[SOLVED] Certificate error on every website

[wmorri]

Hi folks,

I am having a weird error after reinstalling windows last night. Every website that I go to that has an ssl certificate gives me a message that the site isn't secure and I can't access it. I have tried FF, Chrome, and IE. IE is the only browser that lets me access some of these sites, like google, and gmail, and others. I am very confused by this and don't know how to fix this. I have read a couple articles from micrsoft support but I just don't feel comfortable messing with my registry unless I get a second opinion.

 

[Tekno Venus]

Hi Will,

I've experienced this myself. It may sound silly, but have you checked the date and time on the computer, specifically the year? If the year is wrong, it can cause those errors.

Stephen

 

[niemiro]

System time?

^^ What Stephen said better, basically :)

 

[wmorri]

Wow I feel really dumb I think that fixed things.

 

[Digerati]

Wow I feel really dumb I think that fixed things.

I am glad you got it resolved, but your response does not make it clear what the problem was, or what you did to correct it - so it is not much help to others reading now, or future readers.

Was the system date/time totally wrong?

If so, how did it get to be so far off? :confused2:

By default, Windows checks and sets the system time to "Internet time" once a week. Did you change the defaults? Were you messing with the system clock?

If me, and there is no "user reason" (cranial flatulence!!!) for the clock to be way off, I would suspect a failing/weak CMOS battery. I would power off the computer, unplug from the wall, open the side panel, touch bare metal of the case interior, then pull the CMOS battery and run to Wal-mart or your local battery/watch/camera store to get another (probably CR2032). Most battery centers recycle, so take the old with you.

Do not touch the new battery with your bare fingers - skin oils promote corrosion and attract dust. I put a clean cotton sock over my hand. Touch bare metal of the case, and insert the new battery. Inspect the interior for dust build-up and clean as necessary. Give each fan a small "flick" with a finger to ensure they spin freely, and ensure all cables are securely fastened and routed to minimize impacting front-to-back air flow through the case.

Connect power and fire it up, booting directly into the BIOS setup menu (since pulling the battery reset the BIOS). Re-set date and time, ensure all drives are recognized and the boot order is correct, then Save and Exit to boot normally.

Then [hopefully] there should be no recurrence of this problem.

If the problem was do to cranial flatulence, then slap yourself upside the head and move on!