Computer time/date changes on its own

[Lazareth]

i'm trying to help my wife's friend with her laptop (windows xp) problem.

she can't install any software because her time/date keeps changing to random dates and times...any suggestions

she has norton anti-virus software and hardware firewalls, antivirus comes up clean.

 

[fastco]

Sounds like you need to change the cmos battery in the laptop. Laptop Cmos batteries are all a little different.

http://www.apexbattery.com/laptop-batteries-accessories-laptop-cmos-battery.html

 

[Samstoned]

once booted this should not happen the bios takes power from main PSU
if this is happening while running you may have other issus
check times in bios if not set rest
the boot check your time in OS reset
most systems when the cmos batterys dies wil not hold the bios configuration
and you have to constantly reset the bios to your machine setting
on laptops you will get a boot prompt to hit F1 and or F2 key to enter bios or leave setup alone
check for a bios update the bios may be corrupt

 

[Lazareth]

it happens randomly while the computer is on

 

[Samstoned]

check battery connections make sure clean and tight
update your bios
I have heard of virus's corrupting bios have seen one case long time ago that may have been from same
could be the bios chip going bad