Time randomly changing itself, internet randomly dying

Question

I installed Windows 8 RTM a few weeks ago. It's not my first time installing it, but it's the first time having these annoying problems:

1. Randomly, the system clock changes time all by itself - to fix it I have to open the time window and sync it with the internet.

2. Randomly, my internet connection stops working - to fix I have to run troubleshooting. Windows will find a problem with the IP on my Ethernet connection and fix it.

3. In rare occasions, my PC freezes, requiring a restart. (I once got a BSOD, but only freezes have happened since.)

How can I permanently solve these problems?

This is what I've already tried:

• Resets
• Virus scans
• Stopping/resetting the Windows Time service
• Disabling and re-enabling Windows Time automatic internet sync
• Changing the BIOS time
• Changing the motherboard (CMOS) battery

My hardware configuration:

• Operating System
  MS Windows 8 Enterprise Edition 64-bit
• CPU
  Intel Core i7 2700K @ 3.50GHz with average temperature of 45 °C
  Sandy Bridge 32nm Technology
• RAM
  8 GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 800MHz (8-8-8-24)
• Motherboard
  ASRock Z77 Extreme4-M (CPUSocket) with average temperature of 40 °C
• Monitors
  SMXL2270HD (1920x1080@60Hz)
  M2094D-PZ (1680x1050@60Hz)
• Graphics Card
  896MB GeForce GTX 275 (CardExpert Technology) with average temperature of 57 °C
• Hard Drive
  466GB FUJITSU MAXTOR STM3500320AS (SATA) with average temperature of 39 °C
• Optical Drive
  ASUS DRW-2014L1T
• Audio
  "High Definition Audio Device" (Generic)

Answer 1

Sounds like it could be a CMOS battery problem (it's dying, dead, etc). It causes some issues with the motherboard's (and therefore windows') clock. It can also affect internet in some cases, because your time is not synced which confuses your router / ISP / internet servers / certificate authorities.

If, when you start up the computer, you get any of the following messages:

• CMOS Settings Wrong
• CMOS Read Error
• CMOS Checksum Error
• CMOS Battery Failure

You can be pretty sure this is the problem. With newer mobos, this shouldn't happen, so talk to your manufacturer because it's probably considered a defect.

Some motherboards you can access and switch this battery yourself. I'd go to your manufacturer's website to check.

Be careful though.

Answer 2

I see an unlocked processor, the Intel Core i7-2700K @ 3.50 GHz.

                               

Are you overclocking it? If so, it is plausible that your overclock is unstable.

I got myself an unlocked processor (though not the same one) and was able to create instability in the computer's performance.

Looking at your list of problems...

1. Hmm... you didn't specify what incorrect times were being set nor when. But since you replaced your CMOS battery, time information shouldn't be lost.
2. This is separate from your issues with time. You can describe dropped Internet connection as "unstable", and an unstable processor might just fail operating system commands to work with the LAN chip.
3. An unstable processor definitely causes this. I get kernel panics when I set the CPU frequency too high.

The remedy in this case is simple: In BIOS, reduce the CPU frequency.

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Other Less Likely Possibilities

• Bad RAM chip(s): causes computer crashes, but I don't see why specialized problems such as changing time and dropped Ethernet connections would occur
• Bad hard drive: can also crash computers, but like the RAM chips, those other problems should not happen
• Other: Check out the other answers to your question, as this is the extent of my knowledge.