Troubleshooting Mac OS X 10.2.5: Yet another fix for the date reset bug

While most users have reported that Mac OS X 10.2.5 fixes the notorious date reset bug introduced in Mac OS X 10.2.4, some are still experiencing the problem and others are forced to remain at version 10.2.4 because of kernel panics or other critical problems.

MacFixIt reader Tom Sutcliffe offers another workaround for the date bug that bypasses normal shutdown routines.

"What I found is that the problem which causes the date and time to be lost seems to be in the shutdown code for OS X 10.2.4 (no matter what the readme for the 10.2.5 update says...). If you don't shutdown, only restart, the problem doesn't occur. You can verify this by doing the following:

"Shutdown by choosing 'Shut Down' from the Apple menu. Leave the computer off for a while Boot into open firmware by holding cmd-opt-O-F as you start up. The firmware reports the time, and if you left the computer off long enough it will be 1970.

"This suggested the following solution, which I've been using for a week with no problems, and basically bypasses OS X's shutdown code in a safer way than pulling the plug. Instead of shutting down, choose restart. As the computer restarts, enter open firmware as above. Verify that the time is still correct. Type 'shut-down' and hit return. The computer will now shut down without forgetting the time on next boot."

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