Surface Pro 3: Internal clock stops when the battery dies

Anonymous

Is there a separate internal battery for the internal clock in the SP3 running Windows 8.1? When the unit runs out of battery power and I don't notice (for example, the battery completely drains while in standby) when I plug the unit back in the clock still reads from when I last used it rather than the current time.

Is that normal?

Thanks!

Carlos

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Anonymous

Hi Carlos & Woodg,

I appreciate your comments and I can certainly understand the confusion. Please let me clarify my previous comment:

The Surface Pro 3 includes built-in functionality to prevent incorrect system times when the main battery is depleted. If the troubleshooting I provided on Aug 16, 2014 fails to address the system time inconsistencies, please reach out to our Surface Assisted Support.

Any other questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to visit the Community!

Best Wishes,

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Anonymous

Hi Carlos,

On behalf of the Microsoft Community, we thank you for taking the time to reach out and consult this issue. I gather from your post that after an unexpected shutdown the clock on your Surface Pro 3 won’t update automatically as it should. This is indeed irregular behavior, and as such, I understand your concern. I will do my best to help and clarify your doubts!

Please check the following:

Do you have all and latest Windows updates installed? This is very important, Please verify you do.
Does a full shut down and start allow the clock to return to accurate local time? Have you tried adjusting the time manually?
What happens if you do not set the time to set automatically? Does your manual correction of the time stay set?
Swipe for Charms> Settings> Change PC settings> Time and language> Date and time> Set time automatically> Off
Do you use any other Windows 8.x devices with the Microsoft account associated to Surface?
Try un-syncing the OneDrive settings: Swipe for Charms> Settings> Change PC settings> OneDrive> Sync settings> Sync your settings on this PC> Off

Additionally, please make sure that you have checked the box next to: "Synchronize with an Internet time server". Here is how:

From the Desktop menu select the time and date at the bottom right corner.
Tap on Change date and time settings...
Select the "Internet Time" tab.
Select Change Settings.
Check the box next to "Synchronize with an Internet time server".
Select Update now.
Then select OK and OK.
You can also try a different server by synchronizing it with the time.nist.gov server (instead of time.windows.com) and then select****Update now.

As a last step, try holding down the "Volume UP" and the "Power Button" at the same time for about 15 to 20 seconds. It should do a reboot and if no activity, release and 'click' the power button one time.

If the issue persists after the previous steps, please consider performing a Refresh as shown in the article below:

Restore, refresh, or reset Surface Pro

We hope these steps prove useful! Keep us posted!

We are always here to help!

Best Wishes,

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73 additional answers

Anonymous

2015-11-08T12:51:30+00:00

I had this same thing.

I work in IT and consider myself pretty darn good. After many hours of troubleshooting, I came to terms with a defective unit. I actually felt better when I exchanged it and the new one was flawless.

my experience is that it's just plain broken out of the box
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Anonymous

2015-11-08T10:23:40+00:00

I, too, am having the clock issue on my seven-day-old Surface Pro 3. The SP3 came with Windows 8.1, and I upgraded to Windows 10 right away. Windows 10 drivers were obtained from the Microsoft website and installed according to the instructions given. All applicable Windows updates have been applied, including a firmware update. I’ve done the hold vol-up and power button thing, reset Windows, and clean installed Windows.

When I shutdown the PC or it goes to sleep, the clock stops. Thus, when turned on or woken up, the clock (date and time) is set to whatever it was at the time of shutdown/sleep. The behaviour is the same regardless of whether or not the PC is plugged in. I’ve seen several software solutions on this thread for, what appears to be, a hardware problem. Sure, I can schedule a task and have w32tm.exe resync the clock every time I log in. However, that does not work if there is no internet connection. Secondly, it’s a work-around for a hardware issue.

I can’t believe that, here I am in 2015, with a new PC (and not a cheap one) that can’t keep time. I have read this entire thread hoping to see an upcoming Firmware solution or something. But, it seems Microsoft isn’t even looking at this thread any longer. I bought the SP3 at Best Buy in Canada and it appears I can return it for a refund within 14 days. So, while I like the PC, I can’t tolerate a device that can’t keep time, and I shall return it.
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Anonymous

2015-10-08T19:20:06+00:00

Hi,

I'm having the issue that when I turn on my surface it displays the time from when it last shut down as opposed to the correct time. I have to manually change the time everytime I turn it on especially as it now cannot sync with either time servers (it says something to do with timeout period expiring). I am running Windows 10 and tried everything you suggested in your first reply but nothing worked. I reset it back to windows 10 with none of my files/programmes and still no luck. I then completely reset the Pro 3 back to factory settings (so like brand new and back to windows 8.1) and it still is broken.

Hope this can be fixed.

Richard
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