Time sync problems

[Annie Woughman]

On my Vista, now Win7 desktop I have had an ongoing problem with it failing
to keep the correct time. This happens at night when the machine is turned
off. In the morning I have to manually sync the machine with internet time.
When it was still a Vista machine I found a registry fix that would have it
automatically sync every four hours. Now since the change to Win7, I find
that this registry change is never "saved." It is most annoying because
this machine has a television tuner so I use it regularly to record shows
through the Media Center. That doesn't work so very well if I forget to
sync the machine in the morning and the show I want recorded starts at 9:00
p.m. and my machine still thinks it is 11:00 a.m.

Also, why is it just my desktop that does this and not either of my two
laptops? They are turned off 75% of the time but they always start up with
the correct time.

Does anyone know of a way to fix this, or an app that would make it
automatically do a time sync upon startup?

[Chris Sidener[_2_]]

Your on-board CMOS battery has died...

Chris

"Annie Woughman" > wrote in message
...
> On my Vista, now Win7 desktop I have had an ongoing problem with it
> failing to keep the correct time. This happens at night when the machine
> is turned off. In the morning I have to manually sync the machine with
> internet time. When it was still a Vista machine I found a registry fix
> that would have it automatically sync every four hours. Now since the
> change to Win7, I find that this registry change is never "saved." It is
> most annoying because this machine has a television tuner so I use it
> regularly to record shows through the Media Center. That doesn't work so
> very well if I forget to sync the machine in the morning and the show I
> want recorded starts at 9:00 p.m. and my machine still thinks it is 11:00
> a.m.
>
> Also, why is it just my desktop that does this and not either of my two
> laptops? They are turned off 75% of the time but they always start up
> with the correct time.
>
> Does anyone know of a way to fix this, or an app that would make it
> automatically do a time sync upon startup?

[Ken Blake, MVP]

On Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:22:51 -0800, "Annie Woughman"
> wrote:

> On my Vista, now Win7 desktop I have had an ongoing problem with it failing
> to keep the correct time. This happens at night when the machine is turned
> off. In the morning I have to manually sync the machine with internet time.
> When it was still a Vista machine I found a registry fix that would have it
> automatically sync every four hours. Now since the change to Win7, I find
> that this registry change is never "saved." It is most annoying because
> this machine has a television tuner so I use it regularly to record shows
> through the Media Center. That doesn't work so very well if I forget to
> sync the machine in the morning and the show I want recorded starts at 9:00
> p.m. and my machine still thinks it is 11:00 a.m.
>
> Also, why is it just my desktop that does this and not either of my two
> laptops? They are turned off 75% of the time but they always start up with
> the correct time.


Because this is not at all a Windows problem. You need to replace the
inexpensive, easy-to-replace CMOS battery on your motherboard.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

[SantaUK]

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000239.htm


"Annie Woughman" > wrote in message
...
> On my Vista, now Win7 desktop I have had an ongoing problem with it
> failing to keep the correct time. This happens at night when the machine
> is turned off. In the morning I have to manually sync the machine with
> internet time. When it was still a Vista machine I found a registry fix
> that would have it automatically sync every four hours. Now since the
> change to Win7, I find that this registry change is never "saved." It is
> most annoying because this machine has a television tuner so I use it
> regularly to record shows through the Media Center. That doesn't work so
> very well if I forget to sync the machine in the morning and the show I
> want recorded starts at 9:00 p.m. and my machine still thinks it is 11:00
> a.m.
>
> Also, why is it just my desktop that does this and not either of my two
> laptops? They are turned off 75% of the time but they always start up
> with the correct time.
>
> Does anyone know of a way to fix this, or an app that would make it
> automatically do a time sync upon startup?

[Annie Woughman]

OK. $3.49 for a new battery later. I will let you know in the morning if
this solved the problem. One thing I did learn while I was reading about my
battery, these Lithium batteries are supposed to "recharge" themselves if
the computer is left plugged in when it is off. Well, at night when I power
everything down, I always turn the power strips off as an additional
protection against power surges if we happened to have a lightening storm at
night or when we are out of town. (Our area seems to be vulnerable to
brown-outs and power surges.) Sooo, that might be why my battery didn't
last so very long. This is one of our newer computers and this is the first
time I have ever had to replace a battery. The average life is supposed to
be about seven years. I've had this computer less than three.

