Restart or Network Connection Changes Computer Date and Time (193912)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 98
  • Microsoft Windows 95
  • Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition

This article was previously published under Q193912

SYMPTOMS

When you restart your computer or connect to your network, the date or time may change.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if a program synchronizes your computer's clock with a computer clock on your network.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this behavior, use the following steps:

  1. Set your computer clock to the correct date and time. To do so, use the following steps:

    a. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.

    b. Double-click Date/Time.

    c. On the Date & Time tab, click the correct date and time, and then click OK.
  2. Restart your computer in Safe Mode. To start Windows 98 or Windows Me in safe mode, restart your computer, press and hold down the CTRL key, and then choose Safe Mode from the Startup menu. To start Windows 95 in safe mode, restart your computer, press the F8 key when you see the "Starting Windows 95" message, and then choose Safe Mode from the Startup menu.
  3. If the date and time is correct, continue to step 4. If the date or time is incorrect, this change is caused by a hardware issue. For example, the battery in your computer may need replacing.
  4. Restart your computer normally, but do not log on to your network.
  5. If the date and time is correct, continue to step 6. If the date or time is incorrect, a program that is not related to your network is changing the date or time. For additional information about how to identify the cause of the date or time change, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    ARTICLE-ID: 267288
    TITLE : How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows Millennium Edition

    ARTICLE-ID: 192926
    TITLE : How to Perform Clean-Boot Troubleshooting for Windows 98

    ARTICLE-ID: 156126
    TITLE : Troubleshooting Windows 95 Using Safe Mode

  6. Restart your computer normally, and log on to your network.
  7. If the date and time is correct, something else is changing your computer date and time. Some other program is changing the date and time, such as Task Scheduler (Windows 98 or Windows Me) or System Agent (Microsoft Plus! for Windows 95). For additional information about Task Scheduler, click Start, click Help, click the Index tab, type "task" (without quotation marks), and then double-click the "Task Scheduler" topic. For additional information about System Agent click Start, click Help, click the Index tab, type "system agent" (without quotation marks), and then double-click the "Overview: System Agent" topic. If the date or time is incorrect, contact your network administrator to determine what program is changing your date or time. You can disable the program on your computer, or correct the date and time on the network computer.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about other ways that the date and time can change, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

ARTICLE-ID: 189706
TITLE : Clock on Taskbar and in Date/Time Tool Loses Time

ARTICLE-ID: 191797
TITLE : Date Is Incorrect When Starting Windows 98 at Midnight


Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:12/16/2004
Keywords:kbnetwork kbprb kbui KB193912