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    Aspire 7720G - Clock cant tell the time

    Discussion in 'Acer' started by RobbieG1983, Apr 25, 2008.

  1. RobbieG1983

    RobbieG1983 Notebook Guru

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    Hi guys.
    Does anyone else have an issue with the clock not working? I keep updateing my clock with internet time and it keeps losing time.
    Its like it doesn't tick at all for some reason.

    Do you think it could be the bios at fault? (God knows ive had enough with these problems :nah: )

    Or could it just be something else? I dont think its the battery for the bios. :GEEK: Board is new after all.
    I have checked all the setting for timezones and daylight savings etc.

    Is there any way i can get the clock to update itself more often? Like every 5 mins or summat? :spinny:

    Any ideas? Cheers in advance guys. :biggrin::twitcy:
     
    RobbieG1983, Apr 25, 2008
    #1
  2. elijahRW

    elijahRW Notebook Deity

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    It sounds to me like its the CMOS battery. Does it loose time whenever you reboot the computer?
    Even if the mobo is new it's still a possibility that it's a bad battery.
     
    elijahRW, Apr 25, 2008
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  3. RobbieG1983

    RobbieG1983 Notebook Guru

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    Well it just seems to be that it loses the time all the time.
    Whether the notebooks is on or not.
    Its been on all night and not switched off. Just left it downloading some stuff.
    When i updated the clock last, it was at 00.39 before i went to bed.
    I updated 10 mins ago and it said 7.34.

    Its lost a minute in the last 10 mins.

    Any ideas? I cant get in it to change the battery as its still under warranty and acer have put one of those security stickers over one of the screws so i cant get in it. But, i dont want to have to send it back again. Any ideas?
     
    RobbieG1983, Apr 25, 2008
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  4. elijahRW

    elijahRW Notebook Deity

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    Hmm. In this case I'd call acer and ask them if it is the cmos battery or not.
    If it is the cmos batt and you don't want to void the warranty by opening it up, your best bet would be to use your warranty.
    So try calling acer and see if they can get you some more help.
     
    elijahRW, Apr 25, 2008
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  5. RobbieG1983

    RobbieG1983 Notebook Guru

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    Im afraid Acers Customer service is S***!!! Ive tried ringing them and they just tell me i need to ruun the eRecovery and start a fresh.
    I have tried installing a new Op System and still have the problem with the clock. Its not the only problem I have either. My keyboard aint working proper since it came back from Acer.

    And as ive just started a new job. So i cant send the Laptop back to them as i need it for work. (Working a 6 day week, using it everyday)

    They said it would take 5-10 working days as they have to order the parts once the existing ones have been tested.

    I may jus screw the warranty and replace it myself.
    Im pretty good with a soldering iron. I know the battery is soldered after last time it went wrong. But now they've put a stupid sticker over the screws to prevent me opening it up.

    I dont know what to do.

    Edit: Is there anyway of testing the battery? Short of opening it up and checking with a multi-meter?
     
    RobbieG1983, Apr 25, 2008
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  6. Nokia 3650

    Nokia 3650 Notebook Guru

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    Robbie, I'm experiencing this exact same problem too (right out of the box).

    I keep updating mine manually over the internet. I'm looking online, for a registry hack that will do this for me automatically more frequently. I believe that this is due to the internal PLL clock being out of phase.
     
    Nokia 3650, Apr 26, 2008
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  7. Nokia 3650

    Nokia 3650 Notebook Guru

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    There is nothing wrong with your BIOS battery. even if this was the case, your clock would have been reset to 12:00 (or 00:00). Testing with a multi-meter should produce ~3V.
     
    Nokia 3650, Apr 26, 2008
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  8. RobbieG1983

    RobbieG1983 Notebook Guru

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    Thanks alot dude!! :)
    At least i know im not the only one.

    If you find out how to fix it, PM me. Cheers
     
    RobbieG1983, Apr 28, 2008
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  9. RobbieG1983

    RobbieG1983 Notebook Guru

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    Hi guys.

    I know i harp on a bit with this thread, but i have found something out.

    My clock doesnt even tick in the Bios!!
    I know its not the battery as all the settings are saved, even after pulling the battery and power supply from the laptop and leaving it for 36 hours.
    Settings remain the same.
    So its not the battery, i have even tested it on a multi-meter and its still got juice.
    Cant explain it. Its like the run-time for the clock in the bios is corrupt!
    It ticks a little slow when its running, but thats the operating system that is ticking the clock, not the BIOS.

    Anyone have any other ideas??
    Cheers guys.
     
    RobbieG1983, May 2, 2008
    #9
  10. bigozone

    bigozone JellyRoll touring now

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    i'm not sure of how things are done with clock times in modern motherboards,, but i know back in the 386/486 days there was a RTC chip (real time clock) or it was often intergrated in a CMOS package which also held the CMOS battery... DALLAS manufactured the battery/RCT combo chip i'm referring to,, but i'm betting there is an actual RTC chip or some onboard chip has the RTC functions intergrated into it...

    nothing difinative,,, just a thought that might kick start greater minds than mine!!!

    later,
    bigozone
     
    bigozone, May 2, 2008
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  11. Nokia 3650

    Nokia 3650 Notebook Guru

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    I believe that the RTC, still gets its timing from the PLL (phased lock loop). For instance 44Hz. If a manufacturer defect, caused it to be 42Hz instead, then you can see why these units may be losing time. There are some inconsistencies in the values that I'm seeing in CPUz, CPUFSB, and ClockGen. These aren't even within acceptable error tolerances.
     
    Nokia 3650, May 11, 2008
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  12. Nokia 3650

    Nokia 3650 Notebook Guru

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    This is what the new BIOS update entails.

    Our ACER units, don't use a BIOS, they use the new EFI (from Intel). Hence They can actually run Mac Os Leopard almost natively.

    Below is an article on this.
    http://wiki.osx86project.org/wiki/index.php/EFI
     
    Nokia 3650, May 14, 2008
    #12
  13. awgnchannel

    awgnchannel Newbie

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    Hi Robbie, I had the same problem with my 7720G when i update the bios. Then the problem is not CMOS battery but the bios version.

    The bios v.1.19 is not affected from this problem, the v.1.43 i'm running now unfortunately yes!

    Then i give you the advice to downgrade to 1.19

    BE VERY CAREFULL with bios (upgrade/downgrade) under windows vista. If something goes wrong you have to run bios recovery crisis (Fn+Esc)... find it with google.

    Cheers,
    umberto
     
    awgnchannel, Aug 17, 2008
    #13
  14. spyros

    spyros Notebook Enthusiast

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    I have the same issue!just reflash the bios!! I do that and the problem is gone
     
    spyros, Aug 17, 2008
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  15. bigozone

    bigozone JellyRoll touring now

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    i'd not go back that far... try bios ver 1.33 it was a good solid version with the newer cooling info that that added around ver 1.28 (can't recall)
     
    bigozone, Aug 17, 2008
    #15