"Annie Woughman" > wrote in message
...
> On my Vista, now Win7 desktop I have had an ongoing problem with it
> failing to keep the correct time. This happens at night when the machine
> is turned off. In the morning I have to manually sync the machine with
> internet time. When it was still a Vista machine I found a registry fix
> that would have it automatically sync every four hours. Now since the
> change to Win7, I find that this registry change is never "saved." It is
> most annoying because this machine has a television tuner so I use it
> regularly to record shows through the Media Center. That doesn't work so
> very well if I forget to sync the machine in the morning and the show I
> want recorded starts at 9:00 p.m. and my machine still thinks it is 11:00
> a.m.
>
> Also, why is it just my desktop that does this and not either of my two
> laptops? They are turned off 75% of the time but they always start up
> with the correct time.
>
> Does anyone know of a way to fix this, or an app that would make it
> automatically do a time sync upon startup?

[SC Tom[_3_]]

I don't think that's correct about them recharging. And you may have had a
faulty battery in it to begin with- I also have my PC's on a power strip
(well, a UPS that I turn off when I shut down), and my battery is well over
5 without a change.

SC Tom

"Annie Woughman" > wrote in message
...
> OK. $3.49 for a new battery later. I will let you know in the morning if
> this solved the problem. One thing I did learn while I was reading about
> my battery, these Lithium batteries are supposed to "recharge" themselves
> if the computer is left plugged in when it is off. Well, at night when I
> power everything down, I always turn the power strips off as an additional
> protection against power surges if we happened to have a lightening storm
> at night or when we are out of town. (Our area seems to be vulnerable to
> brown-outs and power surges.) Sooo, that might be why my battery didn't
> last so very long. This is one of our newer computers and this is the
> first time I have ever had to replace a battery. The average life is
> supposed to be about seven years. I've had this computer less than three.
>
> "Annie Woughman" > wrote in message
> ...
>> On my Vista, now Win7 desktop I have had an ongoing problem with it
>> failing to keep the correct time. This happens at night when the machine
>> is turned off. In the morning I have to manually sync the machine with
>> internet time. When it was still a Vista machine I found a registry fix
>> that would have it automatically sync every four hours. Now since the
>> change to Win7, I find that this registry change is never "saved." It is
>> most annoying because this machine has a television tuner so I use it
>> regularly to record shows through the Media Center. That doesn't work so
>> very well if I forget to sync the machine in the morning and the show I
>> want recorded starts at 9:00 p.m. and my machine still thinks it is 11:00
>> a.m.
>>
>> Also, why is it just my desktop that does this and not either of my two
>> laptops? They are turned off 75% of the time but they always start up
>> with the correct time.
>>
>> Does anyone know of a way to fix this, or an app that would make it
>> automatically do a time sync upon startup?
>

[Annie Woughman]

"SC Tom" > wrote in message
...
> I don't think that's correct about them recharging. And you may have had a
> faulty battery in it to begin with- I also have my PC's on a power strip
> (well, a UPS that I turn off when I shut down), and my battery is well
> over 5 without a change.
>
> SC Tom
Here is what I found on the Gateway site that had me thinking it was
"charging" which was a misunderstanding on my part. It was referring to the
life of the battery. According to this, my battery was right on the money--
it will last approximately three years if it isn't plugged in and seven if
it is. For $3.49 I think I will continue with the way I've been doing
things:

"The CR 2032 battery is a 3-volt, lithium, coin-cell battery with a rating
of 220 milliampere-hour (mAh). It provides power to a motherboard's
real-time clock (RTC) and BIOS memory. The battery enables the RTC to be
accurate to ±13 minutes per year at 78 degrees Fahrenheit, or 25 degrees
Celsius, with 3 volts applied.
On a motherboard, when the computer is plugged in, the standby current from
the power supply extends the battery's life. Its estimated lifetime is seven
years when the computer is plugged in to a power outlet and three years when
the computer is not."



