System Clock Loosing Time

Question

SYSTEM:
XPS T550, Win 98SE, steam driven but kept clean.
BACKGROUND:
After 5 good years the clock finally started loosing time so after much trepidation I replaced the BIOS battery. All went without a hitch with no need to adjust any BIOS settings after new battery insertion.
PROBLEM:
The clock is still loosing about 1-2 mins per day but all else is functioning normally.
I use NISTIME32 - a 32bit Time Client to query a remote server and make auto adjustment of the internal clock. By the time it has taken me to type this post the clock has lost 10 seconds.

HELP:
The Time client has served me well over the past three years so I have no reason to doubt its effectiveness.Is it as simple as a duff new battery or am I missing something here?
If the new battery is not up to par might I expect iminent disaster.

Any help other than replace the Duff Cell would be much appreciated

Cheers Novice Dave

Majestic · Answer

Depending on how long the replacement battery was sitting on the store shelf it may have not been in its prime when purchased.  If you wanted to try another battery then see if it has a date on the package that would indicate when it was manufactured.  The other option is make sure and buy the battery from a retailer who would frequently sell computer batteries such as a computer store.  That way you should have a better chance at buying a fresher battery.   The other possibility is that you have a piece of software that is causing the time to change some how.  Since you're running Windows 98 it's simple to rule that out.  Just make any adjustments to the time in Windows and then reboot the system into MS-DOS mode and let it run overnight perhaps.  By booting into MS-DOS mode there should be hardly any applications running in the background. The use of a MS-DOS boot disk would be even better.  While the system is running unattended you can shut the monitor down.  Then in the morning reboot the system into Windows and double check the time.  If it's accurate then suspect the problem to be software related.

Slunge · Answer

The battery was bought from a reliable source hence my post to the forum.
With a typical expected 5 year life I should have had, at worst, a couple of good weeks before its demise.
I thought the BIOS / System Clock was Program independent but I am open to lateral thinking.
I was also under the impression that the battery was only there to maintain the BIOS chip under power down conditions. As I have been powered up continuously for at least one week the time loss is a little disturbing.
Thank you for the advice I will give the DOS mode a try this evening and get back to you.

Cheers Dave

Majestic · Answer

'With a typical expected 5 year life I should have had, at worst, a couple of good weeks before its demise.'   Yes, one would expect that, but it is not uncommon to see postings in the forums here from owners of new systems that are having time & date as well as configuration problems at boot up.  For some replacing the new battery resolved the problem.    'I thought the BIOS / System Clock was Program independent but I am open to lateral thinking.'   The BIOS / System clock is somewhat independant, but it still can be influenced by software.  Otherwise you would never be able to reset the clock from the operating system or updated by third party time keeper software.   'I was also under the impression that the battery was only there to maintain the BIOS chip under power down conditions.  As I have been powered up continuously for at least one week the time loss is a little disturbing.'   You are correct.  The battery is used to retain the date & time, the system's hardware configuration settings as well as any personalized BIOS settings when the system is powered down.   When I wrote my original reply I was unaware that the system was in continous use since the new battery was installed.  Had I known that I it would saved me some typing.  Since the battery is now more than likely not the source of the problem, time to look else.

Slunge · Answer

Sorry about the extra typing but I tried to indicate in my mail that the clock lost 10 seconds while I typed and posted the message.

Current status:
Checked clock last night before reboot to DOS -time client states lost 39secs
PC hangs and will not reboot in DOS mode
Task Manager shows VMON not responding >end task OK
Task Manager shows Winold not responding > end task OK
PC still hangs so power down and reboot to normal mode.
Check time client again to find clock is reset to correct time after reboot.
Next - Start > Shutdown >Restart in Dos >OK
System restarts in DOS screen reads C\WINDOWS>
Turn off monitor as directed left overnight.
Reboot to normal mode 12 hrs later
Check time client again to find clock is reset to correct time after reboot.

What do you think the next step should be to find what Program related demons are messing with the clock.
I have "StartupRun" software activated to monitor what is going on in the background but nothing untoward appears to have sneaked in.

I really appreciate your time and effort. Thanx again
Dave

VCraig · Answer

Maybe this will help: http://service.ap.dell.com/ap/kb/view_article/1,,2907+4039+7862,00.html

Majestic · Answer

Slunge, fortunately the problem is software related rather than hardware.  The fact the BIOS time is Ok and that Windows realigns the time on reboot is good news.   The only problem with it being related to software is that it is going to take a little bit of trial and error on your part to locate the problem software.  I would start by booting the system into Safe Mode and see if Windows still keeps accurate time.  If it does then you will know the basic operating system is Ok.  If Windows is Ok then boot into Normal mode and then go about the trial and error process of eliminating a program at startup until you find the culprit.  I would start with Zone Alarm as the VSMON problem you had is related to the True Vector application with-in Zone Alarm.  I would do this one over night when you don't plan on being on-line.  If Zone Alarms checks out Ok then I would next look at the anti-virus software as that can be a resource hog.    You can click here for a link to a Dell Knowledge Base article for trouble-shooting time problems.  This article is more specific to your operating system than the Windows XP link that was previously posted.

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System Clock Loosing Time

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