Set Date for Teachers

[LeMarchand]

(Hopefully) my final question for today (though I have this niggling feeling that there was one more...). Apologies if this isn't the right section.

I know that it's a doddle to change the date on a computer, but I need something a bit more "teacher friendly" and free (open source even better).

The scenario is that the plan is to install SteadyState on a bunch of kids laptops, set to revert when the date reaches 2020. If the laptop is playing up, the teacher can invoke SteadyState by changing the date, wiping all the rubbish installed by the kids (their docs will be on a separate partition). After the reboot/reversion the date will need to be corrected.

The machines aren't connected to the domain, so I can't get them to pick up the correct date/time on reboot that way (or can I?) and I don't want to have to install something like Neutron to run at every startup for what shouldn't be an frequent occurrence.

So, basically a simple program that teachers can invoke and set the date to 2020 and after reboot correct the date. It sounds like it shouldn't be hard to code, but my skillz are more sad than mad .

[RabbieBurns]

do they have internet access?

[SYNACK]

A batch file?

wipe.bat

date 12/12/2020

Just chuck it in their start menu and get them to click it when needed

[LeMarchand]

do they have internet access?

Yes. (Unless one of the problems is that the little darling has stuffed that up!)

[RabbieBurns]

net time /set

works for setting the time from a DC. Will that work to set the time from the internet if theres no DC?

[SYNACK]

You can grab the time directly off the network if you want with a batch file in the startup group or startup script depending on the Windows version:

Configuring XP Time Settings with the NET TIME Command &middot Tutorial 2000Trainers.com

net time \\192.168.1.2 /set /yes

[LeMarchand]

A batch file?

Just chuck it in their start menu and get them to click it when needed

I guess I've been "over thinking" a solution, haven't I? (Not that I knew it was that simple to change the date!)

I could do another to invoke something like Neutron on a one-off basis to automatically correct the date after the reboot.

You are a genius!

[SYNACK]

Happy to help, it is easy to get caught up in a problem as I have done many times.

If you add the net time command above to startup it should correct the date automaticly if the station is on the network.

[LeMarchand]

Sorry, I've only just noticed the posts that appeared during my last answer.

Thanks everyone, not sure if net time will work (as the laptops don't connect to the domain) but I guess it should as they still connect to the DCHP server. I'll try to check this afternoon when I'm in that school - though as they're being OFSTED-ed on Monday I think I might have a few more urgent support requests!