the laptop where time stops

[Giles Orr]

This is a strange problem.

I have a laptop that runs an "at" job to play music with mpg321 every
morning and wake me up.  The last three days, it's played about a
minute and a half of the first song (it's set to play three randomly
selected) and it just ... stops.  When I get up and press a key on the
keyboard - which also wakes up the screen - the music playback
resumes.  There's nothing in /var/log/messages.  This morning I
deliberately waited 2 minutes by another clock in the room, then
pressed the key - and verified that the time on the laptop was two
minutes slower than it should have been.  Apparently time stops during
the break in music playback.

I can replace the laptop if I have to (it's very old), but it wouldn't
be my first choice.  Among other things, it's exhibited no other
strange behaviours.  Any thoughts on how to debug this or what might
be going on?

-- 
Giles
http://www.gilesorr.com/
gilesorr-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org
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