I have Dell pc and need to set date & time & year it says 12:33 AM It is now 10:37

I think you need to check BIOS Settings.. and need to change the BIOS Battery

Save the time and date in BIOS. Replace the CMOS battery if it still does not save.

Go into the BIOS settings then to the Date and Time and set the Date and Time, Save the settings and Exit.
IWhen you boot up later and the Date and Time is incorrect then the BIOS battery is flat and a new replacement battery is needed. The BIOS battery keeps the laptop's configuration plus the Date and Time settings unless the battery is flat.

When you boot up and the Date & Time is wrong then you correct the Date & Time, then when you shut down and boot up again the Date and Time has changed. This is an indication that the BIOS battery is flat and you need to replace the BIOS battery. Install a new BIOS battery, go into the BIOS setting and set the Date & Time etc. and the new battery will keep your settings stored in the BIOS.

• Double click the time display on the bottom right of the computer screen to open the date and time properties box. Use the tabs to access settings for time, date, time zone and Web-based time updates.
  
• 2 Set the clock for the correct time zone. Click the "Time zone" tab. Click the drop-down menu for time zone choices. Click the time zone choice for your area. Click a check in the box for automatic updates on daylight saving time changes. Click the "Apply" button, then the "OK" button.
  
• 3 Set the correct date. Click the "Date and time" tab to show clock and calendar settings. Click the drop-down menu displaying the name of a month to change the month. Use the up-and-down arrow keys to change the year being displayed. Click on a date on the calendar image to set the date. The time can be manually set on this page also.
  
• 4 Set the current time. Use the up-and-down arrow keys next to the numeric time display on the date and time page to manually set the clock. Click "Apply," then click "OK" to confirm date and time settings.
  
• 5 Click the "Internet time" tab to use a Web-based clock for updates to automatically correct the time. Click the "Server" drop-down menu for listed Internet time sources. Click a check mark into the check box for automatic synchronizing. Click the "Update now" button, then click the "OK" button.
  

If you start by going into the BIOS settings, set time and date then make sure it detects your hard drive and other periferals. Then try booting again.
If it cannot remember the settings, change the Cmos battery.
Hope that helps.

Hi friend,
A coin-cell battery maintains computer configuration, date, and time information. The battery can last several years.
If you have to repeatedly reset time and date information after turning on the computer, replace the battery. You can read anything about your dell dimension 4600 PC like....how to change the battery click on LINK


With Regards
Avnish Kumar

If the battery is changed, that will mean that the BIOS was set back to january 1 1980.
Go into BIOS, set the clock to the correct time.

For DELL 370 precision , here is the BIOS instruction:

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ws370/


Replacing the Battery CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions located in the Product Information Guide. NOTICE: To prevent static damage to components inside your computer, discharge static electricity from your body before you touch any of your computer's electronic components. You can do so by touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer.
A coin-cell battery maintains computer configuration, date, and time information. The battery can last several years.
The battery may need replacing if you have repeatedly reset the time and date information after turning on the computer or if one of the following messages appear:
Time-of-day not set - please run SETUP program
or
Invalid configuration information -
please run SETUP program
or
Strike the F1 key to continue,
F2 to run the setup utility
To determine whether you need to replace the battery, reenter the time and date in system setup and exit the program to save the information. Turn off your computer and disconnect it from the electrical outlet for a few hours; then reconnect the computer, turn it on, and enter system setup. If the date and time are not correct in system setup, replace the battery.
You can operate your computer without a battery; however, without a battery, the configuration information is erased if the computer is turned off or unplugged from the electrical outlet. In this case, you must enter system setup and reset the configuration options.

Hi there
Take the battery out and start the laptop up on AC power only, set the correct date, time and time zone, shut down the PC and remove the power jack, wait about 30 seconds then power it up on AC only again, If the date and time has changed the the cmos battery has run out and needs replacing. If it keeps date and time the problem is the battery or the powerboard controller that charges the battery is defective. If the battery is getting a charge, run the battery completely out of charge, then try to charge it again.

Good luck and thanks for using Fixya!!

1. Click Start, click Run, type timedate.cpl, and then click OK.
2. In the Date and Time Properties dialog box, click the Date and Time tab, and then set the correct date and time. To do this, follow these steps:
   1. In the Date box, click the current month in the month list.
   2. In the year list, click the current year.
   3. In the calendar, click the current date.
   4. In the Time box, click to select the hour, and then use the up or down arrow to adjust the hour. Repeat this procedure for the minute and second settings.
   5. Click AM or PM, and then use the up or down arrow to change to AM or PM.
   6. Click the Time Zone tab, and then click the time zone for your current location in the Time Zone list.
3. Click Apply, and then click OK.