Configure Windows 7 As a Time (NTP) Server

 

Windows: Configure Windows 7 As a Time (NTP) Server

Windows Server 2008 includes the functionality to operate as a time (NTP) server.  However, you may occasionally need a time server on a network that includes only workstations.  You can configure Windows 7 to operate as a time server with the following procedure.

(This procedure requires modifications to the Registry.  As always, exercise caution when making any changes to the Registry, and have a full backup... just in case.)

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Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.

Locate and then select the following registry entry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\Config\
In the right pane, right-click AnnounceFlags, and then click Modify.
In the Edit DWORD Value dialog box, under Value data (decimal, not hex), type 5, and then click OK.

Locate and then select the following registry subkey:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\TimeProviders\NtpServer\
In the right pane, right-click the Enabled key, and then click Modify.
In the Edit DWORD Value dialog box, type 1 under Value data (decimal or hex), and then click OK.

Locate and then select the following registry subkey:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\TimeProviders\VMICTimeProvider\
In the right pane, right-click Enabled, and then click Modify
In the Edit DWORD Value dialog box, type 0 under Value data (decimal or hex), and then click OK

Exit Registry Editor.

At a command prompt with elevated privileges, type the following command to restart the Windows Time service, and then press ENTER:
     net stop w32time && net start w32time

To reset the local computers' time against the time server, run the following command on all the computers except the time server:
     w32tm /resync /rediscover