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I've set up a dual boot betwix Windows 7 RC and Ubuntu. Every time I boot into Windows after booting into Ubuntu I get the wrong time which is kind of annoying. I have to resync online with Windows to get the right time, but since I can change what format Ubuntu saves its time as I just want to know what format Windows uses. Is it UTC? Is it local? Is it magic?
Any help would be appreciated.
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Answer accepted by question author
Windows expects the BIOS clock to be set to local time, and modifies it when you switch time zones. Linux generally expects the system clock to be set to UTC, and translates it to local time whenever you display it. Just a difference in defaults.
There is a hack to make Windows run the system clock in UTC, but you can change /etc/default/rcS on your Ubuntu drive to say UTC=no and be supported by both OSes, I believe.
I realise this is old but it ranks high in search results so figured i would post.
Windows 7 can use UTC instead of Localtime. The time is stored in the bios, and of course is set to utc by linux and localtime by windows by default
To make this change you do need to alter the registry to be able to do this. This is an easy task if you are comfortable with windows registry
You will need admin privledges to do this, if your dual booting im guessing you know what you are doing
Create the following file WindowsUtcTime.reg and then place the following contents into the file.
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\TimeZoneInformation]"RealTimeIsUniversal"=dword:00000001
Once Saved open and windows will take care of the rest.
You will need to reboot for this to take affect.
You say you are dual booting with Windows 7 RC. Is the RC a typo? I thought the release candidate had already time-bombed. In fact, 7 sp1 is upon us on any week now.
Colin Barnhorst
Either Ubuntu or Windows is probably not set to your correct Time Zone.
Rating posts helps other usersMark L. Ferguson MS-MVP
