Windows XP help.

My computer seems to be going well but every time I switch it off it reverts back to the factory set date Jan 31 2007,, any one know why it does this and if so how can it be fixed.. thanks for any answer.. I have a HP pavilion a1550a running XP home..

yes, it's because the battery on your motherboard has died, so your bios/pc "forgets" the date and time.

so you'll need to open up your pc find the location of it on the motherboard and replace it.

here's a youtube video showing how it's done, yours may differ slightly in the way it's held in place but they are all more or less the same.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZ5jVIcrdnU

Thanks Terry I only replaced it 6 months ago so maybe they don`t last so long, will buy another and replace it again.. thanks for your reply..

they usually last for years so either it was a bad battery or there may be some other issue. if there is another problem causing the date/time loss tho then i can't think what it could be..

if there is another problem causing the date/time loss tho then i can't think what it could be..

Something malicious, maybe.

I have seen brand new batteries that were bad, but it is not common. Still, since they inexpensive, trying another new one before spending more money on repairs makes sense.

Just be sure you unplug the computer from the wall, and touch bare metal of the case interior BEFORE reaching in. Then make sure you go directly into the BIOS Setup Menu first time you boot to set the date and time, and make sure you Save and Exit to boot normally.

If the new battery fails prematurely too, then it is likely some other device (in the PSU or on the motherboard) is failing and has a low resistance to ground draining the battery. Since this computer is getting along in age, this may be a sign the hardware has seen its day. And because XP support ends next April, I would take this as a sign to start saving for a new computer.

Thanks Terry., I`ll change the battery and see what happens other than the time and date its going perfect , I just need to change it every time I turn it on … I`ll check in the BIOS because I don`t think I changed it there when I changed that last battery.. so will try that first and if not well change the battery , if that doesnt work well I`ll do as you say , save for another computer.. thanks ever so much for your help..