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Question

New Computer can't maintain correct date

Mar 22, 2016 9:35AM PDT

A couple of weeks ago I bought a brand new laptop (Asus kx501UX with Windows 10) and I've been having an issue with the date and time.
When I open the laptop after it has been asleep for a while the date is totally incorrect - usually two days off but sometimes weeks away. If I turn the automatic time sync on and off it corrects the problem temporarily but later happens again. I have tried syncing with different time servers but something weird happens - the date corrects itself when I click update but I also get an error message saying that the connection to the timer server timed out.

I have checked and the time is also correct in BIOS and after startup. This issue has also caused annoying problems where my browser and email don't recognize SSL certificates s valid.

I realize I can just set the time/date manually but this isn't really a fix - since this laptop is brand new it should work.

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
Did you try another time server? Link about follows.
Mar 22, 2016 10:47AM PDT
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Tried another time server
Mar 23, 2016 5:30AM PDT

Yeah, I tried both windows time and nist time server. As I say, both cause the date to correct itself but there is some timeout error given at the same time.

As for firewalls, I don't have any installed other than windows firewall. I originally had avira antivirus but uninstalled it and changed to AVG in the hopes of fixing the problem. (AVG firewall is not installed).

System scans show up nothing by the way.

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The timeout is a clue here.
Mar 23, 2016 6:55AM PDT

Try it with Windows own Defender and firewall. I'm losing count of troubles like this. Try stock first.

Defender is scoring better now.

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Works with AVG free
Mar 23, 2016 9:22AM PDT

This morning I changed from AVG full version (free trial) to AVG free and it works - the message says 'synchronized successfully'. Not sure if that was the limiting factor or just coincidence.

It's difficult to test this since the date seems to jump pretty randomly when the computer is asleep (such as overnight) and right now it is ok. (Issue also disappears for a while after a restart). I will post whether it is fixed or happens again.

Thanks to all for your comments!

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Update: Issue not fixed
Mar 24, 2016 6:22PM PDT

Seems to have been a coincidence because it keeps happening over again after I correct it. Eg. today is 24th March but when I opened it up after being asleep for just a few hours it said 13th of April (correct time of day though). Can't find any other descriptions of this issue online. Will try contacting ASUS again.

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Answer
Sounds like a bum cmos battery to me
Mar 22, 2016 10:03AM PDT

Maybe some warranty issue.

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Would CMSO issues cause it to gain time?
Mar 23, 2016 5:33AM PDT

I have wondered this too. As I understand it, the CMOS works to maintain the time, but could it cause the computer to gain days? Currently the time on my laptop is correct at 8.31am but the day is showing the 24th March, rather than the 23rd.

Also, it was correct in BIOS at startup. Not sure if that's related.

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yeah, but what year is it showing?
Mar 24, 2016 7:23PM PDT

Most motherboards use a CR-2032 coin battery on them to maintain BIOS settings and date/time chip.

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Try this, maybe:
Mar 28, 2016 6:34AM PDT

Hi Beth,
let us remember that there is an interface in most programming languages I know to set a system's clock. That could of course also be used to set the clock to an incorrect value. This could be a bug or some intentional malware function in some software you are running. It could also be some misguided attempt on the part of the system to adjust for an incorrect time zone setting - although that would never throw you out for more than 24 hours, I should think.

So, try this and let us know: Next time your clock is way out, restart and enter the BIOS settings along the way (without powering off or using the physical reset button!) Then check if the time displayed in the BIOS is the correct time, the wrong time as displayed by Windows or a third value. The answer to this might give us a clue where to look next.
One other thing that I know often messes with clock settings: Running your system in a virtual machine environment. There are hypervisor settings that can avoid that and by now that should no longer be an issue, but as we all know, some old problems tend to carry over in real life long past the fix date.

Good Luck!

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Answer
Also check, if you've not done so,
Mar 23, 2016 6:26AM PDT

region settings and DST. Since it's new, it may have its region set to where it was manufactured. I've had this happen. We also just went through the semi-annual DST change. If your PC isn't set up to correct for this, you're automatically one hour off.

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Region settings are ok
Mar 23, 2016 9:15AM PDT

As I mentioned in another post, the time is actually usually correct. Just not the date. Turning automatic date/time sync on and off makes it reset to the right date.

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Answer
new computer, contact tech support
Mar 24, 2016 9:05PM PDT

It could be a common problem with that specific computer. Go to the manufacturers website and see if there are any updates for the specific problem. If it continues, you should contact asus tech support.

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One wonders ...
Mar 28, 2016 6:37AM PDT

... if there have been any reports of flaky clock chips out there (or, nowadays, one of the bridges they tend to sleep under Wink