The time on the on-board computer is constantly lost. Why does the time on the computer get lost?

Novice users sometimes wonder how Windows manages to retain the time in memory even after shutting down. In fact, neither Windows nor any other operating system has anything to do with this; the passage of time is determined by the computer’s hardware clock, powered by a battery. BIOS. But this doesn't always happen. It happens that the time starts to go wrong after turning off or restarting the computer.


The reason for this may be the same battery that has just run out, which often happens on old computers. If your PC is more than ten years old, it is worth checking it and, if necessary, replacing it. A dead battery will also be indicated by a spontaneous reset of settings. BIOS . Try changing some non-critical setting in BIOS, and after the next boot, check whether it is saved or not. If not, then more than likely the cause of the confusion date/time is the battery.

Note: if other users have access to your PC, if they have already accessed BIOS , check at the same time whether the automatic reset switch is installed BIOS to position "On". Usually the jumper is located next to the battery and has a name CCMOS.

If the battery is OK, check the time synchronization settings via the Internet. Open with command control /name Microsoft.DateAndTime applet, switch to tab "Internet Time" and press the button "Change settings". In the window that opens, select from the list time.windows.com or another service, click "Update Now" and check the checkbox if not installed “Synchronize with an Internet time server”.

The case when the time on a computer with two operating systems installed deserves special attention - Windows And Linux or MacOS. A similar problem may occur after switching between systems. The cause of temporary settings failure in such cases is usually different formats UTC And localtime. Windows, for example, considers time to be BIOS stored in the format localtime, and Linux – what is in the format UTC . This essentially means that when Linux boots, it will offset the current time zone.

To resolve this contradiction, Windows should be forced to use the format UTC , using a simple registry tweak.

Open the registry editor with the command and expand this branch:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\TimeZoneInformation

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\TimeZoneInformation

In the right column, create a new parameter and set its value to 1 .

IN 32 -bit systems, the parameter type should be selected DWORD, and in 64 -bits - QWORD .

After this the team sc config w32time start=disabled disable the time synchronization service and restart the computer.

After this, the time on computers with Windows and Unix- the system should stop going astray.

Problems related to the failure of the system date and time settings are rare, but when they occur, a lot of problems can arise. In addition to the usual discomfort, these may be failures in programs that access developer servers or certain services to obtain various data. OS updates may also fail. In this article we will look at the main reasons for this system behavior and how to eliminate them.

There are several reasons why the system clock does not work correctly. Most of them are caused by the negligence of the users themselves. Here are the most common ones:

  • The BIOS power supply (battery) has exhausted its service life.
  • Incorrect time zone settings.
  • Activators of “trial reset” type programs.
  • Viral activity.

Reason 1: The battery is dead

BIOS is a small program written on a special chip. It controls the operation of all components of the motherboard and stores changes in settings in memory. System time is also measured using the BIOS. For normal operation, the microcircuit requires autonomous power, which is provided by a battery inserted into a socket on the motherboard.

If the battery life is coming to an end, then the electricity supplied by it may not be enough to calculate and save time parameters. The symptoms of the “disease” are as follows:


Solving the problem is quite simple: just replace the battery with a new one. When choosing it, you need to pay attention to the form factor. The one we need - CR2032. The voltage of such elements is the same - 3 volts. There are other tablet formats that vary in thickness, but they can be difficult to install.


After these steps, there is a high probability that the BIOS will be completely reset to factory settings, but if the procedure is performed quickly, this may not happen. You should take care of this in cases where you have configured the necessary parameters that differ in value from the default ones, and you want to save them.

Reason 2: Time zone

Incorrect adjustment of the belt leads to the fact that the time is behind or too fast by several hours. The minutes are displayed accurately. When entering manually, the values ​​are saved only until the PC is rebooted. In order to fix the problem, you need to determine what time zone you are in and select the correct item in the settings. If you have any difficulties with the definition, you can contact Google or Yandex with a request like “find out the time zone for the city”.

Windows 10

Windows 8


Windows 7

The manipulations that need to be done to set the time zone in the “seven” are exactly the same as those for Win 8. The names of the parameters and links are the same, their location is identical.

Windows XP


Reason 3: Activators

Some programs downloaded from resources that distribute pirated content may have a built-in activator. One of the types is called “trial reset” and allows you to extend the trial period of paid software. Such “burglars” act in different ways. Some imitate or “cheat” the activation server, while others set the system time to the date the program was installed. We are interested, as you might guess, in the latter.

Since we cannot determine exactly what type of activator is used in the distribution, there is only one way to deal with the problem: remove the pirated program, or better yet, all at once. In the future, you should stop using such software. If you require some specific functionality, then you should pay attention to the free analogues that almost all popular products have.

Reason 4: Viruses

Viruses are the common name for malicious programs. Once on our computer, they can help the creator steal personal data or documents, make the machine a member of a bot network, or simply commit a lot of misbehavior. Pests delete or damage system files and change settings, one of which may be the system time. If the solutions described above do not solve the problem, then most likely your computer is infected.

