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Windows Time Synchronization Settings (Windows 2000/XP)
Category: Home > Windows > System > Services

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These parameters allow you to control the synchronization settings of the W32Time service. This service ensures that computer date and time settings are correctly synchronized throughout an organization.

Open your registry and find the key below.

Create any of the optional values below to control the clock synchronization settings.

NtpServer (REG_SZ)
Used to manually configure the time source. Set this to the DNS name or IP address of the NTP server to synchronize from.

Period (REG_DWORD)
Used to control how often the time service synchronizes.

  • 0 - once a day
  • 65535 - once every 2 days
  • 65534 - once every 3 days
  • 65533 - once every week (7 days)
  • 65532 - once every 45 minutes until 3 good synchronizations occur, then once every 8 hours (3 per day) [default]
  • 65531 - once every 45 minutes until 1 good synchronization occurs, then once every day

    ReliableTimeSource (REG_DWORD)
    Used to indicate that this computer has reliable time.

  • 0 - do not mark this computer as having reliable time [default]
  • 1 - mark this computer as having reliable time (this is only useful on a domain controller)

    Type (REG_SZ)
    Used to control how a computer synchronizes.

  • Nt5DS - synchronize to domain hierarchy [default]
  • NTP - synchronize to manually configured source
  • NoSync - do not synchronize time

    Stop and restart the W32Time service for the change to take effect.

    Registry Editor Example
    |NameTypeData|
    |(Default)REG_SZ(value not set)|
    |NtpServerREG_SZtime.windows.com|
    |PeriodREG_DWORD0x00000000 (0)|
    |ReliableTimeSourceREG_DWORD0x00000001 (1)|
    |TypeREG_SZNTP|
    -
    |HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\Parameters|
    -

    Settings:
    System Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\Parameters]

    Disclaimer: Modifying the registry can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. We cannot guarantee that problems resulting from modifications to the registry can be solved. Use the information provided at your own risk.

    Last Modified: July 19, 2002

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