computer date and time resets to random dates and times

donnajunkie

over the last few days when i turn the computer on the date and time is incorrect. it doesnt happen while the computer is on. it seems to happen after it has been off and is turned on.

TadleyBaggie

CMOS battery needs replacing, probably.

Oblivion

TadleyBaggie wrote: »

CMOS battery needs replacing, probably.

That would be my bet too. If it's an old computer the battery might be soldered to the motherboard which doesn't make for an easy replacement. Most modern computers though have a little socket on the motherboard which takes a button cell (CR2032 is quite a common one) and it's easy peasy to quickly slip the old one out and slip a new one in without loosing any CMOS data.

donnajunkie

i guess that will be expensive? i've never heard of this with computers before.

donnajunkie

Oblivion wrote: »

If it's an old computer

its 5 and a half years old.

googler

donnajunkie wrote: »

i guess that will be expensive? i've never heard of this with computers before.

google it, and use youtube to find video guides on how to...

Battery should be no more than a couple of quid.

How much it costs you overall depends on how you value half an hour of your time. While you've got the PC open to replace the battery, use a compressed air can to blow all the dust out of it. You may want to do this outside to avoid breathing it all in once you've blown it out of the PC. Again, google or youtube for video guides.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=cmos+battery&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=c4Z-Ua64BKmS0AX054CICA&ved=0CD0QsAQ&biw=1280&bih=859

Oblivion

donnajunkie wrote: »

its 5 and a half years old.

In which case I'd expect it to be a simple button cell replacement. See if the user guide for your computer states which CMOS backup cell it uses. If it doesn't, you'll have to open the case and look for yourself.

They are usually commonly used button cells, like you find in watches, available for a couple of quid in Boots etc.

lonestarfan

donnajunkie wrote: »

i guess that will be expensive? i've never heard of this with computers before.

Neither had I until it happened to Grandmas Dell.
It's not expensive if its the battery.
It's one of those round cell batteries that you put in watches and calculators. About £2-4.
Open up the computer and look inside.
You will see the round cell battery. It will have a number on it.
I bought one in my local market but you can get them from amazon too.
Its not difficult to replace yourself. You just need to get it to spring out (might be a push thing at the side).

securityguy

donnajunkie wrote: »

i guess that will be expensive?

CR2032 lithium batteries are about two quid each in the supermarket. You can get them cheaper, but it's probably not worth the hassle of looking. There are some exotic lithium coin cells which might be as much as a fiver, but it's unlikely a computer motherboard would use one of those.

mcfisco

computer date and time resets to random dates and times

Just so that's there's no confusion here, it doesn't look like this does it?
If so, you may need more than a battery

Saint_Andrew

Most likely your Motherboard (BIOS) is set to another time-zone since most PCs are made in America.

Set your time to UTC/GMT from your BIOS.