automatically setting my computer clock

March 7, 2007 3:57 PM

How can I set up my Win 2000 computer to automatically set its own time clock from any external source? I tried Googling on this but just get a bunch of cryptic instructions on making the computer into a time server. I don't want to build an NTP time server, I just want to have the correct time.
posted by rolypolyman to Computers & Internet (8 answers total)

I've long used Dimension 4 for this.
posted by piro at 4:09 PM on March 7, 2007

Follow the steps for setting up Win2K as an NTP client, including the necessary registry tweak. Then point it to a public NTP server such as tick.mit.edu.

(I Googled for 'windows 2000 ntp client')
posted by autojack at 4:19 PM on March 7, 2007

I've always used AboutTime for this and have been happy with it.
posted by Emanuel at 5:26 PM on March 7, 2007

Also, you can use 'pool.ntp.org' as an NTP server. I believe that they have things setup to return a list of the closest to your location public NTP servers.
posted by zengargoyle at 5:32 PM on March 7, 2007

Go to the source: time.nist.gov.
posted by Netzapper at 6:54 PM on March 7, 2007

time.microsoft.com ?
posted by Sonic_Molson at 9:23 PM on March 7, 2007

Seconding pool.ntp.org - time.nist.gov is very busy and can time out (haha) - meaning your clock may not sync consistently.

Yes, the cryptic methods work well, make the necessary registry changes and it will be solved.
posted by disclaimer at 4:02 AM on March 8, 2007

What I do is put nistime-32bit.exe into my Startup folder, then open the Properties for the link, and add "once" (without the quotes) on the end of the target command line. Now every time you log in to Windows, your computer will run nistime32, synch your clock, and exit. No mas problemas.
posted by BeerFilter at 5:27 AM on March 8, 2007