The Computer Keeps Losing the Time and Date: Why It Happens and What It Breaks

The wrong time on a computer seems trivial: so the clock is off, you can check your phone. But in practice a wrong date and time break a lot: the browser refuses to open sites with a "Your connection is not private" error, banking software and electronic signatures don't work, email is sorted incorrectly, files get the wrong dates and Windows updates won't install. Let's look at why the time goes wrong and how to solve the problem for good.

How a computer knows the time

The motherboard has a real-time clock that keeps running even when the computer is off — it's powered by a small battery (usually a CR2032). When Windows starts, it takes the time from that clock and then, if there's an internet connection, checks it against accurate time servers. Windows also stores a time-zone setting — for Georgia that's UTC+4, with no daylight saving time.

The main causes

A flat motherboard battery

The most common cause on computers over 5–7 years old. The sign: after the computer is fully unplugged, the time and date reset to some year in the past, and sometimes the BIOS settings reset too and a checksum error appears. It's a hardware problem, and no Windows setting will fix it.

The wrong time zone

If the wrong zone is selected, the time will be off by an exact number of hours. In Georgia a common mistake is choosing a zone with daylight saving time, so twice a year the clock "jumps" by an hour. It also happens that when Windows is installed with an English interface, the default US Pacific time zone is left in place.

Time sync is disabled

If the Windows Time service has been disabled by an "optimiser" or is failing, the clock gradually runs slow or fast, especially on laptops.

Two operating systems

Windows and Linux (or macOS via Boot Camp) treat the hardware clock differently: one stores local time in it, the other universal time. Switching between systems shifts the time by several hours.

Malware and activators

Some illegal activators and cracks change the system time to get round trial-period limits. That can cause chaos with dates and secure-connection errors.

A motherboard fault

Less often, the cause lies in the clock or power circuitry on the board itself; then the time goes wrong even with a new battery.

Why the wrong time stops websites opening

Secure websites use certificates with a limited validity period. If the computer thinks it's, say, 2015, the browser decides the certificate isn't valid yet — or expired long ago — and blocks the connection. That's why one of the first checks when every site shows "Your connection is not private" is the date and time.

Other consequences

• Banking clients, electronic signatures and the tax portal don't work.
• Windows updates and antivirus definitions don't install.
• Wrong dates on documents, reports and till receipts.
• Emails appear in the wrong order in the mail client.
• Some programs with time-limited licences stop working.
• CCTV recordings are stamped with the wrong time — a problem if the footage is ever needed as evidence.

Replacing the battery isn't always "five minutes"

In a desktop computer the battery is usually easy to reach. In laptops and all-in-ones it may sit under the mainboard, be soldered in or connect via a cable, and replacing it means partly taking the device apart. After replacement the BIOS needs setting up again — boot mode, drive order and controller settings — otherwise Windows may not start.

Because the battery is so cheap, it's tempting to put off the job. But a flat battery doesn't just affect the clock: on some computers it causes the BIOS to forget its settings every time the power is cut, which can lead to boot errors at exactly the wrong moment. Replacing it during any other visit costs very little and removes a whole category of odd problems.

What our technician does

1. Checks the clock battery, the BIOS settings and whether the time survives a power cut.
2. Replaces the battery, including in laptops and all-in-ones, and restores the BIOS settings.
3. Sets the correct Tbilisi time zone and switches on automatic sync.
4. Fixes time conflicts between two operating systems.
5. Removes activators and programs that change the system time and checks for viruses.

A real example

A building-supplies shop in Isani complained that every morning the till computer couldn't open the bank's website or print fiscal receipts. The computer was unplugged overnight, and each morning it showed a date in 2014 until the sales assistant corrected it by hand. Our technician replaced the flat motherboard battery, restored the BIOS settings and set the correct time zone and time sync. While we were there, we also set the right time on the shop's CCTV recorder, which had been recording with the wrong date too.

If the computer is part of a CCTV or till system, accurate time matters even more. Recordings and receipts with the wrong timestamp can cause real trouble with insurers, tax checks or the police, so it's worth making sure every device in the system syncs to the same reliable time source.

Call a technician

If your computer keeps losing the time, or websites and banking won't open because of it, we'll come to any district of Tbilisi around the clock. Learn more on our computer diagnostics, computer repair and computer setup pages.