1.

Solve : Unstable date....?

Answer»

Win 98se - Intel Celeron-A - A-Trend ATC-7100m mobo - Award Modular Bios - just 64mb PC133 SDRAM

Much of the above is probably not relevant to the problem which is that  at each cold boot the date has changed, all other settings remain STABLE.  The date is random, no pattern has been observed, and it is not changing to the default value.   Time obviously changes but is spot-on where it should be.

So far have reset the date in Win, Dos, and bios and updated the bios to the latest & greatest.  Have also installed a sparkling new Cmos battery ensuring that the contacts are clean.  Reverting to default settings then re-setting date/time makes no difference, on the next cold boot, even on the same day, the date has changed.

Any ideas what to try next please :-?Perhaps your CMOS chip has had it. Which could mean that you're going to have to look for a new mainboard.

Thanks for the response Raptor.

WOULD problems with the CMOS chip just affect one of the settings?

I used to have an old mainboard that would forget the time but otherwise function perfectly fine. Dummy2K, if I remember correctly, suggested replacing the CMOS chip, but I never found one.Replace the Cmos chip - now there's a project for relatives in the Ham Radio game.

Thanks again

V...Ham radio game? Quote

Ham radio game?

Oops, terminology got to me again.  Not Ham Radio game as in pc or XBox game, meant it to convey Amateur Radio enthusiasts altho' some of the relatives concerned are professional electronics technicians.

V...Does it change after you do a cold boot in safe mode then shutdown for a 2nd cold boot in safe mode?
This is indeed a strange one. :-?Fed - I hadn't thought of trying that but did so with same result, date changed on each cold boot.   Also tried cold booting into Dos with same result.  BTW warm boot date does not change!!!

Yep, sure is an oddball...If your new battery wasn't connecting properly & you were ALSO running some sort of time synchronising program that corrects it from the net then that could account for it.
Are you sure of a positive connection of your battery and no time synch programs?Thanks Fed.

I think that because only the date setting goes haywire that the battery connection should (must) be fine. :-?  Can't find any indication of a large drain on the battery.  A cold boot just 30 seconds after a shut-down showed the changed date as did a cold boot after 1, 2 , 3, and 5 minute intervals, and overnight,  although all other settings remain stable.

The pc is not connected to the net so the time-synch question doesn't arise.

Raptor's suggestion is becoming more and more credible.  He said he has had a similar problem but with just the time affected.  Unfortunately, considering the age of the mobo, I doubt if the manufacturer would even respond to any query EXCEPT to SAY get a newer model.

Thanks again - I'll just have to accept a wierd date until either the mobo goes to mobo HEAVEN or I can source another.


V...What's got me thrown is that it's only the date & not the time that's changing. :-?
I used to have a computer with no battery at all, my kid broke the battery clip.
A cold boot would put both time & date out, but a cold boot after only a few seconds (5 secs) it would retain the settings.
It was because of the capacitors discharging slowly & keeping the bios alive long enough to retain the bios memory.
I really can't add anything to this, I'm stumped. :-/Your MBoard Manual

I could be off base here but i'm wondering if flashing the BIOS correctly would help.

I had a link years ago for an EPROM source but i have yet to find it....give me some time.

patio.  8-)Thanks Patio - I already have the manual but it doesn't give me any clues to fix the problem.

As for Eprom, I'm not sure I would want to get into reprogramming, my technical knowhow is probably not up to that.

I have 'resolved' the date problem by creating a .bat file which is called in Autoexec to remind me that the date has to be altered.  Not a cure but at least now I don't get the chance to forget...

As to the date problem...just ask the first person you see everyday "Hey what's todays date?"...


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