Vista - Old email header date - the cause? the fix?

Vista Ultimate (SP1)
A few days ago Windows mail refused to allow me to post to Microsoft
newsgroups. A system error popup window announced my header date was too
old. It was dated 2000.

I copied the error but no longer have it as I failed to save it before
executing a full system restore (first time I ever tried that).

Here is some background. I had never previously encountered such an error.
Google & Microsoft Knowledge Base searches came up with nothing. Sending
Windows Mail to personal contacts were not similarly affected - I just could
not post to newsgroups.

But then! I accidentally discovered my Vista calendar/clock had been turned
back to the year 2000. I reset the clock but that did not fix the problem -
same results.

Thankfully, my full system restore from a week old backup did make the
problem vanish.

If I re-encounter this issue I'd sure like to have a fix ready. Any
suggestions?

Thank you - Blithe

The battery that powers your PC's clock when the computer is off
may be failing. This is not something suitable for further discussion
in this Windows Mail newsgroup.

--
Gary VanderMolen, MS-MVP (Mail)


"Blithe" <invalid@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:utE4ERbzJHA.1712@xxxxxx

Gary, thanks for the battery/clock suggestion -
To update: A full PC restore was the only way I found to fix the old header
date appearing when I repeatedly tried & was barred by Windows Mail from
posting to a newsgroup - even after resetting my Vista clock.

As for the possibility of a weak PC battery - I have researched that & the
issue remains an open possibility. Also, I checked other Vista newsgroups
to determine which one is suitable for a posting to ask for the recommended
protocol to test/replace a Vista PC battery (as you must know, there's no
Vista OS suggestion to test by software on a Vista desktop - unless the
desktop is connected to an emergency power outage device. Mine is not. I'm
assuming at this point that I keep watching the Vista clock & if it keeps on
ticking - keeping correct date/time - I do nothing. Otherwise I open the
case to replace.

Please advise what Vista/MS newsgroup, if any, do you recommend for such a
discussion? Reading the discussion threads on existing Vista
hardware/maintenance newsgroups indicate such a posting would be as
unsuitable there as on Vista Mail. Thanks -

Blithe

"Gary VanderMolen" <gary@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:us8XMebzJHA.1716@xxxxxx
The battery that powers your PC's clock when the computer is off
may be failing. This is not something suitable for further discussion
in this Windows Mail newsgroup.

--
Gary VanderMolen, MS-MVP (Mail)


"Blithe" <invalid@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:utE4ERbzJHA.1712@xxxxxx

I'm not aware of any software that will test your CMOS battery,
but if your PC's clock consistently fails to keep the proper date/time
when the power has been off for a while, that's a sure sign of a
weak battery.

--
Gary VanderMolen, MS-MVP (Mail)


"Blithe" <invalid@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:eAgyAKC0JHA.1096@xxxxxx