, the clock is a tiny, tiny bit out of sync. And if not corrected, it eventually falls behind.

 

[Genocidicbunny]

Except when the pc is off the CPU is not running and thus isnt whats keeping track of the clock.

What keeps track of time in a computer ( any kind in fact ) is an RTC:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real-time_clock
Newer PC's may have an HPET:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Precision_Event_Timer

Anyways, the issue is likely with the motherboard clock, whichever method it uses. If the computer is older than Windows XP, its probably an RTC and thus just buggering out after all these years.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Sorry, I wasn't particularly thinking right then

 

[Onionsoilder]

I'm assuming if it's Windows, it's pre XP. Either that or you for some reason have time syncing shut off. A little program like this, and there are several to choose from http://www.worldtimeserver.com/atomic-clock/ will allow you to periodically ping an Atomic Clock and update your time settings.

As to why it happens, seems weird considering the precision of computers, but I have never encountered a computer that will keep correct time without an external clock updating it.

It's Vista. I tried that atomic clock program, and I keep getting an error(The following error occurred: The specified module could not be found. (0x8007007E)) whenever I try to use it to sync my computer with it, or do anything with it actually. I'm thinking it's probably because my computer is 64x, and that program says it's only for 32x...

Anyway, I tried googling for a solution for 64x and I think I found one that works. Only time will tell...

 

[Cutlass]

Sounds like something is wrong with the installation. Or a setting somewhere is miss set. I wonder if the firewall is blocking whatever port is used to hit the time servers?