How to Make Changing Date and Time Impossible in Windows
In today’s digital age, the ability to change the date and time on a Windows computer can be both a convenience and a security risk. Whether you’re trying to prevent unauthorized access or simply want to ensure the integrity of your system’s timestamps, making it impossible to alter the date and time can be a crucial step. This article will guide you through the process of securing your Windows system to prevent any changes to the date and time settings.
Step 1: Disable the Date and Time Settings
The first step in making it impossible to change the date and time on your Windows system is to disable the Date and Time settings. This can be done by accessing the System Properties through the Control Panel or Settings app.
1. Open the Control Panel and navigate to “System.”
2. Click on “Advanced system settings” on the left-hand side.
3. In the System Properties window, go to the “Advanced” tab.
4. Under the “Startup and Recovery” section, click on “Settings.”
5. In the System Startup and Recovery window, uncheck the box next to “Write the event to the system log.”
6. Click “OK” to close the System Properties window.
Step 2: Modify the Windows Registry
Disabling the Date and Time settings in the Control Panel will prevent users from changing the date and time through the graphical user interface. However, to ensure that the settings cannot be changed through the registry or other means, you’ll need to modify the Windows Registry.
1. Press “Windows + R” to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “regedit” and press “Enter” to open the Registry Editor.
3. Navigate to the following key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
4. In the right-hand pane, right-click and select “New” > “DWORD (32-bit) Value.”
5. Name the new value “NoChangeDate.”
6. Double-click the new value and set its value data to “1.”
7. Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
Step 3: Secure the BIOS/UEFI
Another critical step in preventing the date and time from being changed is to secure the BIOS or UEFI firmware on your computer. This will prevent any changes to the system date and time from being made during the boot process.
1. Restart your computer and enter the BIOS/UEFI setup by pressing the appropriate key (e.g., F2, Del, or Esc) during the boot process.
2. Navigate to the “Security” or “Advanced” tab.
3. Look for an option to disable the date and time settings or to prevent changes to the system clock.
4. Enable the appropriate setting and save the changes before exiting the BIOS/UEFI setup.
Conclusion
By following these steps, you can make it impossible to change the date and time on your Windows system. This can be a valuable security measure to prevent unauthorized access and ensure the integrity of your system’s timestamps. Remember to back up your system before making any changes to the registry or BIOS/UEFI settings, as these changes can have significant consequences if not done correctly.
