How to increase frequency of time server synchronisations?

Question

I have a that PC (Windows XP SP3) keeps losing time whereby it ends up being about 5 mins slow per day from all the other PCs and clocks about the place.

Is there a way to increase frequency of time server synchronisations to keep this in check? Or better yet, a reason for this issue, perhaps some recent windows update has this side effect I wouldn't know.

Answer 1

You can adjust it in Registry.

• start registry editor (regedit will do fine)
• go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\TimeProviders\NtpClient
• edit value SpecialPollInterval.

SpecialPollInterval is defined in seconds. If you wish e.g. 1 hour just write 3600. You can calculate rest from here.

Answer 2

It's recommended to not set this property below 14400 (4 hours) to avoid getting banned from the time servers.