XP Time Synchronization

  • Section(s): Network
  • Published on Apr 20, 2004.
  • Last Modified on Apr 20, 2004.
  • Last Modified by Wayne Maples.
  • Rated 3.9 out of 5 based on 39 votes.
To control the number of seconds to wait between attempts to synchronize the system clock to an time source on the Internet using the following Windows XP registry hack:

Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Key: SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\TimeProviders\NtpClient
Name: SpecialPollInterval
Type: REG_DWORD
Value: #secondsdesired default

Don't set it too low. Your PC clock doesn't drift that fast. Once a day is good enough.

(default) will control which time server to use. The Servers key will have entries for internet time servers. For example my system has (default)=2, value 1="time.windows.com" and value 2="time.nist.gov". Meaning my time is syncronized from the nist.gov site. To control which time source to synchronize the system clock with, use the following Windows XP registry hack:

Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Key: SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DateTime\Servers
Name: (Default)
Type: REG_SZ
Value: entry of choice, 1-# time servers you have default

If you want to add a new time server, add a new value, in my example the next value 3="thenewtimeserver.com"

About Wayne Maples

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