Failure of RTC & System Timer Functionality Tests

Question

I had posted a msg. earlier about the loss of time on my new Dim 4550 (WinXP Pro). I disabled the Internet Time svc and ran Norton Anti Virus as suggested. The pc still loses time. For ex., I set the correct time this afternoon about 2pm and left the pc on (in Windows). When I ret'd about 7pm, the time showed 2:30pm. I know that the system clock in BIOS will not hold time; it will keep the time at which it was last set. I talked w/ 2 svc reps this evening; neither was helpful. One suggested that system time did not matter - just syncronize w/ internet time - 'WinXP is made for full-time connection to internet'! That is fine but I work more not connected to internet than connected. I gave up on phone support so I ran the diagnostics program with the following results: CMOS Confidence Test: Pass RTC Functionality Test: FAIL - Error code 4C00:021D: 'The 'Seconds' register is not updating or is updating too slowly. The part may be bad or the 32 khz crystal may not be functioning.' System Timer Functionality Test: FAIL - Error code 4C00:041B:  'IRQ0 (zero) is at wrong frequency. Channel 0 (mode 3) is generating the wrong interrupt code per second. Expected: 18 ; Actual: 39' Interrupt Controller PIC Functionality Test: Aborted - Never made past 'testing IRQ0'. It was in testing mode for about 10 minutes so I aborted it. Does anyone have a clue as to what all of this means? Thanks, Henry

Karell · Answer

Henry,Thank you for using the Dell Community Forum.The following KB article may help you find a solution.Real-Time Clock (RTC) Errors.

Henry Smith · Answer

Thanks for your response.

Thankfully, problem was a bad battery - very strange in a new pc. I should have suspected such when the RTC would not advance while in BIOS setup. RTC keeps perfect time now.

I was almost ready to send the pc back to Dell since one of the svc. techs suspected a defective motherboard.

Thanks,

Henry

Karell · Answer

Henry, Glad you found the cause of the problem. Enjoy your system.

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