Windows 7 / Getting Started

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Changing Your PC's Time and Date

Let's try out some of what we learned in this tutorial by configuring some basic Windows system settings. There's a lot more where this comes from, which we'll cover in subsequent tutorials; for now, this should help you get your hands dirty with configuration basics.

The first system setting we'll configure is your computer's time and date setting. In Windows 7, the time and date are displayed at the far right of the taskbar. You can even display a larger analog clock and the current month's calendar, by clicking the normal time and date display.

Displaying the Date and Time Dialog Box

You make all date and time-related changes via the Date and Time dialog box. There are a number of ways to get to this dialog box; you can:

• Click the time and date area on the taskbar to display the calendar and clock; then click Change Date and Time Settings.
• Right-click the time and date area on the taskbar and select Adjust Date/Time from the pop-up menu.
• Open the Control Panel and select Date and Time.

Changing Date and Time

To change the date and time, follow these steps:

1. From the Date and Time dialog box, select the Date and Time tab.
2. Click the Change Date and Time button.
3. When the Date and Time Settings dialog box appears, click the desired date on the calendar; use the right and left arrows to cycle back and forward through the months.
4. Adjust the control under the clock to select a new time.
5. Click OK to close the dialog box.

Changing Time Zone

The time you select in Windows is tied to a specific time zone. To change your time zone, follow these steps:

1. From the Date and Time dialog box, select the Date and Time tab.
2. Click the Change Time Zone button.
3. When the Time Zone Settings dialog box appears, pull down the Time Zone list and select the appropriate time zone.
4. If you want Windows to automatically change the time when Daylight Saving Time changes (and you probably do), check the Automatically Adjust Clock for Daylight Saving Time option.
5. Click OK to close the dialog box.

Displaying Additional Clocks

Windows can display multiple clocks for multiple time zones, which is quite useful when you're traveling. To display another clock, follow these steps:

1. From the Date and Time dialog box, select the Additional Clocks tab.
2. Check the first Show This Clock option.
3. Pull down the Select Time Zone list and select the time zone for the clock you want to display.
4. Enter a name for this clock in the Enter Display Name box.
5. Click OK to close the dialog box.

To add another clock, check the second Show This Clock option and repeat steps 3 and 4.

Synchronizing Time Over the Internet

Windows is configured by default to connect to the Internet and get the current time from the time.windows.com server. If you'd rather synchronize to another time server, follow these steps:

1. From the Date and Time dialog box, select the Internet Time tab.
2. Click the Change Settings button.
3. When the Internet Time Settings dialog box appears, pull down the Server list and make another selection.
4. Click the Update Now button to synchronize your computer with the new time server.
5. Click OK to close the dialog box.