Prevent user changing time manually?

[gkarasik]

Well I can get it to run on a schedule and sync the clock every minute without the program launch window showing up. The problem I've got is that once time sync is complete I get this window.

View attachment 359314

So if I could figure out how to hide it?

In any case even if the system clock was adjusted to always show the correct time using any method - obviously the user will catch on! I mean who doesn't check the time on their mobile phone, wristwatch of office wall clock?

I found a time-sync program, Dimension 4, Thinking Man Software - Dimension 4 v5.3, that runs hidden. I'm experimenting with it.

Thanks, everyone, for your thoughts. I will post when I have a resolution.

GaryK

 

[GokAy]

Hmm, Callender's post gave me an idea for a search.

Make Windows synchronize time more often - scroll down to "How to do it: A different scheduled task"

It involves resyncing more frequently with a new scheduled task. Changing the task already present doesn't work! Task can be run as frequent as 5 minutes.

Need confirmation whether it would work in domain environment. It uses w32tm.exe /resync. This might be better than a 3rd party tool if it works for you.

 

[gkarasik]

Hmm, Callender's post gave me an idea for a search.

Make Windows synchronize time more often - scroll down to "How to do it: A different scheduled task"

It involves resyncing more frequently with a new scheduled task. Changing the task already present doesn't work! Task can be run as frequent as 5 minutes.

Need confirmation whether it would work in domain environment. It uses w32tm.exe /resync. This might be better than a 3rd party tool if it works for you.

Brilliant! Yes, it would work better. I see no reason why it wouldn't work in a domain. Thanks!

GaryK

 

[Callender]

Saw that and it works but must be very easy for an adminstrator to figure out and undo!

 

[gkarasik]

Saw that and it works but must be very easy for an adminstrator to figure out and undo!

Well, she's an admin in name only. Pretty much clueless about computers, so I don't think that'd be an issue. I'm going to try to add System permissions and see if that gets me to where I want. Otherwise I will create a task that schedules the w32time exe to run every hour or so.

By the way--great group of people here.

GaryK

 

[matts6887]

Like one of the others mentioned; have you tried to search and see if there is a way to remove the adjust date/time heading from the clock when you right click on it; or even when you double click on it? Try searching the forums using the forum search box and see if it helps ya out any.

 

[DavidE]

Hey after dinner, I searched for this and found http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/113557-date-time-allow-prevent-users-groups-changing.html

See if it helps you. (No dry sympathies)

Thanks. These alternatives prevent both manual and automatic reset. I want to prevent manual changes, but I want the system time to be correct and to autocorrect as necessary.

GaryK

I just tried this on my home PC, Win 7 x64.

I manually changed the time so it is wrong.
I removed Administrators from the Local Security Policy per Shawn's tutorial.
I attempted to manually change time and was blocked.
I manually ran the built in SynchronizeTime scheduled task.
The scheduled task updated the time correctly, no errors.

Maybe it works different on a Domain, but i don't have the issue on my home PC.

 

[gkarasik]

Like one of the others mentioned; have you tried to search and see if there is a way to remove the adjust date/time heading from the clock when you right click on it; or even when you double click on it? Try searching the forums using the forum search box and see if it helps ya out any.

Thanks. I have sought but not found. I suspect I could edit a DLL to remove those headings if I know which DLL to edit.

GaryK

 

[Callender]

Some reading material: Change Internet Time Update interval in Windows 7 / 8

 

[gkarasik]

Some reading material: Change Internet Time Update interval in Windows 7 / 8

Thanks much. I will look at this.

GaryK

 

[gkarasik]

Hi,

Thanks to everyone who helped me think this through.

The solution uses a combination of changing local security policy suggested here (http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/113557-date-time-allow-prevent-users-groups-changing.html) and the very full-featured and free-for-home-use time-sync program Dimension 4 (Thinking Man Software - Dimension 4 v5.3). Changing local security policy does prevent the user from changing the time, but it also prevents WIndows Time service from running, so over time the system clock can drift too far off course. Dimension4 runs as a service, runs hidden, and has profuse configuration options and keeps the time synced despite the user's not having time-change permission. As a final option I set the Windows Time service to manual.

 

[DavidE]

The default setting in Windows 7 for the Windows Time service is Manual.
If yours was changed to something else, maybe that caused the issue ?

 

[gkarasik]

The default setting in Windows 7 for the Windows Time service is Manual.
If yours was changed to something else, maybe that caused the issue ?

Tried it both ways. Regardless of setting, it wouldn't start with Administrators permissions removed from local security policy. It was set to Automatic by a previous administration. It was this way on thousands of machines, and as it never affected anything, I never bothered to change it back.

GaryK

 

[UsernameIssues]

Setting clocks ahead a bit is recommended for some people with certain disorders. Messing with a computer's clock is not the best solution in a business setting. I've been watching this thread and looking for a clock app that allows the user to display the incorrect time (without messing with the system's time). I did not have any luck finding such an app - so, I wrote one. I'll send you a Private Message.