Windows Time is always 2 minutes behind

[Celstar]

I have a very odd problem.

On one of my windows XP machines, the time is always 2 minutes behind. If I change the time to the correct time, the clock will slow down every so slightly until it is 2 minutes behind the actual time, and then it'll keep perfect time again. Always 2 minutes behind.

I thought it might be a bios battery problem, but when I check the time in the bios, it's the time that I want--the correct time, so it doesn't seem to be bios related. Probably OS related, but what could possibly be the reason for this odd behavior??

Any ideas?

 

[xcript]

Hmm, that's pretty damn odd.

Tried flashing the latest bios for the board?

 

[Celstar]

dude, its a dell! around a year old.

 

[Budman]

Turn all the clocks in your house to 2 min behind.

 

[HOOSDAMAN]

Try setting your system time with the Internet time setting. Use the .gov time server. The microsoft server is not always available.

 

[RVN]

Dell had a patch for a couple models on their web site concerning time accuracy a year or two ago. Try Dell support and punch up your service tag.

From Dell support:
System and Configuration Utilities [PAT]

Dell Time Keeping Utility, A01
File Date: 3/19/2002
Dell systems with factory installed Microsoft Windows XP Pro or Home may lose time. Time loss rate has been reported as high as a 20 minute loss per hour.

 

[SpeedFreak03]

Why don't you set it 2 minutes ahead?

 

[Celstar]

I do. I set it two minutes ahead, and it slows back down 2 minutes. I'll check out that dell patch.. I'll keep yall updated if I can fix this problem!

 

[fr]

You can disable the sync with the time server if you haven't tried that yet. It's in the options when you double-click on the taskbar clock.

 

[sciencewhiz]

how are you determining what the "correct" time is?

 

[Celstar]

Here's an update!

Dell patch: didn't work!
Disabling sync on time server: there is not that option!

This is too strange for me. I must lie down now.

 

[spyordie007]

Originally posted by: sciencewhiz
how are you determining what the "correct" time is?

 

[Celstar]

correct time = the desired time

 

[drag]

heh, for me: The correct time = correct time.

I have a simple ntp client that I sync with some ntpd servers every couple days or during boot up. PC's time clocks are notoriously badly behaved and can't be relied on, escpecially if you do a lot of rebooting and such.

If ya want accurate time your going to have to synconize with some server somewere. Those servers are generally synced to other servers that run atomic clocks in universities or government institutions so that would generally put your computer with in one half of a second within the official international time.

 

[Celstar]

Yes that is the ultimate solution: sync with a server and that's just what I'll do.

 

[tigerwannabe]

in my experience, pc's have never been able to keep consistently good time--they always seem to gain time when compared to my wristwatch.

 

[spyordie007]

Originally posted by: tigerwannabe
in my experience, pc's have never been able to keep consistently good time--they always seem to gain time when compared to my wristwatch.

I have my DCs syncing with time servers and my clients pulling down the time from it, because of this every client on my network has essentially the exact same time.

My guess would be that it is syncing with a time server and it has the correct time, however not the time you want to see. An easy way to ensure this is the case would be to disconnet it's internet/network connectivity and set it to something differant, than see if it reverts back (my guess would be that it wont).

-Spy

 

[Megatomic]

Originally posted by: Budman
Turn all the clocks in your house to 2 min behind.

I always the love the simplest solutions the most.