System clock is running very fast

[NicolaHill]

Hi,

A user came up to me today with a problem on his home laptop.
The laptop is 3/4 years old, and suddenly his sytem clock has started ticking over a minute for every second (i.e. 60 minutes per actual minute). He says he has checked the BIOS clock, which is set correctly. This is obviously a problem as he can't double click or install new hardware or software.

What's even more strange is he says the clock runs normally if he plays some music(not a CD, as it doesn't work in super fast mode) he has stored on his laptop in media player.

I've never heard of this problem before, and a Google and MSKB search didn't bring up anything. Hope you can help.

Thanks in advance,

Nicola

 

[biglebowski]

There is a spacial rift located around their desk. Ask them to move desks until you can locate some warp crystals and restore the space time continuam.

When I was born I was so suprised I didn't talk for 18 months

 

[NicolaHill]

Of course... why didn't I think of that!

Anyone any ideas what I could do to sort him out until I find some crystals?

 

[Grenage]

That's a bit of an odd one. I'd definitely recommend biglebowski's plan of attack first, but failing that...

Have you done the usual scan for spyware/viruses?


Carlsberg don't run I.T departments, but if they did they'd probably be more fun.

 

[NicolaHill]

Yep, nothing at all though, seeing as he must be one of the few remaining people who don't have internet at home!

 

[ASG0856]

R U sure this User is looking at minutes and not seconds,
ie his clock is format hh:mm:ss but the player clock is hh:mm

Have you seen this for yourself?

 

[NicolaHill]

OK, no, I haven't seen this for myself, but this guy is pretty up on his technology, as in he used to work in the IT dept, I'm sure he would've noticed if it was just the seconds!

Thanks for trying though.

Nicola

 

[DTracy]

I've seen something similiar happen on W2K machines but, with these the sound was extra fast too--ie: chipmunk stuff! I never could find the cause or solution. I changed the drivers for everything I could think of and no change. No viruses, no spyware, nothing.

David.

 

[NicolaHill]

Hmmm... very strange indeed.

First thought a faulty/dead CMOS battery, but maybe not if the problem is solved when music is played!

Nicola

 

[strongm]

Some games reprogram the hardware clock divisor, which can cause this effect if the game abends. However this would not last between reboots, so probably isn't the issue here

 

[Fatboy0341]

I would take a look at the Flux Capacitor and the Transmogrifier first and foremost.

Another possibility would be that you are running low on Di-lithium Crystals and have begun to lose power in the Aft Warp Drive.

If all else fails...set your Frap-ray to "Char" and prepare to repel boarders.

JB



"He who laughs last probably made a backup. He who laughs loudest probably hasn't checked his backups in a while."

 

[linney]

Is it displaying the date correctly? Is the date showing April the first?

There might be an applicaton your running that is affecting the windows clock.

Gaining time usually has the same causes as losing time. It is generally related to some software installed on the system.


There have been problems in the past with Dell Machines and time. Also some Anti Virus software has been known to cause problems. You can check it out at -

Weird Problem

http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2002/2002-05-13.htm#3

Windows XP does not display the seconds you need a third party program installed if you require this.

http://www.winnetmag.com/Article/ArticleID/39411/39411.html

http://blogs.msdn.com/oldnewthing/archive/2003/10/10/55256.aspx

HOW TO: Change Date, Time, Number, and Currency Value Displays in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307938&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH