Comment 1 for bug 184447

Nothing strange here :)
Both Windows and Linux are on the same computer, and when you change the time in the operating system the time is changed on the BIOS. So any OS installed on the computer will see the same time.

Now... if you can't change the it may be a bug related to the Alphaness of the system.
Are you sure its not asking you for the root password?

About the HAL problem, I'm not sure... Some more information about what it says when gives you the error will be useful.

I'm removing the security tag from this bug, since its not security related (not for what you have said).