the clock stopped in F7 ?!

[Karl Larsen]

Lonni J Friedman wrote:
> On 8/26/07, Karl Larsen <k5di at zianet.com> wrote:
>   
>> Lonni J Friedman wrote:
>>     
>>> I've got a Fedora 7 (x86) system that started exhibiting truly bizarre
>>> behavior about a week ago.  Basically, the clock stopped working.  If
>>> I run 'date' it shows the date/time from a few days earlier, and it
>>> *never* changes.  If I touch a file, it has the date/timestamp from
>>> the time/date in date output.  The odd thing is that this behavior
>>> only happens when the system sits relatively idle for a long chunk of
>>> time (at least 24 hours).  If i'm actively using it every day, then
>>> its fine.  If I reboot, then the problem goes away (and the system has
>>> the correct time after rebooting).
>>>
>>> The first time that this happened was last weekend (Aug 18), and I had
>>> to reboot it last Monday (Aug 20) to fix the problem.  Its now
>>> happened again.  At this moment in time, date claims that its Sat Aug
>>> 25, even though its actually Sun Aug 26 right now.
>>>
>>> To make matters worse, the system behaves oddly when this problem
>>> occurs.  I suspect its because anything that relies on getting an
>>> accurate (or changing) clock is failing.  If I attempt to reboot
>>> cleanly, it just never happens.  The system acts frozen in time.
>>>
>>> I've checked dmesg & messages, and there's nothing there.  messages
>>> just stops logging anything around the time that the clock appears to
>>> have frozen.
>>>
>>> Anyone ever seen this bizarre behavior, or have any ideas what might
>>> be going on?
>>>
>>>
>>>       
>>     There is a battery on your motherboard and it has a clock that needs
>> the battery. Linux checks the computer battery every so often so check
>> that battery and replace if needed. I can cause all your problems.
>>     
>
> If it was the CMOS battery,  why would it be working fine for days,
> stop working, then start working again after a reboot?
>
> Also, I've never heard of Linux being capable of checking the CMOS
> battery.  What specifically is doing this check?
>
> Additionally, the CMOS battery is only needed when the system is
> powered down and/or doesn't have external power.  It certainly isn't
> used to keep the system clock running while the system is running on
> external power.
>
> I appreciate your feedback, but what you're saying really doesn't make
> any sense.
>
>   
    Sorry but I wanted to say the battery runs a clock on your 
motherboard that Linux reads from time to time. If the battery is dead 
or weak it will not run the clock with accuracy.

Better?


-- 

	Karl F. Larsen, AKA K5DI
	Linux User
	#450462   http://counter.li.org.