Recently my Windows 8.1 computer has not been keeping time. At first I thought it was the CMOS battery but since my computer is always on and set to update with the internet it should be able to keep time.
If I go to Change Date and Time Settings –> Internet Time –> Change Settings –> and Update it will then display the right time. However, after an arbitrary amount of time it will change to a random time such as from 9:20AM to 1:05PM. Since the minutes are also off I think it is not a timezone problem. But what could the problem be?
UPDATE: Output of W32tm /query /configuration
EventLogFlags: 2 (Local)
AnnounceFlags: 10 (Local)
TimeJumpAuditOffset: 28800 (Local)
MinPollInterval: 10 (Local)
MaxPollInterval: 15 (Local)
MaxNegPhaseCorrection: 54000 (Local)
MaxPosPhaseCorrection: 54000 (Local)
MaxAllowedPhaseOffset: 1 (Local)
FrequencyCorrectRate: 4 (Local)
PollAdjustFactor: 5 (Local)
LargePhaseOffset: 50000000 (Local)
SpikeWatchPeriod: 900 (Local)
LocalClockDispersion: 10 (Local)
HoldPeriod: 5 (Local)
PhaseCorrectRate: 1 (Local)
UpdateInterval: 360000 (Local)
[TimeProviders]
NtpClient (Local)
DllName: C:\WINDOWS\system32\w32time.dll (Local)
Enabled: 1 (Local)
InputProvider: 1 (Local)
AllowNonstandardModeCombinations: 1 (Local)
ResolvePeerBackoffMinutes: 15 (Local)
ResolvePeerBackoffMaxTimes: 7 (Local)
CompatibilityFlags: 2147483648 (Local)
EventLogFlags: 1 (Local)
LargeSampleSkew: 3 (Local)
SpecialPollInterval: 604800 (Local)
Type: NTP (Local)
NtpServer: time.windows.com,0x9 (Local)
NtpServer (Local)
DllName: C:\WINDOWS\system32\w32time.dll (Local)
Enabled: 0 (Local)
InputProvider: 0 (Local)
VMICTimeProvider (Local)
DllName: C:\WINDOWS\System32\vmictimeprovider.dll (Local)
Enabled: 0 (Local)
InputProvider: 1 (Local)
UPDATE It turns out that replacing the CMOS/RTC battery was the solution but why the NTP servers could not keep the time correct? I guess the interval at which they update the time is not very frequent?
Best Answer
Okay, to narrow this down, go into BIOS setup. Set date/time. Turn system off for awhile - long enough that you think it would have reset. Start system, go to BIOS - did the RTC keep the time? That tells you if the RTC chip is going flaky or if the battery may have died. Try swapping the battery. Usually a 2032 watch battery.
Assuming the time kept correctly...
Boot to safe mode with nothing loaded (no network drivers). Set date/time, leave system on for awhile - see if time keeps. If so, something like a driver or possibly malware is resetting your clock.