not sure why a non-active directory install of windows xp doesn't default to syncing time off some microsoft service (windows update, for example), but it doesn't.
i recently rebuilt one of my home machines and just realized the clock was off. it was 2 minutes slow relative to my shortwave-mastered desk clock.
during this install, i've been making an effort to add to a setup script, such that i don't have to try to remember how to resolve all the annoyances. this example is:
w32tm /config "/manualpeerlist:clock.sjc.he.net clock.isc.org" /syncfromflags:MANUAL /update w32tm /resync
in other words: sync off ntp and to use a stratum 2 clock and a stratum 3 clock that are both very close to me, network-wise, then to sync.
i may post the whole damn script, when after i run across everything that annoys me in the default xp install.