System clock fails to update after waking from sleep

If only it was that easy. Yes, that was the first thing that I thought of to check, and it is set to automatically set the date and time. It doesn't seem to help. Thanks for the suggestion though.

It sounds like it's software related to me. As much as I hate to say it (because I end up saying it so often), I'd try an archive and install and see if that fixes it. Another quicker possible fix is to obtain another computer and copy the clock menu item onto the G5 and replace the one there. It could have somehow become corrupted and is now failing to update after sleep. The problem however could be in any of a thousand (a little overstatement for dramatic effect) other files. Post back with what you find out.

I really don't know what to suggest at this point. It could be any number of things. Try changing the clock formating a bit (add/remove seconds display, etc.) and see if that keeps it from sticking. Aside from that, I'd call Apple Care and see what they say.

Hi! I've been having the same problem, sorta. My system clock loses time whenever it's asleep... on the order of one or two minutes per hour, by my estimation. So if it's been sleeping for 10 hours, the clock will be behind something like 15 minutes. It's a G5/dual 2.3Ghz and it is only about 6 weeks old. It's been doing it since day 1. I took it to the Apple store where I bought it, and they fiddled with it and then recommended an archive and install, or a clean system install. I haven't done either yet.

I use this computer for my business so i can't afford to send it to Applecare for testing for a week. Were you able to get this resolved?

That wasn't a suggestion, it was a question. The next question is:
Is your Mac having trouble contacting the time server?

Are you on an always-on network connection? Any messages in the console log (search for ntp)?

No, my Mac is not having trouble contacting the time server. I checked the console log and found no messages related to this.

I am on a broadband always-on connection (recently switched from DSL to cable modem, and the problem occurred under both connections). However, my original post states that the computer loses time only when it is asleep, and I didn't think that my computer could contact the time server when it is asleep. It also loses time when it is off, which I neglected to mention previously. Am I mistaken in thinking that the computer communicates over the network only when it is awake? Since it keeps accurate time when awake (once I've reset it by opening the Date & Time control panel), it seems to me like it IS communicating with the time server without issue.

[And I apologize for misinterpreting your question as a suggestion. I was trying to be polite by thanking you for taking an interest in my issue. I'll watch my semantics more carefully next time.]

Cheers,
Katy

G5/dual core 2.3 Ghz Mac OS X (10.4.4) 2.5G RAM

(no apology needed, I was being needlessly pedantic -sorry)

I think we may have stumbled across a Tiger bug - it doesn't appear (I'm looking at two 10.4.4 systems) that ntpd (the time server which runs when you select 'Set Date and Time Automatically') is polling the Apple time servers. I'll need to investigate some more, but this looks wrong.

It's normal for the battery clock on the motherboard to be pretty approximate. OS X keeps time pretty well while running, but relies on the battery-driven clock when sleeping or shutdown. On normal bootup, with 'Set Date and Time Automatically' enabled, the system should check the Network Time during boot, then start the 'ntpd' to keep keep the clock accurate within a fraction of a second. During sleep, the clock can go wrong, but ntpd should fix it after waking. That doesn't appear to be happening.


Quad G5 2.5Ghz, 2.5GB, PB 15" 1.5Ghz,80G,1.5G Mac OS X (10.4.4)

After a little deeper examination... I find that the ntp daemon (ntpd, mentioned above) is polling the server, but at an interval that ranges from 68 minutes to 36 hours. The poll interval adapts dynamically, according to the time drift of previous polls. It's all very smart, at least for traditional Unix systems which are usually left running all the time.


I think Apple should probably add some simple magic to restart the time service when the Mac comes out of sleep, otherwise, the clock will only get corrected every 36 hours. If you sleep or shutdown your Mac much of the time, the clock won't get corrected frequently enough.

True... but most peoples' clocks seem to run fine, regardless of how infrequently they poll the time server. At least, they aren't off by whole minutes per hour. A few seconds here or there, I can understand. My old G4 never had this problem, and it slept for approximately the same percentage of the time as my G5 now does. It seems to me that it points to a deeper problem with my particular G5, be it software, logic board, or something else.

I just want there to be a solution that does not require me shipping my machine to Apple!! <g>

I believe that I am going to ring up Applecare, so they can start documentation of my problem, at the very least.

Just wanted to post an update and make this thread active again.

I documented my problem to Applecare, who ran me through a series of restarts and tests and things, to no avail. They told me to take it back to the Apple Store and have them switch out the battery.

I did, and that did not work (as I predicted). The Apple Genius (who also knew that the new battery wouldn't work, but apparently had to follow the prescribed steps) told me my next step would be to bring it back in and they'd replace the logic board. Problem is, they need to keep it for about five days and I use this computer for my business. Not exactly ideal, but I'll manage somehow. I plan to take it in on Monday morning.

However, a new and interesting problem has reared its head: I have been opening the Date & Time preference panel to "reset" my system clock to the correct time. Now, however, it simply won't sync with the Apple server. In fact, the checkbox to set the time automatically won't even stay checked when I close out of the panel and reopen it.

I'm not sure why this is; any help would be appreciated. Are there prefs I can throw away or something? I'm about to repair permissions and see what that does.

Thanks in advance!
Katy

Like Wu, my problem also finally got resolved, and in the exact same way. Replacing the internal battery did nothing, and so I finally found the time to take my G5 in to my local Apple Store to have its logic board replaced.

Two days later (they worked fast!) I brought it home again and the problem is solved!

Thanks again to everybody for their help!