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Off hours: Put your name in the Windows XP notification area

118 comment(s)

During those times when the urgent need for high powered technical intelligence wanes a bit– especially on a slow Friday afternoon — try this fun trick and amaze your colleagues. Here’s how to make your “own” time by putting your name in the notification area next to the time.

  1. Access the Control Panel from the Start menu.
  2. Double click Regional and Language Options.
  3. Click the Customize button in the Standards And Formats panel of the Regional Options tab.
  4. When the Customize Regional Options dialog box appears, select the Time tab.
  5. In the AM Symbol and PM Symbol boxes, you can replace that text with your name or whatever word you want, as long as it is no longer than 12 characters.
  6. To complete the operation, click OK twice — once to close the Customize Regional Options dialog box and once to close the Regional And Language Options dialog box.

You’ll instantly see your name appear in the notification area right next to the time.

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Greg ShultzGreg Shultz is a freelance Technical Writer. Previously, he has worked as Documentation Specialist in the software industry, a Technical Support Specialist in educational industry, and a Technical Journalist in the computer publishing industry. Read his full bio and profile.

Print/View all Posts Comments on this blog

Not if you're using a 24 hour clock.... mark.aggleton@... | 02/28/08
for non us basedow@... | 02/28/08
non US are language sensitive bop@... | 02/28/08
Lovin it Kdoc1@... | 02/28/08
Even 24 hours you can ramesh.mj@... | 02/28/08
Thank you carlos.oliveira@... | 02/28/08
Even simpler bart.prins@... | 02/28/08
Works with Vista as well damian205 | 05/22/08
This affects other programs gworley@... | 02/28/08
Kinda/sorta jheaton@... | 02/28/08
need to display seconds in notification area. IDeas? ravikiranamara@... | 03/21/08
Use an alternative tray clock dutch_gemini@... | 03/27/08
If affects Outlook chaneys@... | 02/28/08
Doesn't have to be your name pam101 | 02/28/08
Why'd you do that? Mond0 | 02/28/08
Don't Do It AtCollege | 02/28/08
Good Catch ROMbler | 02/29/08
Well spotted donald_a_taylor@... | 03/13/08
Thanks boguscomputer | 03/23/08
Unwanted in other programs - looks unprofessional Mike@... | 02/28/08
My new least favorite term/word hcetrepus | 03/11/08
Sorry, wrong. noah@... | 02/28/08
Putting Name without affect the clock - other way magician_pe@... | 02/28/08
good idea va1pr@... | 03/03/08
Cool! uu22_1978@... | 03/09/08
What the? donald_a_taylor@... | 02/28/08
Thank You s31064 | 03/03/08
Yes if you're using the 24 hour clock ... jonathanmccoll@... | 03/07/08
No No No Paul@... | 07/27/08
OutLook randy.dyke@... | 06/23/08
RE: Off hours: Put your name in the Windows XP notification area yapzui@... | 02/28/08
RE: Off hours: Put your name in the Windows XP notification area ramesh.mj@... | 02/28/08
name in the clock va1pr@... | 02/28/08
I had problems too hans@... | 02/28/08
the function is language sensitive bop@... | 02/28/08
Even better fidz63 | 02/28/08
alfaclock doesn't seem to be available anymore. alle2003@... | 02/28/08
try here sandrail43@... | 03/03/08
customize time notification area in xp manishjulka@... | 02/28/08
The author missed something... Timbo Zimbabwe | 02/28/08
Thanks exnav29 | 02/28/08
RE: Off hours: Put your name in the Windows XP notification area snapperlogic@... | 02/28/08
RE: Off hours: Put your name in the Windows XP notification area fujihts@... | 02/28/08
RE: Off hours: Put your name in the Windows XP notification area roy.reichelt@... | 02/28/08
you must be new in the game Paul@... | 07/27/08
RE: Off hours: Put your name in the Windows XP notification area eqwebs | 02/28/08
Waste 5 mins? paul_f_rigby@... | 04/06/08
RE: Off hours: Put your name in the Windows XP notification area pratheepan@... | 02/28/08
RE: Off hours: Put your name in the Windows XP notification area reggy@... | 02/28/08
