# Computer clock strangeness

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-clock-strangeness/249338>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 8, 2004, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-clock-strangeness/249338 "2004-06-08T21:26:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![quelquechose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/6f9a4e/32.png) [@quelquechose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quelquechose)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-clock-strangeness/249338/1 "2004-06-08T21:26:36Z")

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My computer clock has been acting odd recently. Once every day or two, it spontaneously jumps back one hour. I have no idea what’s causing this or how to make it stop, so any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks in advance.

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**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-clock-strangeness/249338/2 "2004-06-08T22:13:52Z")

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Are you using XP? Is your time zone set correctly? If your time zone is off XP will automatically correct itself to what it thinks is the correct time for your computer, but since it can’t figure out where your computer is it relies on the time zone you entered when setting up the computer to be correct.

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**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-clock-strangeness/249338/3 "2004-06-08T22:15:50Z")

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Are you connected to a server? If so, it may be trying to sync up with a server who’s clock is off.

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**Author:** ![quelquechose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/6f9a4e/32.png) [@quelquechose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quelquechose)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-clock-strangeness/249338/4 "2004-06-09T00:11:45Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> If your time zone is off XP will automatically correct itself to what it thinks is the correct time for your computer, but since it can’t figure out where your computer is it relies on the time zone you entered when setting up the computer to be correct.

That’s it. I feel stupid for not knowing that the time zone was set wrong, but now it’s fixed. :smack: