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 remove or damage system files, change the 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 main reasons why the time gets lost are battery failure, updating when choosing the wrong time zone, and third-party programs that change the date. Each of these reasons for the system clock not working properly can be easily fixed at home.
Dead CMOS battery
The clock on your computer does not stop counting time even when the device is unplugged. CMOS power is provided by a coin cell battery. motherboard, usually having a voltage of 3V. It is designed for continuous work for several years, but when you turn on the computer the cell does not charge. Therefore, if the power supply is dead, it must be replaced for normal operation of the watch.
Important! You can buy a new battery not only in computer store, but also in the corresponding departments of other stores.
To replace the CMOS battery: the following actions:
- Turn off your computer.
- Turn off the power.
- Remove the side cover system unit.
- Locate the battery (usually located in the lower right corner of the motherboard).
- Use a screwdriver or other object to bend the metal holder.
- Insert the new battery, observing the polarity (plus is on top).
- Close the system cover and turn on the computer.
- If necessary, restore the default BIOS settings.
- Set the correct time parameters.
Note! In order for the new battery to fit, it must have the same markings as the old one. This is often CR2032, but CR2016 and CR2025 can also be used.
Time is translated by viruses or program activators
Using unlicensed software with activators can lead to the time on the computer being lost. Some programs have free versions, limited in operating time. To renew a license, activators use a simple method of setting the clock back. If the time starts to go wrong after installing such software, uninstall it.
The clock can also be translated by malware. If you do not have an antivirus installed on your computer, download any free scanning tool that does not require installation. For example, "Zillya", "Dr.Web CureIt" or "ESET Online Scanner". IN latest versions Windows also has a built-in antivirus. Open Windows Defender by clicking on the tray icon. In the right column, select the scan type and click “Check Now.” Available options checks:
- Fast
- Full
- Special
When scanning your computer for the first time, it is recommended to select a full scan. The mode selected in the previous step determines the duration of the process. The scan time is also affected by the speed of the device and the amount of hard disk space. You can stop scanning for viruses by clicking the “Cancel scan” button.
Important! Before starting the scan, do not forget to download the latest anti-virus databases on the “Update” tab.
Useful video: Solving the problem of spontaneous time reset on a computer
Wrong time zone
If the time zone on the computer is set incorrectly, the time will be lost when synchronizing the clock. Even if the time is then set correctly, the next update over the Internet will return the values for a different time zone. To change these settings, click on the current time in the lower right corner of the screen. Follow the link on the calendar pop-up window.
In fact, there are not so many reasons why the time on a computer may go wrong. You can eliminate most of them even without specialized skills.
BIOS battery problems
One of the most common reasons is dead battery on the motherboard. Not everyone knows that the computer's current date and time are stored in CMOS memory. Uninterrupted operation of the memory is ensured by a CR2016, CR2032, CR2025 battery. That is why a computer, even with the power turned off, can retain the current date and time for several months.
BIOS battery
When the battery runs out, the time on the computer starts to go wrong. In this case, the reset occurs when rebooting PC when the power is completely lost. If the computer is not unplugged, the reset will not occur.
It's quite easy to check:
- Turn off computer.
- Pull it out unplug it and wait about 5-10 minutes. If desired, you can leave it overnight to be sure.
- Turn on the PC again and check the time.
If the clock resets, it means battery is faulty. Replacing it will not be a problem:
- Opening system unit
- Are looking for there is a battery on the board (it’s quite easy to find it; there are no other batteries on the motherboard)
- Pull it out and put a new one in its place
Now turn off the power to the computer again and check.
The time zone is set incorrectly
Time changes may occur due to incorrect time zone. In this case, a complete reset does not occur, but only the hours change, while the minutes remain correct.
In this case, just go to Control Panel and open the component Date and time. Here we change the time zone and check the correct operation. 
Operating system update
A similar error can also be caused by an unupdated OS. As you know, time is no longer translated in Russia, but operating systems that have not been updated will continue to translate in the fall and spring.
There are two solutions:
- Update system, or install a more current build.
- Disable In the settings you can change between summer and winter time.
Using cracks and activators
Various applications for hacking and activating the system or programs can reset trial period of work. This procedure can affect the system time, resetting it at the time of recovery.
In this case deletion will help activator or hacking, as well as a complete reinstallation of the system. In addition, it is recommended to use a licensed software to avoid such troubles. 
