Computer Geek Question

[Dockhead]

The internal clock has failed in my ship's computer, a Beelink minicomputer.


I'm running Win 10. I can't just change the computer because I have a bunch of OSenc charts which are tied to that computer, and I will lose them if I change hardware. And anyway other than the clock it's a lovely machine which works perfectly.


Is there some way to make the computer continuously update time with reference to the GPS datastream present on the network?


I note that it is possible to set any kind of time server for this update:


https://i1.wp.com/www.techjunkie.com...date.jpg?ssl=1


I wonder if it's possible to make a virtual time server on the local machine, and point to this here?


If that's possible, then the next problem would be frequency of update.


Is this realistic, or not? Grateful for any tips.

[BjarneK]

If you can find a button cell battery somewhere on the motherboard, it might be worthwhile to check if it is broken. That is probably what powers the clock.

[pjShap]

In Windows Settings, Time and Language, Date and Time, you can enable automatic synchronization with a time server, the default being time.windows.com, run by Microsoft. But that only helps when you have Internet available. Best would be as Bjarne suggested, find a button cell battery on the motherboard to replace. Check Beelink documentation- they might indicate where the battery is located.

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by BjarneK

If you can find a button cell battery somewhere on the motherboard, it might be worthwhile to check if it is broken. That is probably what powers the clock.

If that battery were dead, the BIOS would be lost and the computer probably wouldn't bootup normally.

But if you want to check it anyway do a top and bottom voltage check with your meter and it should read about 3 volts.

[GordMay]

HTH
A coin-cell battery (CR2032) powers the real-time clock and CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) memory. The battery has an estimated life of three years when your Intel® NUC isn't plugged into an AC power source. When the computer is plugged in, the standby current from the power supply extends the life of the battery. The clock is accurate to ±13 minutes/year.
The CMOS battery is connected to an onboard header on the processor side of the board by a 1x2 connector (Molex 51021-0200).
More ➥ https://www.intel.ca/content/www/ca/...intel-nuc.html


Beelink product Support ➥ http://support.bee-link.com/
See also:
+86-755-36633117/118
beelink@bee-link.com
https://www.bee-link.com/pages/contact-us

[thomm225]

Picture of that battery in link below. They are available at most any store that sells batteries .......

They are usually pretty easy to get to .....especially on a laptop.

https://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch001360.htm

[hoolie]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

...
Is there some way to make the computer continuously update time with reference to the GPS datastream present on the network.

Is this realistic, or not? Grateful for any tips.

You might have a look at GPStime. You will need some GPS data sharing software or, as I would do in my simple world, a dedicated cheap GPS dongle

[banjoship]

[QUOTE=Dockhead;3364582]The internal clock has failed in my ship's computer, a Beelink minicomputer.


I'm running Win 10. I can't just change the computer because I have a bunch of OSenc charts which are tied to that computer, and I will lose them if I change hardware. And anyway other than the clock it's a lovely machine which works perfectly.

A compelling reason for getting the O-Charts dongle to authorise your charts. If you have used only one of your O-Charts licences, you can apply the remaining licence to a dongle, no extra cost apart from purchase of dongle.

Lee

[dfelsent]

Supposedly gpstime will do what you want.
I’ve never used it.

https://www.coaa.co.uk/gpstime.htm

[dfelsent]

Too late to edit but supposedly is too weak a word. Gpstime should do what you want.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by dfelsent

Too late to edit but supposedly is too weak a word. Gpstime should do what you want.

Thank you! I'll check this out!

[pcmm]

Originally Posted by thomm225

If that battery were dead, the BIOS would be lost and the computer probably wouldn't bootup normally.

But if you want to check it anyway do a top and bottom voltage check with your meter and it should read about 3 volts.

the battery supports the RTC. BIOS settings do not need the RTC battery to survive.

change the battery:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TITo...eviewsandhowto

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by pcmm

the battery supports the RTC. BIOS settings do not need the RTC battery to survive.

The CMOS battery powers the CMOS Ram Chip that holds the BIOS Settings.

RAM Chips lose their memory without power unlike ROM

That's the easiest way to remember it.

If the CMOS Battery dies, you lose your BIOS settings .......and possibly clock

https://www.tech-faq.com/cmos-ram.html
__________________________________________________ __________________-

Nonvolatile BIOS memory refers to a small memory on PC motherboards that is used to store BIOS settings. It is traditionally called CMOS RAM because it uses a volatile, low-power complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) SRAM (such as the Motorola MC146818 or similar) powered by a small "CMOS" battery when system and standby power is off.[1]

CMOS RAM is a special, volatile RAM chip that stores the CMOS information. Volatile means that if power is lost, the information is wiped out. This could present a problem with regard to CMOS configuration because if the CMOS RAM is wiped out, the computer forgets its inventory information and has to relearn it. Thus, the computer has a small battery on the motherboard that maintains enough of a charge to avoid CMOS RAM losing its data.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by pcmm

the battery supports the RTC. BIOS settings do not need the RTC battery to survive.

change the battery:

Thanks! I'll give that a shot. Plan A.


My machine is a different model and much easier to take apart than that.



This is the second RTC failure I've had with as many boxes. Can't quite imagine what the problem is -- the 13.6v maybe? It's not a rechargeable battery so don't quite know how that could be though.

[pcmm]

Originally Posted by thomm225

The CMOS battery powers the CMOS Ram Chip that holds the BIOS Settings.

RAM Chips lose their memory without power unlike ROM

That's the easiest way to remember it.

If the CMOS Battery dies, you lose your BIOS settings .......and possibly clock

https://www.tech-faq.com/cmos-ram.html
__________________________________________________ __________________-

Nonvolatile BIOS memory refers to a small memory on PC motherboards that is used to store BIOS settings. It is traditionally called CMOS RAM because it uses a volatile, low-power complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) SRAM (such as the Motorola MC146818 or similar) powered by a small "CMOS" battery when system and standby power is off.[1]

CMOS RAM is a special, volatile RAM chip that stores the CMOS information. Volatile means that if power is lost, the information is wiped out. This could present a problem with regard to CMOS configuration because if the CMOS RAM is wiped out, the computer forgets its inventory information and has to relearn it. Thus, the computer has a small battery on the motherboard that maintains enough of a charge to avoid CMOS RAM losing its data.

That is mostly correct. when the CMOS battery dies, you do lose customization's. however 90%+ of users don't really make much in the way of BIOS changes and the machine will happily boot from the defaults. aside from typically complaining about the time when you boot. I've run many machines over the years without a battery present (typically while waiting for one to arrive as in my case laptop CMOS batteries are typically not just CR2032's but a custom pack) and its never stopped them from booting

anyway the OP just needs to crack open the box and find out what type of battery they have and get a replacement.