Why does Windows 9x systems lose time?

Hello

As far as I am aware there is no way around this. Windows uses its own system timer to determine the time. If the system is very busy, then the clock is not updated as it should be.

There is however, something called get global time, a utility available from the web. This "grabs" the time and copies it to your computer.

Hope this is helpful

Here is a Technet Article about this issue:

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 98
Microsoft Windows 95
Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition

SYMPTOMS
- When you use the Date/Time tool in Control Panel to select a different year,
the clock may stop until you click Apply or OK and the clock does not
compensate for the length of time it was stopped.

or

- When you use the Date/Time tool to select a different month or date, the time
may be decreased by 5-10 seconds.

or

- When you leave your computer on for an extended amount of time, the time may
lose from two minutes to an hour per day.

This is a continuation of my answer since it was too long:

IMPORTANT: The CMOS does keep the correct time and if you restart the computer,
the Windows clock is updated. Also, if you start your computer in Safe Mode,
Windows does not lose time.
NOTE: If either of the symptoms listed in this article occur, the Windows clock
on the taskbar and in the Date/Time tool in Control Panel may experience a loss
of time.

CAUSE

This last symptom listed in this article can occur for either of the following
reasons:

- Advanced Power Management (APM) settings are enabled in the BIOS.

- You configure your computer to use third-party anti-virus, system utility,
and screen saver programs.

RESOLUTION

To resolve the issue for the last symptom listed in this article, use one of the
following methods:

APM Settings

Disable APM in the BIOS and configure Windows to manage APM. For information
about how to disable APM in the BIOS, please contact the manufacturerof your
computer.

To configure Windows to manage APM:

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

2. Double-click Power Management, select the settings you want for APM, and then
click OK.

Disable Third-PartyPrograms and Utilities

Disable the following types of programs and utilities:

- Anti-virus

- Screen savers

- System utilities
Clean Boot

Configure your computer to start with a clean boot. For additional information
about configuring a clean boot, click the article numbers below to view the
articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q192926 How to Perform Clean-Boot Troubleshooting for Windows 98

Q243039 How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows 95

.

Continuation number 2.

MORE INFORMATION

If your computer loses time, use the Date/Time tool to set the correct time:

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

2. Double-click Date/Time.

3. On the Date & Timetab, configure the correct time, and then click OK.

To determine if the time loss is a result of a weak computer battery:

1. Click Start, point to Programs, and then click MS-DOS Prompt.

2. At the command prompt, type "time" (without thequotation marks), and then
press ENTER.

3. Compare this time with the time that is reported by the clock on the taskbar.

4. Type "exit" (without the quotation marks), and then press ENTER.

If the computer's time and the time on the clock are different, the computer's
battery may be too weak to keep accurate time, and it should be replaced. For
information about how to replace the battery, refer to the documentation
included with your computer

Your batteries in these computers that lose time, may need to be replaced as well.

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