Can someone help me with my computer's clock

[Marvel Frozen]

The time is always about 10 minutes ahead. Every time I try to change it to correct time, the time changes back about a second or two later. I'm guessing it updates the time from somewhere, but I don't know why it's doing that, it never has before.

 

[sophia8]

Have you tried checking your computer's time in the BIOS setup page? Although setting the clock in Windows is usually enough to reset it, it is just possible that this has been set wrongly. You usually get to the BIOS setup by hitting the Delete key on bootup (this may vary with different BIOSs, so take a look next time you boot up).
You could also try a useful little utility called Atomic Clock Sync from www.worldtimeserver.com - it will automatically synchronise your clock with an atomic clock.

I don't think it can be resetting itself from the internet - otherwise the difference would be in multiples of an hour (different time zones). But to be on the safe side, take a look at what's in your startup list in case something you don't know about is connecting to some website; also get a spyware-detecting utility like AdAware.
It's also just possible that this is a symptom of a dying mobo battery, especially if your machine is starting to develop other curious little quirks

 

[Bikewer]

They were explaining a few weeks ago that the clock installed in most computers is extremly cheap and frequently they are inaccurate.
If this is of concern, download World Time, which acceses some super-accurate atomic clock and updated your computer whenever you're online.

 

[DangerousBeliefs]

If you know what you're doing, I suggest replacing the battery in your computer. It sounds like it's going out.

1) If you have a direct connection to the Internet AND Windows XP, you can use the XP time server to keep your computer time up to date.

a) Double click on the time on your taskbar (or go into it under
START...SETTINGS...CONTROL PANEL)

b) Click the Internet Time tab and make sure "Automatically
synchonize with Internet time server" is checked.

c) Select a time server if not already. I recommend the official
US Government time server "time.nist.gov".

d) This updates ONCE A WEEK... which isn't very good for a
computer that drifts several seconds a day. To change your update to say once a day. Go under START... RUN... and type "Regedit". Then you need to find

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet
\Services\W32Time\TimeProviders\NtpClient

And modify "SpecialPollInterval". The default is 604800 seconds
(or 1 week). I changed mine to 86400 seconds (or 1 day).

Note: if you do not feel comfortable editing your registry or do
not know how to back it up, I do not recommend you do this step. Mis-editing your registry can cause your computer to stop functioning.

2) For those without a direct connection or without Windows XP, you can still enjoy the benefits of accurate time using FREE SOFTWARE from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Go to: http://boulder.nist.gov/timefreq/service/its.htm

And download their free software for updating your computer time
either manually or periodically. Its only 260k and actually a bit
more accurate than using XPs Time Server.

 

[Janus]

Just to throw my hat into the ring.

My bet would be on a spyware/adware/trojan. It sounds like a piece of software is interfering with the clock that shouldn't be. Run adaware or spybot search and destroy and see what it turns up.
I've seen at least one suspect program, marketed with those fake warning dialog box, that claims to improve the acuarcy of PC clocks. Victims often claim that they have no idea how it got there. Once its there it causes other probems and is a PIA to remove.

The hardware real time clock is typically consulted once at start up. So a weak battery or other problem with the RTC would normally show up with the computer keeping time while its on, but loosing or gaining time while its off.

 

[Stainless_Steel_Rat]

Solo computer or Network?

If this computer is on a network, it could be set to synchronize with it's time to the server. Here at my office we do that. If this is the case, you'll need to convince your IT admin to change his time

SSR