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I've got a user whose Windows 10 computer won't hold the correct time zone. Specifically, the time zone randomly changes back. The user is in Pacific Time, but the laptop would have been set up at a location in Eastern Time. The user will change the time zone in Windows 10 to PST/PDT but it will randomly change back to EST/EDT. The same happens with boot-up, sometimes the PT time zone will hold, and sometimes it will change to ET on boot-up. I wrote a batch script to change the time zone to PT on log-in, but because the random change happens while the user is on the computer as well, we need a permanent fix.

I found this question on here about CMOS clocks and how they affect the time zone setting. I was thinking to try the specific Windows registry change suggested in the one reply. However, I also wanted to post on here in case there's anything else I could check for. I've checked location services per this other question on here, and they aren't turned on, which from what I understand, means the device IP address should influence geolocation. Additionally, the Windows time settings is set to automatically get the time from the organization's time server, which I was told doesn't influence time zone. (Though, I confess, I don't know how exactly a time server works with respect to local time zones). I even made sure to turn off "Set time zone automatically".

Any ideas?

ETA: The laptop isn't domain-joined, and the Windows profile the user logs into is a local one. The user is in the field and so the organization doesn't domain-join the field laptops.

ETA2: I'm trying to avoid, if possible, going into the BIOS settings. I work for an MSP and we do remote support, so I don't want to walk the user through BIOS settings. If nothing else seems to work, my plan is to open a ticket with the device vendor and one of their techs can walk the user through if they need to.

Dave M
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dEhiN
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3 Answers3

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Check in with your friends - the Windows Event Logs. You may find an application is adjusting the time zone. Filter the System event log for Event ID = 1 or Source = 'Kernel-General'. In our case we found the app named: "MaxproVideoGuardAgent.exe" was changing the Time zone.

Clippership
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Some advice:

  • Check if the BIOS has any time-related settings

  • Run Settings > Privacy > Location and disable "Allow access to location on this device" and "Allow apps to access your location".

  • Enable the Time service and in an elevated Command Prompt run:

      net stop w32time
  w32tm /unregister
  w32tm /register
  net start w32time

    then restart the computer.

  • Check if any applications are installed which are liable to change the time-zone. Dual-booting Windows and Linux can cause problem with the clock.

harrymc
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I have been suffering this issue on a Virtual Box VM. I have realized the VM was being synchronizing the time from the host. below are the steps that worked for me based from https://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?p=380292&sid=82f9d925bd2a73cfb3dddc29335c1399#p380292.

  1. Shutdown the VM
  2. From a command line execute the command: (The path would be different for you) C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox>vboxmanage setextradata YOURVIRTUALMACHINENAME "VBoxInternal/Devices/VMMDev/0/Config/GetHostTimeDisabled" 1
  3. Start the VM and change the date time as normal.
Luis Barrientos
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