Time sync problems

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

"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

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

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

"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

"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

"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.

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

"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

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?