How does Windows synchronize?

It's time to talk about how Windows synchronization works. Responsible for this in the Microsoft operating systems service, which is called W32Time.

In order to configure it, you need to make appropriate changes to the registry. The most frequently used parameters relate to the source lists for time, as well as the intervals of this synchronization, after which the source will be accessed.

Time synchronization Windows XP occurs only from one source. Even if there is a rich list on your list, the system will only use one. Why do they indicate a large number of sources? Everything is very simple. This is done so that if the first is unavailable, the system accesses the next list.

If there are problems with the next one, the conversion will occur to the third, fourth and so on, until the procedure is completed successfully. The synchronization of Windows 7 is done in the same way.

Sets the specified source list for synchronization using a special registry key. It looks like this: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINES \ SYSTEMS \ CurrentControlSets \ Servicing \ W32Times \ Parameter \ NtpServers. The last value is a key that is separated by spaces and is a list of time servers. It can be specified either by a domain name or by the IP address itself. Each of these servers can have the specified hexadecimal values for the flags, which must be specified separated by a comma. This is prescribed after each server name.

There are four possible flags. The first one is 0x01. It is called a special interval. The second one is 0x02. It is called "used only as a spare". The third one is 0x04. It is called symmetrically active. And finally, the fourth one is 0x08. It is called the client. Windows time synchronization can only occur with these flags.

When you use the first, you must specify a value for the interval in the key that is responsible for this interval. By default, the system is set to one week. Therefore, the synchronization of Windows time occurs every 604,800 seconds. If the accuracy of the system clock is low, this interval is too long.

Some devices have an error in a few minutes from the update to the update. Therefore, it makes sense to shorten the interval in such a way that the synchronization of Windows time was produced in a few hours. This change does not significantly increase your traffic or load on the server. However, such an adjustment will enable you to maintain a fairly high accuracy of your computer clock.

When you make the necessary changes to your registry, confirm them, and then you will need to reboot your system. After that, the update interval will be shortened to that of the indicator that you set for this purpose.

Now you can be sure one hundred percent that the clock on your computer or laptop will display the correct time. I just want to warn you that working with the registry is necessary very carefully and carefully. No errors are allowed. Otherwise, you risk reinstalling your operating system.