Usefull ? peter@... | 02/28/08
Immediately Useful for our office marvinator2003@... | 02/28/08
ID tag reggy@... | 02/28/08
If you like that, you're gonna love this Mond0 | 02/28/08
Eindelijk en gezonde mening Paul@... | 07/27/08
why not just name the image brendan.roberts@... | 06/23/08
Okay, But if the machine can't boot ? reggy@... | 06/23/08
Again a proof of High IQ 2 the Dutch Paul@... | 07/27/08
Can Programs write to that spot ? Rob C | 02/28/08
99% sure it is stored in hte registry afgcons@... | 02/28/08
REG CuChulainn | 02/28/08
Thanks, my Control Panel Applet is Missing TheGooch1 | 02/28/08
Registry Edit Breaks Outlook TheGooch1 | 02/28/08
Yes, it should be emerem2tor@... | 02/28/08
why bpenrod@... | 02/28/08
Works in Vista too. mailme@... | 02/28/08
from kuthalam ramesh_kkr@... | 02/28/08
RE: Off hours: Put your name in the Windows XP notification area tati.reddys@... | 02/28/08
Can't use numbers gary@... | 02/28/08
RE: Off hours: Put your name in the Windows XP notification area mankind_lover11@... | 02/28/08
Changes Outlook timestamps as well john.campbell@... | 02/28/08
RE: Outlook changes ccolantonio@... | 02/28/08
A usefull use ddc3ms@... | 02/28/08
Adding Timezone RFink | 02/28/08
RE: Off hours: Put your name in the Windows XP notification area wsmith@... | 02/28/08
yeah... bpenrod@... | 02/28/08
RE: Off hours: Put your name in the Windows XP notification area lanni.e@... | 02/28/08
RE: Off hours: Put your name in the Windows XP notification area Jersey Bill | 02/28/08
This makes a GLOBAL change techrepublic@... | 02/28/08
Global Change - Outlook Meeting Notices richard.n.carpenter@... | 02/28/08
Windows XP notification area muleram@... | 02/28/08
Regional and Language Option Not In Control Panel TheGooch1 | 02/28/08
Changes Thunderbird timestamps ckasper@... | 02/28/08
CAREFUL!! whiplashm1@... | 02/28/08
Could not agree more rpost@... | 02/28/08
Mapping software too with every move you make! HIGBEEST@... | 02/29/08
a dangerous drug ! bop@... | 02/28/08
dangerous drug bpenrod@... | 02/28/08
I do ! bop@... | 02/28/08
J D carter jdc100@... | 02/28/08
Freeware Alternative gdimagery | 02/28/08
Freeware Alternative alle2003@... | 02/28/08
RE: Off hours: Put your name in the Windows XP notification area umbb11 | 02/28/08
RE: Off hours: Put your name in the Windows XP notification area richard7@... | 02/28/08
adds your "text" to all replied/forwarded e-mails mikewbc | 02/28/08
A colossal waste of time!! klawrence@... | 02/28/08
Correction southoceandrive@... | 03/24/08
RE: Off hours: Put your name in the Windows XP notification area RenquinSr@... | 02/28/08
RE: Off hours: Put your name in the Windows XP notification area RenquinSr@... | 02/28/08
RE: Off hours: Put your name in the Windows XP notification area mehfuz1 | 02/28/08
RE: Off hours: Put your name in the Windows XP notification area alle2003@... | 02/28/08
Other Way: Putting Name in task bar magician_pe@... | 02/28/08
It is a collosal waste of time, but patrick_mullen@... | 06/01/08
Off hours: Could be your Org. name in the Windows XP notification area davidmathiraj@... | 02/28/08
DONT DO IT ben.rattigan | 02/29/08
Maybe this help you magician_pe@... | 02/29/08
AM -PM =Name cholan41@... | 03/02/08
RE: Off hours: Put your name in the Windows XP notification area deyamag@... | 03/03/08
Put your name in the Windows XP notification area - not! elongp | 03/06/08
I cant believe it niqd@... | 03/06/08
Read People Read shemcphe@... | 06/19/09
Off Hours mikeholli | 03/27/08
RE: Off hours: Put your name in the Windows XP notification area uu22_1978@... | 03/09/08
Look at your send mail items reggy@... | 03/10/08
Maybe Just Outlook? hcetrepus | 03/11/08
RE: Off hours: Put your name in the Windows XP notification area barbm@... | 03/14/08
RE: Off hours: Put your name in the Windows XP notification area sultanbosch@... | 03/18/08
RE: Off hours: Put your name in the Windows XP notification area toats2006@... | 03/28/08
RE: Off hours: Put your name in the Windows XP notification area ssavvy | 04/11/08

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