Help me set my clock please

[TwoRails]

XP's built in clock setting function is terrible. I just set my computer's time with it and it is at least 6 minutes off of "real" time.

I use to use a free utility with Win 98 that worked really great, but it work work with XP.

Got any recommendations?

[Hi Ho]

You could try THIS one. I've never used it or any other third party program because my XP clock is ALWAYS dead on. It is exactly in sync with my VCR clock which sets itself automatically (probably to the same thing).

[Panama Red]

XP has a built in Service that I usually disable. Windows Time. It's supposed to sync with an atomic clock somewhere and keep your time accurate. I've been told that if your clock is off constantly, it's time to replace the mobo battery.

[TwoRails]

Guess I didn't get an Auto-notify on this thread....

Hi Ho: That looks like the program I had that locks up XP -- at least on my system. It doesn't even list XP as a supported OS.

Panama Red: The clock itself keeps good time. What happens is, let's say the "real" time is:

9:57 AM

I'll have XP check / set the time, and now the computer shows:

10:04 AM !!

Heck, even the TV shows that end at 10 AM are still playing (which is how I noticed the time discrepancy). By the time the 10 AM TV shows start, my computer will say it's:

10:07 AM or later.

[compusport]

If you disable it the way that Panama mentioned, couldn't you just go to the atomic clock website and set it manually once? Checking it again a week or so later should tell you if there's actually any problems.

[TwoRails]

That's actually what I'm getting at. Where do I go, or what (free) program is there that will do an accurate job of setting the clock?

(the program I had, that doesn't work with XP, would set my clock to within one second of "military" time - very accurate.)

[compusport]

I use the atomic clock synch program that you used to use and compared it to this site: http://www.time.gov/

They're within a second of each other. Does that help?

[glc]

http://www.robomagic.com/swatch.htm

[doctorgonzo]

Which site are you using to do the sync? You can choose between either an M$ site or time.nist.gov if I believe correctly. I have my XP rig to sync to the NIST site, and I am always right on.

Maybe you live in a small time zone with a daylight savings time difference of seven minutes?

[TwoRails]

Good suggestion, compusport! Just tried it and set the clock "manually."

I'll give SocketWatch a serious look, glc. That looks exactly like what I'm looking for.

Doctorgonzo, I just switched as you suggest, and it sure is a lot more accurate than MS's time (and faster, too)!

Thanks for all the replies!!