You can get rid of viruses using special software or by contacting specialists on specialized web resources.

Conclusion

Solutions to the problem of resetting time on a PC are for the most part accessible to even the most inexperienced user. True, if it comes to virus infection, then you may have to tinker a lot. To avoid this, you need to exclude installing hacked programs and visiting dubious sites, and also install, which will save you from a lot of trouble.

The correct time and date on the computer are needed not only so that users can see what time it is at any time. If the date and time are wrong, then some programs begin to work incorrectly, so the problem that has arisen must be resolved urgently. Usually the cause of the failure is a dead CMOS battery, but there may be other reasons.

Setting the time in the system

If only the time is off, strictly an hour back or forward, but the date remains correct, disable automatic time zone changes. For example, in Russia the transition from summer to winter time has been canceled; no one changes the clocks anymore. But if the laptop is running Windows 7, Vista or XP, then the time continues to change automatically. To fix this:

After disabling the option, all you have to do is specify the correct time and save the changes. The clock will no longer jump forward or backward an hour. If this does not help and the time is still lost, disable internet synchronization.

The time will no longer sync automatically. To keep your watch from falling behind or in a hurry, set it manually. Use the Yandex.Time service to accurately adjust the clock on your laptop.

Replacing the battery

If the time and date are constantly lost after turning off the laptop, then disabling synchronization and automatic transition will not help. Why is this happening? Most often, the cause is a dead battery, which provides energy to store a certain amount of data after the laptop is turned off. In particular, it is this memory that contains information about the system time, so if the battery does not work, the clock is constantly lost.

But before replacing the battery, you need to get to it and make sure that it is really dead. This is more difficult to do in a laptop than in a system unit, because the laptop will actually have to be completely disassembled. If you have never done this before, contact a service center to prevent more serious problems from occurring due to your own mistakes. If you still decide to take a risk and disassemble the laptop yourself, find instructions for disassembling your model.

You can diagnose whether the battery is to blame for the fact that the time is constantly lost, using a voltmeter. Connect the black probe to “ground” and the red one to “+” of the battery. If the voltage is below 2.75V, then the problem is definitely in the battery. Why this particular value? It was derived as a result of practical experiments. When the voltage is below 2.75V, the time and date are not saved.

The battery cannot be repaired; only replacing the battery will help eliminate the failure. On a computer system unit this operation takes about 15 minutes, but on a laptop you will have to spend more time. In a laptop, replacing the CMOS battery requires access to the motherboard, which can often only be obtained after removing the RAM modules, hard drive and numerous cables.

It is not known why, but some laptop manufacturers decided not to place the battery in a special socket, but soldered it to the motherboard or connected it using wires. Replacing such a battery becomes even more difficult. Therefore, it is imperative to use a parsing scheme. The general order of parsing is as follows:

  1. Unplug the laptop and remove the battery.
  2. Remove the cover. Carefully pull out the hard drive, under which the CMOS battery is usually located.
  3. Replace the battery and reassemble the laptop in reverse order.

Important: even if you use a disassembly manual for a specific laptop model, take photographs of which elements are located where. Pay attention to the length of the screws. If you screw in a long screw where there should be a short one, you can cause a short circuit when you turn on the laptop.

If the battery is connected to the motherboard using wires, then you cannot solder them directly, as there is a high risk of explosion. Buy a battery with wires right away or secure the wires with tape and heat-shrink tubing.

Other reasons for failure

If even after replacing the CMOS battery the time continues to go wrong, then the problem is definitely not in the battery itself. Below are a few other things to consider if you are experiencing problems with your system time:

  1. It is possible that the laptop's motherboard has failed during use. Not completely, since the laptop turns on and works. Problems could only arise in the south bridge, where the Real Time Clock is located - the clock responsible for the correct display of the system time.
  2. Static discharges can also cause CMOS malfunctions. Dust, faulty components, and moving elements create static voltage that affects the battery.
  3. An outdated BIOS version is another unlikely, but still possible reason. It is noteworthy that sometimes it is not even necessary to update the BIOS (there may not be a new version). It is enough to reinstall the version that already exists for the problem to disappear.

These are quite rare reasons, but they do occur, so you need to be prepared for them, because there is no point in buying a new battery if, for example, the contacts on the motherboard have oxidized or there are some problems with the BIOS.

If after turning off the computer the date and time are lost, then there is no need to panic. There is nothing terrible or serious about this problem. This is a problem that every computer sooner or later encounters after 2-3 years of use, and it is very easy to solve it yourself, without the help of a specialist. Now I'll show you how. First, you should understand where this problem comes from, so that you can boldly and quickly eliminate it.

After turning off the computer, the date and time are lost - the battery is to blame

The battery or, more correctly, the battery is the reason for everything. Many people are generally surprised when they find out that there is some kind of battery in the computer. However, there is. Every time you turn off your computer, this battery helps save BIOS settings, including time and date. Like lifepo4 batteries, computer batteries can be easily purchased at the store and installed in the desired device yourself.

If after turning off the computer the date and time are lost, another symptom should be observed - resetting all BIOS settings to default. The battery powers the entire BIOS.

