| TIP You can also access the Date/Time Properties utility by double-clicking on the time in the System Tray.
While that takes care of the major system settings, there are a handful of other settings you probably need to know about, just in case. Chances are they're fine as-is but you never know! Resetting the Time and Date The time and date for your system should be automatically set when Windows XP is first installed. If you find that you need to change or reset the time or date settings, follow these steps: 1. | From the Control Panel, click the Date and Time icon.
| 2. | When the Date and Time Properties utility opens, select the Date & Time tab (shown in Figure 2.24).
Figure 2.24. Click the Date and Time icon to set your system's date and time. 
| 3. | Choose the correct month and year from the pull-down lists, click the correct day of the month on the calendar, and set the correct time on the clock.
| 4. | Now select the Time Zone tab. Select the correct time zone from the pull-down list. For most states, you should also select Automatically Adjust Clock for Daylight Saving Changes.
TIP Changing the language and country formats does not change the language used in Windows menus and dialog boxes. (For that you need a local-language version of Windows.) It does, however, affect the data in applications that take advantage of these regional features. | 5. | If you want to automatically set your PC's clock from a time server on the Internet, select the Internet Time tab and check the Automatically Synchronize With an Internet Time Server option. You can choose from several different servers listed in the Server pull-down list. This is one of my favorite new features, because it always seems like one of my systems has a dying battery, and the clock is never right.
| 6. | Click OK when done.
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Changing Your Locality Copies of Windows XP sold in English-speaking countries, by default, are configured for American-style currency and number formats. By changing XP's regional settings properties, you can switch between different international character sets, number formats, currency formats, and date and time displays. This essentially sets up Windows XP for use in other countries. To change the regional settings of Windows XP, follow these steps: 1. | From the Control Panel, click the Regional and Language Options icon.
| 2. | When the Regional and Language Options utility opens, select the Region Options tab to select your region.
| 3. | Select the Languages tab to select a different input language.
| 4. | Select the Advanced tab to select languages for non-Unicode programs and code page conversion tables.
| 5. | Click OK when done.
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