After Powershell Set-Date, Windows is resetting to live Date shortly

[Gustl22]

Description

In order to install a certificate for a virtual audio device (see #2528, which is also not resolved completely), I need to reset the system date time.

But after setting the time with:

Set-Date (Get-Date "2023-07-04 12:00:00");

It is reset immediately after that. See the run.

I already asked this in the Microsoft QA: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/1345225/powershell-set-date-is-resetting-to-its-original-v

They proposed, that the error is in the system host, which constantly trying to keep the date up to date. Is there a way to disable resetting the system time from the host side?

Platforms affected

• Azure DevOps
• GitHub Actions - Standard Runners
• GitHub Actions - Larger Runners

Runner images affected

• Ubuntu 20.04
• Ubuntu 22.04
• macOS 11
• macOS 12
• macOS 13
• Windows Server 2019
• Windows Server 2022

Image version and build link

Version: 20230804.1.0

Is it regression?

I don't think so

Expected behavior

If setting the time with Set-time, then keep the time on the guest system.

Actual behavior

The time is resetting immediately after setting the custom time, see "Show timestamps" on a regular GH action run.

Repro steps

net stop w32time; W32tm /unregister; Set-Date (Get-Date "2023-07-04 12:00:00")
# Do stuff....
# ...date is reset to current DateTime before finishing the tasks
# Reset the time if wanted:
# W32tm /register; net start w32time; w32tm /resync /force; $currentDate = Get-Date; Write-Host "Current System Date: $currentDate"

[shamil-mubarakshin]

Hello @Gustl22, thanks for reporting.
We will take a look