First off- note that Timer can take a start time on the ctor: class timer { public: timer() { _start_time = std::clock(); } // postcondition: elapsed()==0 (snip) high_resolution_timer does not however: class high_resolution_timer { public: // ctor high_resolution_timer() { start_time.QuadPart = 0; frequency.QuadPart = 0; if (!QueryPerformanceFrequency(&frequency)) throw std::runtime_error("Couldn't acquire frequency"); restart(); } (snip) MY PROBLEM: I need to feed the timer the START time (or get FROM it the start time would be preferred) The reason I need this is because for logging purposes (working with the Profiler from Christopher Diggins) I need to log the start and stop times, and I need it to (for internal cross reference) be the same number for multiple purposes. MY REQUESTS: Easy request: high_resolution_timer is changed to have the same type of ctor as timer does May Start a discussion request: That something like a starttime() method is provided for both classes Medium request- That both classes do a typedef for the type returned by the starttime method i.e. instead of class high_resolution_timer { public: (snip) private: timer t; // backup in case of QueryPerformanceCounter() bug LARGE_INTEGER start_time; LARGE_INTEGER frequency; }; You have instead: class high_resolution_timer { public: (snip) typedef LARGE_INTEGER TIME_TYPE; private: timer t; // backup in case of QueryPerformanceCounter() bug TIME_TYPE start_time; TIME_TYPE frequency; }; (for both high_resolution_timer and timer) There you go, those are my requests. Now I will sit here quietly and hope there is a Santa Claus.... (grin)