[mez_90]

-background-
i run windows 2k pro sp4
i was away for the weekend and when i got back my computer started switching itself off... just turning off. no warning/no beeping.

i thought it could be over heating - its running hot when doing (edit) CPU intensive things but im sorting the fans out at the weekend - its running ok without turning off now that the side is off.

anyway...
since this started happening when i turn on, or restart the computer the date is wrong. it is always 2 years wrong.

the date(day/month) is correct so is the time but the year is 2005 not 2007

i have already
-replaced the battery on the motherboard
- problems still happen, date is wrong at startup.
ive checked the cmos date and set it correct when i replaced the battery,

cmos date time is correct at start up just wrong when i get in to windows.

anyone have any ideas what could cause that? as i haven't got a clue. im not useless with computers so any other details that might be needed could be given.
thanks for any help...

[mez_90]

sorry but "bump"

[rodeognome]

are there any other abnormal symptoms with this system?

[mez_90]

no nothing that i can thing of at all. its not even switched itself off. up time at present 16+ hours . im just going to leave it running to see if its off in the morning when i get up. i just cant think what it could be. ive run avg for viruses. and run ad-adware to check for ad/spy ware. nothing but a few cookies which i got rid off.

[Byteman]

Hi, Hopefully it will stay set, but>


As posted already, it's usually the motherboard battery that causes this problem with time/date and other odd things like settings not "sticking" when you restart/start up....

Could be the BIOS itself but that is rare. I can't say that a new BIOS flash now would even help, there is a chance you may mess up and result in a non usable machine. I've done quite a few BIOS updates and not had one problem, but you never know, and I know you will get some replies about not attempting a BIOS update, perhaps a few with agreement to try an update...

If it were my computer, I would get another battery and try that...

Usually they are long lasting, and right out of the package fine to use but again, you never know.

When you install the new battery, are all unplugged> put the new battery in etc, do you have to then set the time and date, and any other special settings manually in the BIOS screens? Usually you do have to as the settings revert to the original system date /BIOS date....

There may be a jumper on the mobo that you have to move, to CLEAR CMOS.... (it may have the letters CLR next to the pins, usually you'll see pin 1 2 and 3, 1+2 are Normal (regular startup position) and pins 2+3 jumpered for just a couple seconds, with the battery out, clears the data from the CMOS back to factory settings and you go from there and change what you need to, set Default settings or any special settings needed, you may have a motherboard manual to help with this....did you set this board up when you got it?

For some motherboards, just taking the battery out won't clear the CMOS you also have to have the jumper physically moved over one pin as above, then put it back, and then put back the battery, etc....

Follow the mobo manual>>> best idea here!

How Windows keeps track of the date and time

Anyone install any extra date/clock apps? There are some freeware things, that are used to workaround expire-ware programs, that try to fool the program so you can use it for a long period of time...I'm not saying you did this, just mentioning it> they usually would not set the date back 2 years, though....

Did anyone try time synchronizing tools, that may override the system clock?

Here are some things to look through for ideas.

http://labmice.techtarget.com/windows2000/timesynch.htm

I've heard of machines just losing time, but not like yours, with the year two digits off....

[mez_90]

thanks for the replies. im going to have a look at the mobo manual about clearing the cmos tho i think when i replaced the battery i left it out for long enough to clear it anyway (overnight)

also ive tried more then one battery and when the computer started up this morning it was again 2 years out in windows but ok in cmos at start.

im going to give the fans and graphics card a clean today with the air duster hopefully that will sort out the temp issues. but im thinking i might just format and install a copy of xp pro that i have somewhere. just a matter of a major back up first tho.
thanks

[mez_90]

right so ive air dusted the hell out of my pc. the cpu is about 7*C cooler then it was before. and the graphics card is about 5-7*c cooler. overall system temp about 10*c cooler with the case off.

how cool

but still nothing with the clock so im formatting it 2moro. cheers for the help guys! lets hope i havent missed anything whilst backing up!

[ozrom1e]

Question is where did you purchase the battery for the CMOS and was it the right number for it?

If the part number is in question I would check on the manufacturers web site for this.

[Tassie_IT]

While searching for info on the same "date going back 2 years" issue I found your post. Thought you might like to know you are not the only one with this issue.

One of my customers called me late last week, when I went to check it out I found the same things you posted. You can set the time in BIOS but windows will reset the date back exactly 2 years.

This machine is also Windows 2k SP4. I wonder are there any other similarities??

[DaveBurnett]

Have you checked it in Windows from the control panel????

[Tassie_IT]

Hello Dave,

The time/date in control is the same as double clicking on on the time in the start menu as far as I was aware. This being the case yes I have. For maore detail I can set the correct date in windows and then shutdown and check the BIOS date which is ok but once windows is restarted the date goes back exactly 2 years in windows. If you then shutdown again the bios date has been reset by windows to the date two years ago. Maybe it is a bios issue with this particular PC??

Regards,
Tassie_IT

[DaveBurnett]

Interesting...... I'll sleep on this one as I have never seen it before, unless you are loading a strange application on start up... mmmmmm...

[Tassie_IT]

I have never seen it before either. As it was a customers PC I disabled all startup items etc with no result. Also this PC is on a dialup internet connection and not connected to a network so it can't be getting anything from an external source. That is why I was thinking possible bios issue. I have just emailed the customer for the brand and model of the PC.

Maybe MEZ_90 the original poster can let us know what his PC is??

Regards,
Tassie_IT

[DaveBurnett]

One thing I would like to DOUBLE confirm is that the BIOS date IS correct on start.

Also if you go to a command prompt and type DATE , what date does that show??

[Tassie_IT]

I double checked the BIOS date was correct before starting windows which it was. Sorry I am not at the site so I can't run the date command at the moment.

Just in from the customer is this info regarding the system.

It is a Hewlett Packard – Vectra.
Model: VL400 733/128/10
D9821A #ABG


I wonder if it is the same system as mez_90??