Fixing the Time Mismatch Between Linux and Windows on a Dual-Boot Setup

Recently, in order to play World of Warcraft Classic, I dug out an SSD portable drive, installed Windows to Go on it, and set up all sorts of software for gaming.

Then I noticed the problem:

The time shown under Linux and under Windows is always different

Truth is, the reason is simple enough. The two systems handle time differently: Linux sets the BIOS clock to GMT 0 (UTC) and works out the local time from the time zone, while Windows just writes local time straight into the BIOS.

So the fix is simple too: either change Linux’s policy or change Windows’s. Since Windows isn’t my main system, I decided Windows should be the one to compromise:

Run CMD as administrator and enter:

Reg add HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\TimeZoneInformation /v RealTimeIsUniversal /t REG_DWORD /d

Reboot and it takes effect.