Can't lock changes in System Preferences and Date & Time goes crazy

For some reason the items I lock in the System Preferences window become unlocked by itself. I have the password protect on, but it completey ignores it and unlocks the locks at a random time. This happens most frequently with my Time Machine prefs.
Also my Date & Time changes to whatever time it wants automatically. I have this password locked as well, but the computer seems to have a mind of its own.
Any ideas?
Thanks in advance.

Boot with your install disk, launch Disk Utility, select the boot volume, and repair it. Boot back into the boot volume and try again. If you get the same behavior, move the com.apple.systempreferences.plist file to the desktop, log out and back in, and try again. If still no go, try a safe boot and see if it work s properly.

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