Windows & DOS: Issues & Discussions

This is a strange one, I've never seen anything like it; the realtime clock doesn't tick while the computer's idle, only when you're watching it. Leave for 3 hours and it'll be 3 hours off. It still advances when it's off however, or the time would be far more incorrect than it is.

About all this could be, in my opinion at least, is a strange power-management bug, and installed chipset drivers downloaded from sony, to no avail.

It's a Sony Vaio VGN-CS190.

Has anyone ever heard of a problem like this?

I should probably note the operating system is Windows 7.

A few hours tech support with Sony has left them baffled. They want me to reformat the thing. I don't think I should need to do so for such a problem

No, I don't believe reinstalling the O/S is likely to fix it.

Obvious thoughts are:-

1. BIOS code fault, is there a manufacturer's BIOS update available.
2. Something wrong with BIOS battery, perhaps about to fail.
3. It's getting system time from a stuck time server (does it still happen if you unplug network cable?)
As you say, very strange.

Can you define idle? You later mention watching it.
To me, idle means no keyboard/mouse activity. Watching the screen is a passive activity, and I cannot think of any way (telekinesis) where the computer would 'know' you are watching it.

Also, is this a laptop or notebook (something battery powered), since it could be related to an energy setting.

Sony VAIO BIOS System Time Problem - YouTube

Not the same problem but Sony's can be weird.

---------- Post updated at 05:58 PM ---------- Previous update was at 05:54 PM ----------

And again..............

Sony Vaio Laptop Clock problem - Forums

---------- Post updated at 06:03 PM ---------- Previous update was at 05:58 PM ----------

And I suppose another thought has to be that it might be a virus???????
Run a really good checker?

Idle as in sleeping or suspended. Yes, a notebook.

Thank you for the link, hicksd8. I don't have speakers at work however so your youtube video just has me staring at a BIOS screen. (Aside, making a video to explain something that can probably be explained in 2000 characters of text? What waste ) But it definitely doesn't look like the same problem since the date appears to be getting reset instead of freezing.

BIOS update sounds like a good idea, yes. Unfortunately none are available.

I doubt a virus has the magical power to affect a computer while it's not running.

Quite likely that when sleeping or suspended the RTC is dependent on the BIOS battery voltage for power, whereas, likely that when running on mains or laptop battery, voltage to RTC might well be a little higher.