> "Annie Woughman" > wrote in message
> ...
>> OK. $3.49 for a new battery later. I will let you know in the morning if
>> this solved the problem. One thing I did learn while I was reading about
>> my battery, these Lithium batteries are supposed to "recharge" themselves
>> if the computer is left plugged in when it is off. Well, at night when I
>> power everything down, I always turn the power strips off as an
>> additional protection against power surges if we happened to have a
>> lightening storm at night or when we are out of town. (Our area seems to
>> be vulnerable to brown-outs and power surges.) Sooo, that might be why
>> my battery didn't last so very long. This is one of our newer computers
>> and this is the first time I have ever had to replace a battery. The
>> average life is supposed to be about seven years. I've had this computer
>> less than three.
>>
>> "Annie Woughman" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> On my Vista, now Win7 desktop I have had an ongoing problem with it
>>> failing to keep the correct time. This happens at night when the
>>> machine is turned off. In the morning I have to manually sync the
>>> machine with internet time. When it was still a Vista machine I found a
>>> registry fix that would have it automatically sync every four hours.
>>> Now since the change to Win7, I find that this registry change is never
>>> "saved." It is most annoying because this machine has a television
>>> tuner so I use it regularly to record shows through the Media Center.
>>> That doesn't work so very well if I forget to sync the machine in the
>>> morning and the show I want recorded starts at 9:00 p.m. and my machine
>>> still thinks it is 11:00 a.m.
>>>
>>> Also, why is it just my desktop that does this and not either of my two
>>> laptops? They are turned off 75% of the time but they always start up
>>> with the correct time.
>>>
>>> Does anyone know of a way to fix this, or an app that would make it
>>> automatically do a time sync upon startup?
>>
>

[Ken Blake, MVP]

On Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:42:43 -0800, "Annie Woughman"
> wrote:

> OK. $3.49 for a new battery later. I will let you know in the morning if
> this solved the problem. One thing I did learn while I was reading about my
> battery, these Lithium batteries are supposed to "recharge" themselves if
> the computer is left plugged in when it is off. Well, at night when I power
> everything down, I always turn the power strips off as an additional
> protection against power surges if we happened to have a lightening storm at
> night or when we are out of town. (Our area seems to be vulnerable to
> brown-outs and power surges.) Sooo, that might be why my battery didn't
> last so very long. This is one of our newer computers and this is the first
> time I have ever had to replace a battery. The average life is supposed to
> be about seven years. I've had this computer less than three.



Three points:

1. The battery does *not* recharge.

2. There's nothing unusual about a three-year battery life. That's
fairly typical

3. If you want protection against nearby lightning strikes (and you
should), turning off the power strips does nothing for you. You should
unplug the computers.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

[SC Tom[_3_]]

*****Reply in line

"Annie Woughman" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> "SC Tom" > wrote in message
> ...
>> I don't think that's correct about them recharging. And you may have had
>> a faulty battery in it to begin with- I also have my PC's on a power
>> strip (well, a UPS that I turn off when I shut down), and my battery is
>> well over 5 without a change.
>>
>> SC Tom
> Here is what I found on the Gateway site that had me thinking it was
> "charging" which was a misunderstanding on my part. It was referring to
> the life of the battery. According to this, my battery was right on the
> money-- it will last approximately three years if it isn't plugged in and
> seven if it is. For $3.49 I think I will continue with the way I've been
> doing things:
>
> "The CR 2032 battery is a 3-volt, lithium, coin-cell battery with a rating
> of 220 milliampere-hour (mAh). It provides power to a motherboard's
> real-time clock (RTC) and BIOS memory. The battery enables the RTC to be
> accurate to ±13 minutes per year at 78 degrees Fahrenheit, or 25 degrees
> Celsius, with 3 volts applied.
> On a motherboard, when the computer is plugged in, the standby current
> from the power supply extends the battery's life. Its estimated lifetime
> is seven years when the computer is plugged in to a power outlet and three
> years when the computer is not."

***** Leaving power to the PC extends the life of the battery because it
keeps alive the same circuit that the battery does, therefore not using
battery power. It does not charge the battery.

