[VAIO_PC] The time of the internal clock is off
Occasionally the built in clock is not accurate
How do I adjust the time?
The clock on the PC is not always accurate. Please adjust it from time to time
Applicable Products
Windows 8.1/10, Windows 7
Description
The accuracy of your computer’s built-on clock is not very high. Depending on the software you use, the accuracy may be lowered, causing it to deviate from the correct time even more. It is difficult to keep built-in clocks accurate, so please adjust it from time to time. If you neglect to adjust the time, the following issues may occur.
Windows Update may not be running properly.
Depending on the software you have installed, if the date is set to a date before the software was released or set too far in the future (ex. Year 2050), the software may not run properly.
Some RASs (Remote Access Service) used in companies have a security system where if the time difference between the computer and the server is too great, they may not let you log in.
E-mail software will place a time stamp when sending email. If there is a big time difference, it may cause problems for the people receiving your emails.
Table of Contents
About PC’s built-on clock and deviation
Adjusting time and sate
Windows 8.1/10
Windows 7
Adjusting hardware’s clock
Set clock automatically
Using internet to set time
Windows 8.1/10
Windows 7
Set clock using LAN server (only when connecting to LAN)
About PC’s built-on clock and inaccuracy
There are two types of built-in clocks in computers: hardware clocks and software clocks. At the time of startup, the software clock will use the hardware clock as a reference and sets the time. When shutting down, it overwrites the time using the hardware clock. By doing this, it allows the hardware clock and software clock to display the same time.
If the software clock gets affected by another program, it can change the time, causing it to affect the hardware clock when shutting down. As a result, the software clock will be referring to the wrong time at start up. This can build up and the time listed can gradually deviate more and more each time the computer starts up and shuts down.
The accuracy of the built-in clock can be affected by system settings, the rate of deterioration of the backup battery, the temperature of a place, and many other factors.
Adjusting time and sate
The correct time will not display if the time zone is not set correctly. Follow the steps below to set the correct date and time.
Windows 8.1/10
1. Display the Control Panel.
2. Select Clock, then Language, and then Region.
3. Select Time and Date.
4. Select the Time and Date tab and then select “Change Time Zone”.
5. Select your time zone from the drop down menu and select “OK”.
6. Select Change Time and Date. If the “User Account Control Setting” screen displays, select “OK”. If it asks to insert password, type in the admin’s password and select “OK”.
7. When the Time and Date Setting displays, set the correct time and date and select “ok”.
8. Select “OK” on the Time and Date screen.
Windows 7
1. Click “Start” and display the Control Panel.
2. Select Clock, then Language, and then Region.
3. Select Time and Date and select “ok”.
4. Select the Time and Date tab and then select “Change Time Zone”.
5. Select your time zone from the drop down menu and select “OK”.
6. Select Change Time and Date. If the “User Account Control Setting” screen displays, select “continue” or “allow”. If it does not display, proceed to the next step.
7. When the Time and Date Setting displays, set the correct time and date and select “ok”.
8. Select “OK” on the Time and Date screen.
Adjusting hardware’s clock
The hardware clock is set by BIOS setup program. Please follow the following steps to adjust the hardware clock.
1. Open the BIOS setup program.
Please refer to the Q&A below for directions on how to open BIOS.
Related Q&A
[VAIO_PC] How to open/close BIOS setup menu
2. From the main screen, use the up and down arrow keys and move the cursor (looks like a blinking block) to the time and date. Date will display as “System Date”, time will display as “System Time”.
3. Date and Time is set by clock or time signal. To increase number, press the space bar or + key, to decrease number, press the – key. After you finish setting the time, go to the Exit screen and close the BIOS setup program.
To find out the accuracy of the built-in clock’s hardware
After Step 2 from above, move the cursor to “Year” and keep the program running. After a few hours, compare the time BIOS displays with the clock or time signal you used to set it. The difference between the two clocks will tell you From the difference in the two times, you can see computer’s accuracy. The longer you run the program, the more accurate the converted daily difference and monthly difference will be. When using a VAIO with battery, be sure to have the AC adapter plugged in when you perform this test.
Set clock automatically
Using internet to set time
Windows 8.1/10
1. Display the Control Panel.
2. Select Clock, then Language, and then Region.
3. Select Time and Date.
4. Select the Internet Time tab then select “Change Setting”. If the User Account Control Setting screen appears, select “ok”. If it asks you to insert a password, type the administrator password and select “ok”.
5. Select “Sync with internet time server”, select a server, and select “OK”.
6. Select “ok” on the Time and Date page.
Windows 7
1. Select Start and then display the Control Panel.
2. Select Clock, then Language, and then Region.
3. Select Time and Date.
4. Select the Internet Time tab then select “Change Setting”. If the User Account Control Setting screen appears, select “continue” or “allow”. If the screen does not display, just proceed to the next step.
5. Select “Sync with internet time server”, select a server, and select “OK”.
6. Select “ok” on the Time and Date page.
Set clock using LAN server (only when connecting to LAN)
When connected to LAN, you can set the time by synching with network work server. The accuracy of the server clock depends on the time information on network timeserver, how it receives the time, or how often it receives the updates. If the mechanism for adjusting the server clock is not maintained, it is possible to get an inaccurate time. Please contact the server admin for accuracy of server clock or to find out if it is synched with server clock or not.