My Computer Changed The TIme By Itself

"hr(bob) snipped-for-privacy@att.net" wrote

Several years ago, Microsoft updated Windows XP with a free patch (I understand Apple charged for it!) to change the DST rules. This is why when you look at the time zone setting, the USA and Canada are now listed separately from Tijuana, which does not observe the extra 4 weeks of DST that we do.

In many or most cases, XP automatically included the patch in its automatic update.

"hr(bob) snipped-for-privacy@att.net" wrote

Also realize that your computer has TWO clocks in it, the RTC (real time clock) which is like a wristwatch and uses a wristwatch type battery. The computer gets its time from this when you first turn it on.

But after it is on, the computer gets its time from the CPU. This second clock can run erratically, depending on how much load your computer is running. On this computer I'm using now, the clock runs fast when the computer is on. Windows normally automatically updates the clock once a week with the NIST.

Well, if I let my computer go a week it would be fast by about 2 to 3 minutes. So, I wrote a little script for the registry that changes the time update to every 6 hours. So, my computer is usually within half a second of accurate with the NIST at any given time.

"Mark Lloyd" wrote

Sure they set themselves. They listen to WWVB, the longwave radio station of the NIST. They usually listen between 3 and 5am when interference on the LW band is low. Here's more info on WWVB and those self-setting clocks:

WWVB Info:

"micky" wrote

Nope, not satellite, but longwave, though some of the older ones use WWV in the shortwave bands. Most use WWVB, though.

If it is any solace, we are now arguing about whether to switch from Eastern to Central.

LOL. Indiana used to be in the Central time zone, in the early 50's and earlier, and they, or some of them, worked for years and years to get into the Eastern. Giving up DST was part of that, because it put them on the same time as Eastern for half of the year.

P&M

Good to know. I seem unable to remember what the instructions say about how it works. Right now it shows an image of an antenna, with no radio waves. When it's getting the time it has waves and they blink, it says, but I can't remember whether it blinked for hours and hours or maybe it was just that the radio waves, the semi-circular lines, were there for hours. Anyhow, I geuss mine is still working on the new frequency, since it moved an hour Saturday night.

I forgot about that. So it didn't come with XP at the start. You can put any dates you want into the patch parameters, but I forget how and I guess it came set to the new rules. .

I don't know about that time slot, but mine seem to work when the signal comes in, usually 2-4 hours after sunset.

Greg

Just get rid of Damn Stupid Time. It's nothing more than a mind game that adds to the confusion.

Yes, there are. Also, there's internet-connected devices and cell phones.

I was referring to the fake ones that claim to set themselves, but lack any way to do so (like radio or internet connection).

I've had a couple of those clocks. They would only set themselves at night.

Not the ones I wrote about. These have NO radio.

That's not enough?

I don't think I've seen them, but I woulnd't be surprised if they lied.

That's not understanding. That's believing something improbable for no good reason.

Apple provides updates at no charge, just like Microsoft.

Apple charges for new versions, just like Microsoft, only usually cheaper.

Wes Groleau wrote in news:k7a2mn$ihs$ snipped-for-privacy@dont-email.me:

You just found this all out now? Mine's been changing the clock for years.