Message-ID: <[log in to unmask]> Hi Doreen, If the time is off exactly one hour, it is possible your computer tried to compensate for standard/daylight time change too often. If it is actually losing time slowly, and has not done so in the past, it is not likely to be the backup battery, although this is possible. Depends a lot on how new your computer is. The operating systems themselves do a very bad job of keeping track of time for very complex historical reasons. Most more modern machines have an actual hardware clock chip some where inside that is used to keep track of time when the machine is off. There are any number of reasons why this could be losing time. There are programs that will go get and set the correct time from an internet time server for you whenever you access the net. I have no particular experience witht them. Replacing the backup battery differs so widely from model to model of computer that all that anybody can say to do is have an experienced technician open it up and look. Unless you have such a technician willing to work cheap, I'd not spend the money. Either get one of the programs discribed above, or just remember to check and reset the time your self on occasion. If your computer is several years old, then the battery can be used both for the clodk and to hold so-called "CMOS" memory. This remembers low level settings used when the computer starts. Most more modern machines, with in say 4 or 5 years old, don't use this kind of CMOS memory backup any more, they use "Flash" memory which doesn't require a backup battery. So, if you have an older machine, then having someone check the battery could be more critical, since if you loose your 'CMOS" settings you'll need sighted help to restore them. If you're not comfused yet, then why not <G> Tom Fowle Net-Tamer V 1.13 Beta - Registered VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List. To join or leave the list, send a message to [log in to unmask] In the body of the message, simply type "subscribe vicug-l" or "unsubscribe vicug-l" without the quotations. VICUG-L is archived on the World Wide Web at http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/vicug-l.html