When the computer is turned off, this battery powers the BIOS and saves all its settings; the date and time are stored there. When the computer is turned on, the battery is charged. Any battery has its own service life, so one fine day it runs out once and for all, and then after turning off the computer, the date and time are lost.

To solve the problem, you need, as is already clear, to simply change this battery. It is located on the motherboard.

How to change the battery on the motherboard

Regardless of what brand your computer is, a laptop or a system unit, the battery responsible for the time and date is located on the motherboard, and it looks the same everywhere.

Where is the battery located on the motherboard?

To replace it, do the following:

  • Turn off your computer.
  • Open the computer case and find the battery on the motherboard (it's silver and round).
  • Using your fingernail or a screwdriver, carefully pry up the battery and remove it. Now pay attention to what is written on the battery case - the marking CR2032 or CR2025 is indicated there. Go to the store and buy yourself the same one, with the same markings. These batteries are not expensive.
  • Place the new battery in the same place on the motherboard where the old one was.
  • Turn on the computer, set the time and date, turn off the computer. Turn it on again and make sure that the date and time are saved and are not lost.

Batteryka

When using the tool, be careful and careful not to damage other parts on the motherboard. And also be sure to carry out all operations with the computer turned off!

Sometimes access to the battery may be blocked by some device on the motherboard, for example, a video card or cables. In this case, the dismantling task becomes more complicated; you need to carefully remove the interfering part, and after completing all the procedures, put it back.

It is possible that after successfully replacing the battery, you will have to configure the BIOS and return all options to the way they were before. But if you don't understand this, then leave it as it is.

At one point while using your computer, you may notice that the date and time are not accurate. There are several reasons, Why does the time on the computer go wrong after shutting down in Windows 7, 8. Such reasons include:

  1. Time zone mismatch.
  2. The CMOS (BIOS) battery is worn out.
  3. Infecting your PC with a virus or using unwanted software.

In this case, users change the time and date (if required) to the correct one. After turning off or restarting your computer, you have to set the time (date) again. Repeating this procedure will obviously get boring, especially since the problem with the watch can be fatal. Due to inaccurate time (date), you may encounter the following problems:

  1. Constant adjustment of the system clock.
  2. You may have problems opening and operating important sites (for example, mail, social networks and others), since identification certificates have a limited period.
  3. You may see an expired software license, for example, with antivirus programs. And the worst thing is that these failures will lead to the loss of the license.
  4. Most programs rely on the system time, and if it goes wrong, then the program takes an incorrect time (date), which can significantly harm you at work.

Adjusting time zones

Due to changes in time zones in the Russian Federation The time on the computer is constantly going backwards and forwards by an hour., or even more. For most users, and therefore the components are not installed. You either need to enable or download updates yourself and install them (https://support.microsoft.com/ru-ru/gp/cp_dst), or change the time zone. Consider changing time zones.

Left-click on the time and date located in the right corner of the taskbar near the “ ” button. As a result, an area with a calendar and clock will open. At the bottom of the pane, click the Change system clock settings link.

In the open window you will see the current time zone; to change it, click on the change time zone button.

Next, click on the current time zone and select the appropriate one from the drop-down list. Then click OK to save. If the time on Windows 7, 8 and even the date continues to go wrong, then check your PC for viruses. If there are no viruses, then your CMOS battery is completely worn out. I advise that it is always accurate, even with a dead battery.

Replacing the CMOS battery

If setting time zones did not help, and the time on the computer is still lost after shutting down or rebooting, it means that the motherboard battery is dead. Along with the loss of time, there is a severe lag in the date (by several years) right up to the time of production of the motherboard. In addition to resetting the system clock, you also lose important configurations (if any).

To be sure that there is a problem with the battery, in addition to problems with the date and time, you may see the following errors when you turn on your computer (laptop):

  1. CMOS Read Error
  2. CMOS checksum error
  3. CMOS Battery Failure

First, turn off the power to the PC (laptop), then open the case. Locate the BIOS battery on the motherboard. It looks flattened, somewhat reminiscent of a coin. If you cannot find it, refer to the motherboard (manufacturer) documentation.

Note: Some computers may require you to unplug cables, remove drives, or remove other parts of the PC to gain full access to the CMOS battery.

Now you need to get information about the battery, which can be viewed on its top edge. Usually this is marked CR2032 and the voltage is 3 V. It is even better to remove the battery and bring it to the retail outlet.

Grab the edges of the battery and pull it up; on a laptop you may need to disconnect the cable (depending on the manufacturer). If you see a clip, press it with one hand and remove the battery with the other. If removal fails, use the available tools carefully, without damaging the components of the motherboard. Install a new CMOS battery. if you need to change the settings. If errors continue to appear and The time (date) is constantly lost in Windows 7, 8, this may indicate a power problem with the motherboard.

Now you know Why does the time on the computer go wrong after turning it off?, and how to solve these problems. I recommend starting by checking the time zone, then checking for unwanted and malware, and if you can’t stabilize the system clock, replace the battery on the motherboard.