SC Tom

>
>
>
>> "Annie Woughman" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> OK. $3.49 for a new battery later. I will let you know in the morning
>>> if this solved the problem. One thing I did learn while I was reading
>>> about my battery, these Lithium batteries are supposed to "recharge"
>>> themselves if the computer is left plugged in when it is off. Well, at
>>> night when I power everything down, I always turn the power strips off
>>> as an additional protection against power surges if we happened to have
>>> a lightening storm at night or when we are out of town. (Our area seems
>>> to be vulnerable to brown-outs and power surges.) Sooo, that might be
>>> why my battery didn't last so very long. This is one of our newer
>>> computers and this is the first time I have ever had to replace a
>>> battery. The average life is supposed to be about seven years. I've
>>> had this computer less than three.
>>>
>>> "Annie Woughman" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> On my Vista, now Win7 desktop I have had an ongoing problem with it
>>>> failing to keep the correct time. This happens at night when the
>>>> machine is turned off. In the morning I have to manually sync the
>>>> machine with internet time. When it was still a Vista machine I found a
>>>> registry fix that would have it automatically sync every four hours.
>>>> Now since the change to Win7, I find that this registry change is never
>>>> "saved." It is most annoying because this machine has a television
>>>> tuner so I use it regularly to record shows through the Media Center.
>>>> That doesn't work so very well if I forget to sync the machine in the
>>>> morning and the show I want recorded starts at 9:00 p.m. and my machine
>>>> still thinks it is 11:00 a.m.
>>>>
>>>> Also, why is it just my desktop that does this and not either of my two
>>>> laptops? They are turned off 75% of the time but they always start up
>>>> with the correct time.
>>>>
>>>> Does anyone know of a way to fix this, or an app that would make it
>>>> automatically do a time sync upon startup?
>>>
>>

[Bob Hatch]

Annie Woughman wrote:
> OK. $3.49 for a new battery later. I will let you know in the morning
> if this solved the problem. One thing I did learn while I was reading
> about my battery, these Lithium batteries are supposed to "recharge"
> themselves if the computer is left plugged in when it is off. Well, at
> night when I power everything down, I always turn the power strips off
> as an additional protection against power surges if we happened to have
> a lightening storm at night or when we are out of town. (Our area seems
> to be vulnerable to brown-outs and power surges.) Sooo, that might be
> why my battery didn't last so very long. This is one of our newer
> computers and this is the first time I have ever had to replace a
> battery. The average life is supposed to be about seven years. I've
> had this computer less than three.
>
> "Annie Woughman" > wrote in message
> ...
>> On my Vista, now Win7 desktop I have had an ongoing problem with it
>> failing to keep the correct time. This happens at night when the
>> machine is turned off. In the morning I have to manually sync the
>> machine with internet time. When it was still a Vista machine I found
>> a registry fix that would have it automatically sync every four
>> hours. Now since the change to Win7, I find that this registry change
>> is never "saved." It is most annoying because this machine has a
>> television tuner so I use it regularly to record shows through the
>> Media Center. That doesn't work so very well if I forget to sync the
>> machine in the morning and the show I want recorded starts at 9:00
>> p.m. and my machine still thinks it is 11:00 a.m.
>>
>> Also, why is it just my desktop that does this and not either of my
>> two laptops? They are turned off 75% of the time but they always
>> start up with the correct time.
>>
>> Does anyone know of a way to fix this, or an app that would make it
>> automatically do a time sync upon startup?
>
My computers will go for months and never be shut down. Right now I have
2 systems in an RV that have been in every State of the lower 48 and the
only time I shut them off is when we move. No lightning damage, ever.

--
"To announce that there must be no criticism
of the President, or that we are to stand by
the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic
and servile, but is morally treasonable to the
American public."
Theodore Roosevelt
http://www.bobhatch.com
http://www.tdsrvresort.com

[Andy[_12_]]

> I always turn the power strips
> off as an additional protection against power surges if we happened to
> have a lightening storm at night or when we are out of town. (Our area
> seems to be vulnerable to brown-outs and power surges.) Sooo, that
> might be why my battery didn't last so very long.


Annie,

From the deepest recalls of my memory, the cheap-o power strips
deteriorate over time. It's not like you can buy one and it will last
forever.

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong!?!

Best,

Andy

[Annie Woughman]

My computer started up with the correct time this morning. Thanks for the
heads ups about the battery guys. This is the first CMOS battery I've ever
had fail--and we've had a boatload of computers. Now it makes my wonder
what kind of batteries our other two Gateways have--those machines are at
least two years older than this one. I will have to check them out.

"Annie Woughman" > wrote in message
...
> On my Vista, now Win7 desktop I have had an ongoing problem with it
> failing to keep the correct time. This happens at night when the machine
> is turned off. In the morning I have to manually sync the machine with
> internet time. When it was still a Vista machine I found a registry fix
> that would have it automatically sync every four hours. Now since the
> change to Win7, I find that this registry change is never "saved." It is
> most annoying because this machine has a television tuner so I use it
> regularly to record shows through the Media Center. That doesn't work so
> very well if I forget to sync the machine in the morning and the show I
> want recorded starts at 9:00 p.m. and my machine still thinks it is 11:00
> a.m.
>
> Also, why is it just my desktop that does this and not either of my two
> laptops? They are turned off 75% of the time but they always start up
> with the correct time.
>
> Does anyone know of a way to fix this, or an app that would make it
> automatically do a time sync upon startup?

