clock/battery

[PardeGT]

I replaced the battery in my computer because it was losing time. Got a battery from Radio Shack. This was a week ago and its losing time again. Are there any other possible sources for this problem or just another low battery?

Thanks again.

[WJWheels]

I would assume it's NOT your battery. Does the computer lose time if left on continuously?

[PardeGT]

Yes, I do leave it on continously.

[madthumbs]

Newer motherboards use a small amount of power through your power supply to assist the storage of cmos settings and run the internal clock to spare battery life. If you are unplugging, or shutting down power through your power strip, there is your problem. Those battteries should last til your computer is obsolete; (About 8 years), so you shouldn't have needed a new one.

You could also look at available BIOS's to see if any had this problem and it was fixed, or evaluate your power supply. It could also be a defect in the motherboard.

[PardeGT]

I have an Aptiva 570 (PII400) and it has a Enermax 250w power supply if this gives any clues. I also don't shut off my strip.

Thanks again.

[Edited by pardegt on 03-04-2001 at 05:59 PM]

[Larry E.]

I too leave my computer on all the time, and sometimes my clock gets off. I've found that if I just reboot the time returns to the correct setting. I suspect one of my programs is messing it up. So try rebooting without resetting the clock and see what happens.

[zevon8]

Larry E. nailed it. IIRC - Windows only checks the CMOS on start up , after that it keeps it's own time. Lots of programs mess up the clock, MS has knowledge base articles on some of the known offenders.