Malware and viruses
Quite rarely, harmless viruses can appear in the system. They do not harm the installed system, but they can ruin the user’s life in every possible way. An example of such actions would be changing the computer clock.
Fixing the problem is very simple - just check your computer for the presence of viruses. If cleaning your PC did not help, then most likely only system reinstallation.
Invalid time on the server
Most likely, only office workers will encounter this problem. If the PC is in a domain and automatic synchronization is set, the clock will automatically adjust to the server time.
In this case, you won’t be able to do anything yourself. You should contact your system administrator.
Subscribe:
A fairly common “trouble” in computer operation is regular time failure. If you notice this error and are concerned about it, do not rush to send your computer to service center. You can make a “diagnosis” and cure it with your own hands.
For what reasons does the time on a computer get lost?
There may be several reasons. First, pay attention to whether the date set on the computer gets lost over time? And also at what point do these parameters fail - during operation, after shutting down, or when connecting to the Internet?
Depending on the manifestations of the error, the following options for eliminating it are used:
1. The date is correct, the time settings are lost, presumably when connecting to the Internet. The solution to this problem is to cancel synchronization of the computer time with the exact time server on the Internet. You can do this by changing the date and time settings of your computer in a way convenient for you - either through the control panel, or by clicking on the time icon in the task tray.
2. The date is correct, the time gets lost when the computer is turned on for a certain number of hours. The reason is that the time zone set on the computer does not correspond to the actual location. In the same date and time settings, you should adjust the time zone selection.
3. The time and date are lost simultaneously after the computer is turned off. To understand this situation, let's touch on the theory. The fact is that in order to maintain constant settings when the computer is running, in the system, during a power outage, there is a subsystem called CMOS - a memory chip that stores all startup data. CMOS is powered by a CR2032 battery. Its average service life is 3 - 4 years. Further, like any other battery, it becomes unusable, and the CMOS system ceases to maintain constant startup parameters.
There is only one way out - the battery needs to be replaced.
On the motherboard it is located in an accessible place and can be changed without much difficulty. We disconnect the computer from the network and remove, depending on the type of system unit, either its right side panel or the entire case cover. A round white “tablet” the size of a two-ruble coin will be clearly visible on the board. This is the battery.
Having previously purchased the appropriate type of battery (CR2032) from a computer store, replace it.
After this, when you start the computer, do not forget to go into the BIOS and set the date and time parameters necessary for operation.
These simple steps will help you determine the cause and solve the problem with time failure on your computer.
Comments
Greetings, friends! My friends contacted me several times different problems in the operation of the computer, the reason was the discharge of the three-volt battery inside the system unit.
And the problems were the following: someone’s anti-virus programs stopped working correctly, they began to panic because of license errors when trying to update. They refused to work with the Internet and showed errors connecting to the server. Every time I turned on the PC it happened again. And only one paid attention and asked why the time on the computer was lost after it was turned off.
Source of the problem
The CR2032 battery, the size of a ruble coin, is located on the computer and powers the CMOS memory, which stores BIOS settings, including date and time. Why is the date not lost when rebooting the computer? The fact is that at this moment the supply voltage is provided by work. And after disconnecting from the electrical network, the voltage disappears, and the data in the volatile CMOS memory is lost. Conclusion - the battery needs to be replaced.
If you have a desktop computer, then you can change it yourself. Unplug the power cord. Remove the side wall and carefully pull out the battery, pressing the lock. Put a new one in its place. And, if you are the owner of a laptop, then it is better to contact a specialist, because disassembling a laptop is much more difficult. You can also ask to clean your laptop to avoid overheating in the future.
After replacing the battery, you need to set correct date and time. This can be done in the BIOS settings or in the BIOS itself. operating system. Right-click on the computer clock and select Set date and time.
On the Date and Time tab, you can change the time zone and current date and time.
Sometimes there is a problem with the transition to summer time, then this can be solved by updating the system. In Windows 7 and higher this problem no longer exists, but in Windows XP it may still exist.
On the Internet Time tab, you can configure your computer to automatically synchronize with a time server. Then, when you turn on your computer, it will synchronize the time with the Internet. I specify timeserver.ru as the time server. Unlike other time servers, it doesn't let me down.
I hope you learned a little useful information for myself. Have you had a similar problem and how did you solve it? Share your experience in the comments.
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