Clock "slows down", yet is able to manually sync correctly

Cliff S · 18 Sep 2015

Szark said:

So, out of nowhere, the problem has returned. I checked and the update server is still time.nist.gov (meaning Windows hasn't forced the default one).

It all still happens when the computer is running, so I'm reluctant in terms of going for a new battery, though maybe I should just do it "just in case". I've heard different opinions about whether the clock is using the CMOS battery during computer uptime or not.

Edit: I think I'm going to try the motherboard's (Gigabyte) support service also.

That's a good idea, maybe they have a new BIOS for Windows 10(although that really shouldn't effect the clock, but one never knows).

Szark · 18 Sep 2015

Well as far as I've checked, I'm running the latest BIOS which is from 2010. But I'll try and contact them.

Szark · 19 Sep 2015

Before going on with contacting the motherboard's manufacturer, I also created a simple test and found out that compared to the smartphone's stopper, the system clock lost 11 seconds during a 1 minute test period. This means that the clock is continously losing time.

Secondly, I tried to test the battery by shutting the computer down completely for the night (I forgot to pull the plug from the wall though), but during the night and during today's uptime (about 6 hours now), the system clock has been correct. So it would seem that the restart did solve the problem (and probably solved it the last time, too). It seems that something is getting in the clock's way while using the computer as usual.

I currently don't know where to look and I don't have much faith in the support line also...

Tank420 · 21 Sep 2015

Szark said:

Hello!

Windows clock somehow manages to get out of sync even when the computer is up and running. <snip>

I'm also getting this, i set my clock before i went to work about 9 hours ago, and I've lost an hour. I have also noticed that my keyboard seems to think it's American(it's a UK keyboard).

Can't really contribute to an answer, but I can add, I am also running a rather old build.

I first noticed this problem approximately 48 hours ago.

Szark · 22 Sep 2015

Well, it's not the battery, that's for sure. In my case at least. I tested the battery extensively and it precisely maintained the time.

I checked all the running applications also and found that I had (somewhat foolishly) installed a codec pack for the VLC player, which also added a running application. I tried it as a (bad) solution for a problem I've also described in this forum (but got no answer). Neither the AVG nor Malwarebytes said anything bad about it. The problem with video playback was also somewhat time related as different players had different problems syncing the audio with video. I've now uninstalled the suspicious application.

The current state of the system needs some testing time but the moral of the story is - check if everything is clean and there's no useless crap running in the background.

Cliff S · 22 Sep 2015

Szark said:

Well, it's not the battery, that's for sure. In my case at least. I tested the battery extensively and it precisely maintained the time.

I checked all the running applications also and found that I had (somewhat foolishly) installed a codec pack for the VLC player, which also added a running application. I tried it as a (bad) solution for a problem I've also described in this forum (but got no answer). Neither the AVG nor Malwarebytes said anything bad about it. The problem with video playback was also somewhat time related as different players had different problems syncing the audio with video. I've now uninstalled the suspicious application.

The current state of the system needs some testing time but the moral of the story is - check if everything is clean and there's no useless crap running in the background.

Isn't trouble shooting fun

.(as long as it isn't your business PC

)

Szark · 22 Sep 2015

Yeah I guess it is. That's my PC, but I do some IT-stuff at work so I hope they won't see it.

Szark · 09 Feb 2016

I'm sorry if it's wrong to dig up this old thread, but for anyone who might have some suggestions or who face similar problems, I have some additional input on this:

* The problem is still there.
* Restart or Shut-down+power up solves it.
* It happens only after the computer has been in the sleep state.
* It's not about the motherboard's battery.
* It also messes up video playback - sound fails in VLC, video may fail in W10 player, legacy windows media player is sometimes unaffected.
* Adobe Premiere Pro workflow is completely interrupted, lags horribly.
* The windows clock loses time continuosly.

BigGuy614 · 16 May 2016

Szark said:

I'm sorry if it's wrong to dig up this old thread, but for anyone who might have some suggestions or who face similar problems, I have some additional input on this:

* The problem is still there.
* Restart or Shut-down+power up solves it.
* It happens only after the computer has been in the sleep state.
* It's not about the motherboard's battery.
* It also messes up video playback - sound fails in VLC, video may fail in W10 player, legacy windows media player is sometimes unaffected.
* Adobe Premiere Pro workflow is completely interrupted, lags horribly.
* The windows clock loses time continuosly.

I'm having the same problem. It's like the CPU is being held hostage and only gets to take a breath every 3 1/2 seconds. I've exhausted everything I know to do. Maddening!

I'm running Windows 10 Home on a Dell Studio XPS 2.67GHz with 8GB of RAM.

Anyone got any ideas?

poolmon · 17 May 2016

This is a longshot and only relates to the clock issue. I ran into a similar issue on WIN 7. It turned out to be caused by an update I did to AOL Desktop. I reverted to the prior AOL Desktop and the clock went back to normal. If you don't have AOL Desktop just ignore this, but I thought I'd toss it out since you seem to have tried all the most logical fixes already. Good luck.