[Ken Blake, MVP]

On Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:22:37 -0700, Bob Hatch >
wrote:

> My computers will go for months and never be shut down. Right now I have
> 2 systems in an RV that have been in every State of the lower 48 and the
> only time I shut them off is when we move. No lightning damage, ever.


That's your choice, of course, but that's like saying "I drive an RV
that has been in every state of the lower 48 and I never wear a seat
belt. No accidents, and resulting injuries, ever."

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

[Ken Blake, MVP]

On Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:06:09 -0600, Andy > wrote:

> From the deepest recalls of my memory, the cheap-o power strips
> deteriorate over time. It's not like you can buy one and it will last
> forever.
>
> Someone please correct me if I'm wrong!?!


"Cheap-o power strips" are essentially nothing more than fancy
extension cords. They provide next to no protection and there's very
little there to deteriorate.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

[Ken Blake, MVP]

On Sun, 22 Nov 2009 06:21:37 -0800, "Annie Woughman"
> wrote:

> My computer started up with the correct time this morning. Thanks for the
> heads ups about the battery guys. This is the first CMOS battery I've ever
> had fail--and we've had a boatload of computers. Now it makes my wonder
> what kind of batteries our other two Gateways have--those machines are at
> least two years older than this one. I will have to check them out.


Batteries last different amounts of time, depending on who made them,
what type they are, how strong they were when made, how they were
used, and how old they were when your computer was built. Two
identical computers next to each can have batteries with unequal life
spans.

There's really nothing to check regarding your batteries in the two
other computers. You can either wait for them to start giving you
trouble, or replace them now, as a preventative measure.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

[Bob Hatch]

Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
> On Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:22:37 -0700, Bob Hatch >
> wrote:
>
>> My computers will go for months and never be shut down. Right now I have
>> 2 systems in an RV that have been in every State of the lower 48 and the
>> only time I shut them off is when we move. No lightning damage, ever.
>
>
> That's your choice, of course, but that's like saying "I drive an RV
> that has been in every state of the lower 48 and I never wear a seat
> belt. No accidents, and resulting injuries, ever."
>
I've been doing it that way for over 20 years. It's only the last 5 that
my computers have been in the MH. I can see no logical reason to shut
down the system every night when all my maintenance items can be done
during non-use times. Virus checks are done in the middle of the night.
MS Updates are done in the middle of the night. Backups are done in the
middle of the night. When I had my business all systems were left on
except for weekends when none of the staff computers would be used.

Can you give me a good reason to shut the computers down every night?

--
"To announce that there must be no criticism
of the President, or that we are to stand by
the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic
and servile, but is morally treasonable to the
American public."
Theodore Roosevelt
http://www.bobhatch.com
http://www.tdsrvresort.com

[Andy[_12_]]

"Ken Blake, MVP" > wrote in
:

> On Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:06:09 -0600, Andy > wrote:
>
>> From the deepest recalls of my memory, the cheap-o power strips
>> deteriorate over time. It's not like you can buy one and it will last
>> forever.
>>
>> Someone please correct me if I'm wrong!?!
>
>
> "Cheap-o power strips" are essentially nothing more than fancy
> extension cords. They provide next to no protection and there's very
> little there to deteriorate.


Ken,

I have a "PowerWedge" surge protector for my home theater. Almost the
size of two cinder blocks with 3 sections of four outlets with fuses for
each section.

I've happily watched monster movies on the monster 10' screen at monster
volume in the midst of monster thunderstorms without incident.

I wouldn't trust the cheap-o strips for that! ;)

Best,

Andy

[Ken Blake, MVP]

On Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:34:36 -0700, Bob Hatch >
wrote:

> Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
> > On Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:22:37 -0700, Bob Hatch >
> > wrote:
> >
> >> My computers will go for months and never be shut down. Right now I have
> >> 2 systems in an RV that have been in every State of the lower 48 and the
> >> only time I shut them off is when we move. No lightning damage, ever.
> >
> >
> > That's your choice, of course, but that's like saying "I drive an RV
> > that has been in every state of the lower 48 and I never wear a seat
> > belt. No accidents, and resulting injuries, ever."
> >
> I've been doing it that way for over 20 years. It's only the last 5 that
> my computers have been in the MH. I can see no logical reason to shut
> down the system every night when all my maintenance items can be done
> during non-use times. Virus checks are done in the middle of the night.
> MS Updates are done in the middle of the night. Backups are done in the
> middle of the night. When I had my business all systems were left on
> except for weekends when none of the staff computers would be used.
>
> Can you give me a good reason to shut the computers down every night?


