# XP system clock running slow **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 17, 2005, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xp-system-clock-running-slow/304201 "2005-05-17T05:47:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xp-system-clock-running-slow/304201/1 "2005-05-17T05:47:31Z")
For 2 weeks now I’ve had to adjust my system clock every couple of days to bring it forward to current. Does anyone know why this is happening? I don’t have any malicious stuff in the system, but something has to be wrong to have to keep doing this. When I reset the time I hit the apply button to make the change stick, but somehow it never does. Any help? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![JXJohns](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jxjohns/32/469_2.png) [@JXJohns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JXJohns)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xp-system-clock-running-slow/304201/2 "2005-05-17T05:57:15Z")
Typically, replacing the the battery on your motherboard will take care of this problem. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xp-system-clock-running-slow/304201/3 "2005-05-17T06:00:29Z")
> [@JXJohns](#): > > Typically, replacing the the battery on your motherboard will take care of this problem. That, or your PC has started to travel at relativistic speeds. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xp-system-clock-running-slow/304201/4 "2005-05-17T06:32:51Z")
OK, working with computers I know sometimes you just get a bum part. This system is about 18 mos. old. Is it likely that’s the problem? Is there something else I can look at? If it is the battery (I have little experience with actual motherboards) how involved is changing it? What problems can I run into doing it myself? I’m mechanically inclined, but never dove into a motherboard. Is it cheap enough to just have a local comp store do it? ---
**Author:** ![JXJohns](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jxjohns/32/469_2.png) [@JXJohns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JXJohns)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xp-system-clock-running-slow/304201/5 "2005-05-17T06:42:51Z")
The battery is about the size of a US nickel. It usually slides out of its housing pretty easily. I would say depending on your system, it may be harder to find the battery than it is to pop it out. I have seen them hidden under power supplies, heat sinks, expansion slots, you name it. If you have worked with computers, this should be a no brainer. ---
**Author:** ![sleestak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sleestak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleestak)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xp-system-clock-running-slow/304201/6 "2005-05-17T07:36:16Z")
> [@JXJohns](#): > > The battery is about the size of a US nickel. It usually slides out of its housing pretty easily. I would say depending on your system, it may be harder to find the battery than it is to pop it out. I have seen them hidden under power supplies, heat sinks, expansion slots, you name it. > > If you have worked with computers, this should be a no brainer. What he said. Finding the dang things can be a pain sometimes. Once you find it they are usually easy to get out. I don’t know what a store would charge for replacing it but it is probably _way_ more than what the battery costs. Most stores jack up the labor prices. Remember to unplug it first. The big thing to watch when replacing it is to keep yourself grounded to the case so you don’t shock the motherboard. To get to it you might need to unplug some cables. Just keep track of what went where and you’ll be okay. Slee ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xp-system-clock-running-slow/304201/7 "2005-05-17T12:10:18Z")
Mine does the same thing - I downloaded a little utility called Atomic Clock Synch and set it to correct the time when I log on. Seems to do the trick, but you need an internet connection for it to work. ---
**Author:** ![mittu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@mittu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mittu)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xp-system-clock-running-slow/304201/8 "2005-05-17T12:28:12Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > I’m mechanically inclined, but never dove into a motherboard. You don’t dive into a motherboard, you dive off the motherboard and into the DMA pool. …i’ll get my coat :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![mks57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@mks57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mks57)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xp-system-clock-running-slow/304201/9 "2005-05-17T14:28:10Z")
It can also be a software problem. There’s a chip on your motherboard that generates a periodic clock signal to the CPU, typically 60 times a second. The CPU updates its clock every time it receives this signal (clock tick). Poorly written system software, like some device drivers for hard disks and video cards, can cause the CPU to stop listening for clock ticks for extended periods of time. When this happens, clock ticks are lost, and the system’s clock appears to run slow.