Problem: Time Resets on Laptop

[Derek]

I've got a Compaq Armada M300 laptop that for some reason always resets the date and time back to January 4th, 1980 after every boot up. The main battery is dead also but I still don't think this should happen.

Is it perhaps a bios battery problem? Anyone with any ideas? Thanks...

[dealforme]

Definitely is the BIOS battery.

I can't remember if this is replaceable in your laptop.

[lapopal]

I think its that little battery on the MB

[canook]

From an article on techrepublic.com (seemingly unrelated, it's about shorting out the bios to clear passwords) -

"However, Compaq’s Armada M300 is a very compact model, and the BIOS battery isn’t found in the usual place. You have to look at the bottom of the M300 to locate a round cover that conceals its proprietary battery. The wires are soldered onto the battery, but you can find a connection if you gently snake the wiring harness out of the case."

Looks like it's soldered in, but if it's a common battery type and you have a soldering iron, you should be able to replace it.

Edit: Just noticed, the article says "proprietary". D'oh. I guess there are ways, if it's not some bizarre voltage...

[synaptech]

I think I ran into the same thing with a Libretto (or maybe a picturebook...). I am pretty sure that it needed a decent main battery or it would drain the CMOS battery. If you have access to a spare main battery for a bit you could test it. Could be cheaper to get a replacement main battery from <a href=../autolink/redirectpage.php?linkid=78 target=_blank>ebay</a> than to get into the case for a proprietary CMOS.

[Derek]

Thanks for the help... looks like it'll be a bit annoying to solve.

[Rehan]

Try something like this (http://www.atomtime.com/) to keep your time synced (when you're online, at least).

[canook]

Try something like this (http://www.atomtime.com/) to keep your time synced (when you're online, at least).

Windows 2000 / XP also include a time service which can be pointed to an NTP server to keep the clock accurate, without needing 3rd party tools.

NTP (Network Time Protocol) is a very nice thing for keeping PC's synchronized.