No, and I didn't suggest that you should. I keep all my systems,
except the laptops, up almost every night too.

My point was that systems should be shut down (*and* unplugged) when
there are nearby lightning storms.


--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

[Ken Blake, MVP]

On Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:30:39 -0600, Andy > wrote:

> "Ken Blake, MVP" > wrote in
> :
>
> > On Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:06:09 -0600, Andy > wrote:
> >
> >> From the deepest recalls of my memory, the cheap-o power strips
> >> deteriorate over time. It's not like you can buy one and it will last
> >> forever.
> >>
> >> Someone please correct me if I'm wrong!?!
> >
> >
> > "Cheap-o power strips" are essentially nothing more than fancy
> > extension cords. They provide next to no protection and there's very
> > little there to deteriorate.
>
>
> Ken,
>
> I have a "PowerWedge" surge protector for my home theater. Almost the
> size of two cinder blocks with 3 sections of four outlets with fuses for
> each section.
>
> I've happily watched monster movies on the monster 10' screen at monster
> volume in the midst of monster thunderstorms without incident.
>
> I wouldn't trust the cheap-o strips for that! ;)


I'm not familiar with the PowerWedge, but it sounds better than the
cheap ones.

Let me just add one comment however. If a lightning strike hits your
power line nearby, no surge protector or UPS really provides
protection. The thousands of volts in a lightning strike can jump over
gaps and go right through these devices to reach the thing you are
trying to protect. That's why the best protection against nearby
lightening storms is unplugging.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

[SC Tom[_3_]]

"Ken Blake, MVP" > wrote in message
...
> On Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:30:39 -0600, Andy > wrote:
>
>> "Ken Blake, MVP" > wrote in
>> :
>>
>> > On Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:06:09 -0600, Andy > wrote:
>> >
>> >> From the deepest recalls of my memory, the cheap-o power strips
>> >> deteriorate over time. It's not like you can buy one and it will last
>> >> forever.
>> >>
>> >> Someone please correct me if I'm wrong!?!
>> >
>> >
>> > "Cheap-o power strips" are essentially nothing more than fancy
>> > extension cords. They provide next to no protection and there's very
>> > little there to deteriorate.
>>
>>
>> Ken,
>>
>> I have a "PowerWedge" surge protector for my home theater. Almost the
>> size of two cinder blocks with 3 sections of four outlets with fuses for
>> each section.
>>
>> I've happily watched monster movies on the monster 10' screen at monster
>> volume in the midst of monster thunderstorms without incident.
>>
>> I wouldn't trust the cheap-o strips for that! ;)
>
>
> I'm not familiar with the PowerWedge, but it sounds better than the
> cheap ones.
>
> Let me just add one comment however. If a lightning strike hits your
> power line nearby, no surge protector or UPS really provides
> protection. The thousands of volts in a lightning strike can jump over
> gaps and go right through these devices to reach the thing you are
> trying to protect. That's why the best protection against nearby
> lightening storms is unplugging.
>
> --
> Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
> Please Reply to the Newsgroup

I agree 100%. We had some top-of-the-line surge protectors on our 3 CAD
stations when our business first opened here, and there was a direct strike
on the pole about 1/4 mile away. All 3 surge protectors blew up like there
was dynamite inside, and 2 of the 3 CAD stations were toast. I don't know
what saved the 3rd one, but I ended up replacing 2 fried daughter boards to
bring it back online.

SC Tom

[Andy[_12_]]

"Ken Blake, MVP" > wrote in
:

