Time Runs Backward Error Message

In certain conditions, EEGer can report an error message that says 'Time Runs Backward' that will cause the software to crash and prevent live sessions from being possible. This error occurs because EEGer detects a problem with the system clock of the computer, because a recorded session's date and time is after the date and time the computer is reporting. There can be several causes for this issue:

• Windows Updates - Windows Updates can change how settings are set on the computer, which can result in the system time changing.
• Travel - If the user is traveling between time zones, for example to a conference, their computer's system time may change and cause problems.
• Setting Time Manually - Adjusting the system time can cause problems for many applications on the computer, including EEGer.
• An Aging Computer - As a computer ages, the internal components that keep track of time can begin failing. This is rare, but has been known to cause this type of error.

If we receive a 'Time Runs Backward' error message, we can resolve the error by correcting the system time and reinstalling the EEGer software.

Fixing Windows System Time

By default, the current date and time will appear in the bottom-right corner of the screen in the taskbar's system tray. Observe if there is a problem with the date or time reported here, as this is how we will confirm an issue has been resolved.

1. Navigate to the Windows Settings app using the Start menu or by pressing Win+I on the keyboard.
2. Open the Time & Language section of the Settings app.
3. Under Date & time, we recommend the following adjustments:
   1. Set time automatically is turned on.
   2. Set time zone automatically is turned off
   3. Time zone is set to the appropriate time zone for the region the system is used in.
   4. If the time and date displayed at the top of the screen do not appear correct, try to Synchronize your clock using the Sync now button.
4. At this stage, the time and date at the top of the screen should appear correct. Close the Windows Settings app and return to the computer's desktop.

Renaming Existing EEGer Folder

To correct the issue, we will need to reinstall the EEGer software completely. To ensure there is no loss of data, we will need to rename the existing EEGer folder to create a backup of Client files, which we can then transfer back into the reinstalled software version.

1. Navigate to the computer's C: drive by opening the Windows File Explorer (Win+E) and using the navigation pane on the left side of the window.
2. Locate the folder EEGer - this is where EEGer's client files are stored on the computer.
3. Right-Click on the EEGer folder and select Rename from the context menu that appears. We will want to rename the existing folder to something like EEGer Backup, so we can use it to copy existing client files to the new version.
4. Once the new name is entered, press Enter on the keyboard to finish renaming the folder.

Installing A New Copy of EEGer

Now that a backup of our existing files has been created, we will want to reinstall EEGer. We can either reinstall the same version as what exists on the system, or use this as a time to upgrade to the latest version of the software. For instructions on how to install the EEGer software, see this article.

Transferring Client Files Back to EEGer

Once we have a new copy of the software installed, we must transfer client files to it from the renamed folder. To accomplish this, see the instructions in this article.