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How to change the system clock
Posted: 4. May 2020, 17:11
by gtsolid
Hi,
i would need to change the system clock on my XP VM.
I know hot to change the system one, but i'm not sure about the BIOS and installation date.
Can you help me please?
Re: How to change the system clock
Posted: 4. May 2020, 17:24
by scottgus1
VBoxManage modifyvm <name> -biossystemtimeoffset <-msec>
shifts the time by the number of milliseconds in "msec" (msec should be negative to backwards, it appears).
For more info see
viewtopic.php?t=347 and 'biossystemtimeoffset' under
https://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch08. ... e-modifyvm.
The time shift is relative. It will have to be recalculated each time to keep the guest clock on a particular date.
If you are trying to keep XP running because it won't activate, XP can no longer go online, it is too old for modern internet. And the activation servers for XP are down. Use the phone-in method.
Re: How to change the system clock
Posted: 5. May 2020, 12:21
by gtsolid
How to check the current BIOS time? i need the starting date to make the calculation.
Currently i changed only the systray clock and removed NAT. I need to make running an old software i bought in 2010 and now i have some trouble keeping it running
Re: How to change the system clock
Posted: 5. May 2020, 12:50
by Martin
Have a look at
viewtopic.php?p=359885#p359885
or
viewtopic.php?p=122063#p122063
and the threads around it.
More can be found with 'script biossystemtimeoffset site:forums.virtualbox.org' in a search engine of your choice.

Re: How to change the system clock
Posted: 5. May 2020, 18:34
by scottgus1
Changing the system clock is probably a workaround to prevent the 30-day XP activation countdown. It is an
"XY problem".
Activate XP:
https://superuser.com/a/1502890