> On Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:30:39 -0600, Andy > wrote:
>
>> "Ken Blake, MVP" > wrote in
>> :
>>
>> > On Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:06:09 -0600, Andy > wrote:
>> >
>> >> From the deepest recalls of my memory, the cheap-o power strips
>> >> deteriorate over time. It's not like you can buy one and it will
>> >> last forever.
>> >>
>> >> Someone please correct me if I'm wrong!?!
>> >
>> >
>> > "Cheap-o power strips" are essentially nothing more than fancy
>> > extension cords. They provide next to no protection and there's
>> > very little there to deteriorate.
>>
>>
>> Ken,
>>
>> I have a "PowerWedge" surge protector for my home theater. Almost the
>> size of two cinder blocks with 3 sections of four outlets with fuses
>> for each section.
>>
>> I've happily watched monster movies on the monster 10' screen at
>> monster volume in the midst of monster thunderstorms without
>> incident.
>>
>> I wouldn't trust the cheap-o strips for that! ;)
>
>
> I'm not familiar with the PowerWedge, but it sounds better than the
> cheap ones.
>
> Let me just add one comment however. If a lightning strike hits your
> power line nearby, no surge protector or UPS really provides
> protection. The thousands of volts in a lightning strike can jump over
> gaps and go right through these devices to reach the thing you are
> trying to protect. That's why the best protection against nearby
> lightening storms is unplugging.


Agreed.

Andy

[Andy[_12_]]

"SC Tom" > wrote in :

>
> "Ken Blake, MVP" > wrote in message
> ...
>> On Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:30:39 -0600, Andy > wrote:
>>
>>> "Ken Blake, MVP" > wrote in
>>> :
>>>
>>> > On Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:06:09 -0600, Andy > wrote:
>>> >
>>> >> From the deepest recalls of my memory, the cheap-o power strips
>>> >> deteriorate over time. It's not like you can buy one and it will
>>> >> last forever.
>>> >>
>>> >> Someone please correct me if I'm wrong!?!
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > "Cheap-o power strips" are essentially nothing more than fancy
>>> > extension cords. They provide next to no protection and there's
>>> > very little there to deteriorate.
>>>
>>>
>>> Ken,
>>>
>>> I have a "PowerWedge" surge protector for my home theater. Almost
>>> the size of two cinder blocks with 3 sections of four outlets with
>>> fuses for each section.
>>>
>>> I've happily watched monster movies on the monster 10' screen at
>>> monster volume in the midst of monster thunderstorms without
>>> incident.
>>>
>>> I wouldn't trust the cheap-o strips for that! ;)
>>
>>
>> I'm not familiar with the PowerWedge, but it sounds better than the
>> cheap ones.
>>
>> Let me just add one comment however. If a lightning strike hits your
>> power line nearby, no surge protector or UPS really provides
>> protection. The thousands of volts in a lightning strike can jump
>> over gaps and go right through these devices to reach the thing you
>> are trying to protect. That's why the best protection against nearby
>> lightening storms is unplugging.
>>
>> --
>> Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
>> Please Reply to the Newsgroup
>
> I agree 100%. We had some top-of-the-line surge protectors on our 3
> CAD stations when our business first opened here, and there was a
> direct strike on the pole about 1/4 mile away. All 3 surge protectors
> blew up like there was dynamite inside, and 2 of the 3 CAD stations
> were toast. I don't know what saved the 3rd one, but I ended up
> replacing 2 fried daughter boards to bring it back online.
>
> SC Tom


We call that improper grounding.

[Bob Hatch]

Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
> On Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:34:36 -0700, Bob Hatch >
> wrote:
>
>> Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
>>> On Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:22:37 -0700, Bob Hatch >
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> My computers will go for months and never be shut down. Right now I have
>>>> 2 systems in an RV that have been in every State of the lower 48 and the
>>>> only time I shut them off is when we move. No lightning damage, ever.
>>>
>>> That's your choice, of course, but that's like saying "I drive an RV
>>> that has been in every state of the lower 48 and I never wear a seat
>>> belt. No accidents, and resulting injuries, ever."
>>>
>> I've been doing it that way for over 20 years. It's only the last 5 that
>> my computers have been in the MH. I can see no logical reason to shut
>> down the system every night when all my maintenance items can be done
>> during non-use times. Virus checks are done in the middle of the night.
>> MS Updates are done in the middle of the night. Backups are done in the
>> middle of the night. When I had my business all systems were left on
>> except for weekends when none of the staff computers would be used.
>>
>> Can you give me a good reason to shut the computers down every night?
>
>
> No, and I didn't suggest that you should. I keep all my systems,
> except the laptops, up almost every night too.
>
> My point was that systems should be shut down (*and* unplugged) when
> there are nearby lightning storms.
>
>
I agree, to a point. If we were to try to unplug all the electronics in
an RV we might have to dis-assemble several cabinets. :-) OK, I could
just unplug the power cord from the park power, but experience tells me
that the chances of a lightning strike that close are slim. Very slim.

