I like to use the little Internet Time synchronization utility that comes witn windows XP (Start > Settings > Control Panel > Date and Time > Internet Time). It is simple, comes with the OS, and does exactly what I want: synchronizing the computer clock.

The only drawbacks are that, by default, it updates the clock once a week, and that the only two server options available (NIST and Microsoft itself) are busy servers, so synchronization lasts several seconds (10 to 20) when I want to do it manually clicking Update Now.

The following are two registry tweaks to improve the Internet Time synchronization:

To automatically synchronize the computer clock once a day:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\TimeProviders\NtpClient]
"SpecialPollInterval"=dword:00015180

To use a faster public server (in N.Y.) that synchronizes almost instantly as a third option (it does not erase the other two):

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DateTime\Servers]
@="3"
"3"="208.184.49.9"

How to use the code:

Open Notepad

Copy the code

Save as Whatever-you-want.reg (for example: time.reg)

Double click the file

Click yes

Nice info.

Thanks for sharing it with all.

Probably been posted before but Heres some more Time Servers

Going on what you have as Number 3 I add # 4 - 8

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DateTime\Servers]
"4"="clock.isc.org"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DateTime\Servers]
"5"="timekeeper.isi.edu"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DateTime\Servers]
"6"="usno.pa-x.dec.com"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DateTime\Servers]
"7"="tock.usno.navy.mil"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DateTime\Servers]
"8"="tick.usno.navy.mil"

any way to make them the default servers for synchronizing?

nice tip btw

Hi,...
I think that you could make somethink like that.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DateTime\Servers]
@="1"
"1"="time.windows.com"
"2"="time.nist.gov"
"3"="208.184.49.9"
"4"="clock.isc.org"
"5"="timekeeper.isi.edu"
"6"="usno.pa-x.dec.com"
"7"="tock.usno.navy.mil"
"8"="tick.usno.navy.mil"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\TimeProviders\NtpClient]
"SpecialPollInterval"=dword:00015180

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

But i like when I "merge" this *.reg, the Internet Time check box, begins/stay active. How can i do that?

thanks
snow

ps - the @="1" makes that internet time address, the default.

Edited January 19, 200620 yr by edusnow