time sync between host and guest

[tomcat]

I often find the time is different between host and guest by 5 mins sometimes (wish I knew why, which makes problem number 1). I can see the guest making gradual adjustments to catch up, but I’d prefer the instant correction, which by default is only done when the difference is more than 20 mins.
I issue the following command to keep the drift manageable under 5 seconds.
VBoxManage guestproperty set bluebear "/VirtualBox/GuestAdd/VBoxService/--timesync-set-threshold” 5000
However this doesn’t work – When I try adjusting the host clock by a couple of mins, the guest still only adjusts gradually. Could you assist please.
I am using windows xp in host and guest. host is on 24/7

[mpack]

Did you install guest additions in the guest? The time sync commands will not work without it.

[tomcat]

yes they are present

[Perryg]

Assuming that you have as Don said installed the guest additions:

Decrease the threshold until it behaves. I use 1000 for the one that misbehaved for me. (by the way this seems to be the guest OS that is actually causing this issue since I have plenty that don't exhibit this issue).

[tomcat]

its hit and miss then is it. Can Iset the value to 0?

[Perryg]

I wouldn't, 1000 is almost instantaneous for mine.

[tomcat]

yes this works now, thanks.
But I now have some extra (mistyped) properties, which I have tried removing with "VBoxManage guestproperty set " which the manual says will delete them, it doesn't, all it does it set the value to blank

[Perryg]

Blank statements are of no concern. Unless you know what you are doing I would leave everything alone.
Remember the phrase "if it ain't broke keep working on it until it is"?
Really, since there are no values they will not be an issue.