Point is that the OP indicates she turns off the computer and the power
strip every night "in case of" a lightning storm.

Just different ways of doing things. :-)

--
"To announce that there must be no criticism
of the President, or that we are to stand by
the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic
and servile, but is morally treasonable to the
American public."
Theodore Roosevelt
http://www.bobhatch.com
http://www.tdsrvresort.com

[SC Tom[_3_]]

"Andy" > wrote in message ...
> "SC Tom" > wrote in :
>
>>
>> "Ken Blake, MVP" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> On Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:30:39 -0600, Andy > wrote:
>>>
>>>> "Ken Blake, MVP" > wrote in
>>>> :
>>>>
>>>> > On Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:06:09 -0600, Andy > wrote:
>>>> >
>>>> >> From the deepest recalls of my memory, the cheap-o power strips
>>>> >> deteriorate over time. It's not like you can buy one and it will
>>>> >> last forever.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Someone please correct me if I'm wrong!?!
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> > "Cheap-o power strips" are essentially nothing more than fancy
>>>> > extension cords. They provide next to no protection and there's
>>>> > very little there to deteriorate.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Ken,
>>>>
>>>> I have a "PowerWedge" surge protector for my home theater. Almost
>>>> the size of two cinder blocks with 3 sections of four outlets with
>>>> fuses for each section.
>>>>
>>>> I've happily watched monster movies on the monster 10' screen at
>>>> monster volume in the midst of monster thunderstorms without
>>>> incident.
>>>>
>>>> I wouldn't trust the cheap-o strips for that! ;)
>>>
>>>
>>> I'm not familiar with the PowerWedge, but it sounds better than the
>>> cheap ones.
>>>
>>> Let me just add one comment however. If a lightning strike hits your
>>> power line nearby, no surge protector or UPS really provides
>>> protection. The thousands of volts in a lightning strike can jump
>>> over gaps and go right through these devices to reach the thing you
>>> are trying to protect. That's why the best protection against nearby
>>> lightening storms is unplugging.
>>>
>>> --
>>> Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
>>> Please Reply to the Newsgroup
>>
>> I agree 100%. We had some top-of-the-line surge protectors on our 3
>> CAD stations when our business first opened here, and there was a
>> direct strike on the pole about 1/4 mile away. All 3 surge protectors
>> blew up like there was dynamite inside, and 2 of the 3 CAD stations
>> were toast. I don't know what saved the 3rd one, but I ended up
>> replacing 2 fried daughter boards to bring it back online.
>>
>> SC Tom
>
>
> We call that improper grounding.

Guess we would have had to sue the power company- it was their contractors
that wired the building.

SC Tom

[Bob I]

Unless you ALSO unplug the the powerstrip from the the wall, a lightning
strike is going to take it and the PC out. Just turning it off won't do
much for any thing.

Annie Woughman wrote:
> OK. $3.49 for a new battery later. I will let you know in the morning
> if this solved the problem. One thing I did learn while I was reading
> about my battery, these Lithium batteries are supposed to "recharge"
> themselves if the computer is left plugged in when it is off. Well, at
> night when I power everything down, I always turn the power strips off
> as an additional protection against power surges if we happened to have
> a lightening storm at night or when we are out of town. (Our area seems
> to be vulnerable to brown-outs and power surges.) Sooo, that might be
> why my battery didn't last so very long. This is one of our newer
> computers and this is the first time I have ever had to replace a
> battery. The average life is supposed to be about seven years. I've
> had this computer less than three.
>
> "Annie Woughman" > wrote in message
> ...
>> On my Vista, now Win7 desktop I have had an ongoing problem with it
>> failing to keep the correct time. This happens at night when the
>> machine is turned off. In the morning I have to manually sync the
>> machine with internet time. When it was still a Vista machine I found
>> a registry fix that would have it automatically sync every four
>> hours. Now since the change to Win7, I find that this registry change
>> is never "saved." It is most annoying because this machine has a
>> television tuner so I use it regularly to record shows through the
>> Media Center. That doesn't work so very well if I forget to sync the
>> machine in the morning and the show I want recorded starts at 9:00
>> p.m. and my machine still thinks it is 11:00 a.m.
>>
>> Also, why is it just my desktop that does this and not either of my
>> two laptops? They are turned off 75% of the time but they always
>> start up with the correct time.
>>
>> Does anyone know of a way to fix this, or an app that would make it
>> automatically do a time sync upon startup?
>