Minimum Interval for Updating the Computer's Clock?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jack Crane
  • Start date Start date
J

Jack Crane

This is in the latest WinXPnews newsletter at
<http://www.winxpnews.com/?id=162>:

=============================================
How to Change the Interval for Updating the Computer's Clock

By default, XP updates the computer's clock by synchronizing with an
Internet time server at one hour intervals. If you'd like Windows to
synch the time more or less frequently, you can change the interval by
editing the registry. Here's how:
1. Open your favorite registry editor.
2. Navigate to the following key in the left pane:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\W32Time\TimeProviders
\NtpClient.
3. In the right pane, double click the entry called SpecialPollInterval.
4. In the Base section of the Edit DWord Value dialog box, click the
Decimal option button.
5. Enter the desired interval in seconds (3600 = 1 hour, 1800 = 30
minutes, 86400 = 24 hours, and so forth).
6. Click OK and close the registry editor.
============================================

I just checked what my interval was and found it was 604,800 sec, or 1
week. I want to set it to 1 day. But first I wanted to see the updating
actually working, and set it to 60 sec. I moved the clock ahead 15 sec
and waited a couple of minutes. Nothing happened.

So my question: Is there a minimum interval below which can't be used?

Thanks,

Jack Crane
 
That is just in their latest news letter?

Hell, people who use this news group have been changing their clock update
times since Windows XP RC1 (3 years now?). Set it for anything you like.


--
Regards,

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)

If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!
 
Jack said:
This is in the latest WinXPnews newsletter at
<http://www.winxpnews.com/?id=162>:

=============================================
How to Change the Interval for Updating the Computer's Clock

By default, XP updates the computer's clock by synchronizing with an
Internet time server at one hour intervals. If you'd like Windows to
synch the time more or less frequently, you can change the interval by
editing the registry. Here's how:
1. Open your favorite registry editor.
2. Navigate to the following key in the left pane:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\W32Time\TimeProviders
\NtpClient.
3. In the right pane, double click the entry called SpecialPollInterval.
4. In the Base section of the Edit DWord Value dialog box, click the
Decimal option button.
5. Enter the desired interval in seconds (3600 = 1 hour, 1800 = 30
minutes, 86400 = 24 hours, and so forth).
6. Click OK and close the registry editor.
============================================

I just checked what my interval was and found it was 604,800 sec, or 1
week. I want to set it to 1 day. But first I wanted to see the updating
actually working, and set it to 60 sec. I moved the clock ahead 15 sec
and waited a couple of minutes. Nothing happened.

So my question: Is there a minimum interval below which can't be used?

Thanks,

Jack Crane
Click to expand...
you need to restart the service after the change:
net stop w32 time && net start w32time
 
Jack said:
Sorry, don't understand that. Where do I do this?

Jack
Click to expand...
Oh, from a command line prompt. Start>Run>cmd.exe
From prompt:
net stop w32time
net start w32time
 
Oh, from a command line prompt. Start>Run>cmd.exe
From prompt:
net stop w32time
net start w32time
Click to expand...

Or "net stop w32time && net start w32time"

Thanks very much!

Jack
 
Jack said:
I just checked what my interval was and found it was 604,800 sec, or 1
week. I want to set it to 1 day. But first I wanted to see the updating
actually working, and set it to 60 sec. I moved the clock ahead 15 sec
and waited a couple of minutes. Nothing happened.
Click to expand...

There may be restrictions on the server. Also you have to not have it
*too* far out (say not up in the hour level) or the server will reject

Note that when you do it, the Time service adjusts its idea of the
interval between the counted timer interrupts, so that after a few
occasions (easiest if the machine is always on) the clock will be
running very near the right rate anyway
 
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