2007-07-09

Problem with Windows Time Update

Recently I always faced some strange problems. :-( Today I met a problem with Windows Time Update.

I tried to use the tab "Internet time" after clicking on the clock to select "Adjust Date / Time". When I selected the server "time.windows.com", then clicked "update now" on the right. Ok, error came! I got an error message "An error occurred while Windows was synchronizing with time.windows.com". Great, then I tried it with other time servers. Nothing different.

How to fix this up? Here are some steps I found in the internet.

1. Press Winkey+R, or select "Run..." from the start menu, and type "cmd" in the box;
2. After the command window shows up, type the following commands:

net stop w32time
w32tm /unregister [ignore error message]
w32tm /unregister [enter a second time]
w32tm /register
reg add hklm\system\currentcontrolset\services\w32time\parameters\ /v NtpServer /t reg_sz /d time.nist.gov /f
net start w32time


3. Try the "Internet time" update again. It should work now.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks motou, worked like a charm. :)

Anonymous said...

I had the same problem. Found that the Windows default time providers were not working for me, but that "tick.usno.navy.mil" does work fine.

Choose Start, Run, type regedit and hit ENTER (to edit the registry).
Navigate to:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/DateTime/Servers]

Right click on the first line and choose "Modify" and change the data element to 1.
(This will select the first time provider on your list as the default provider).
Right click on the second line, choose "Modify" and change the data element to:

tick.usno.navy.mil

You can add more time servers if you wish, for example:

"2"="time-a.nist.gov"
"3"="time-b.nist.gov"
"4"="128.105.37.11"
"5"="europe.pool.ntp.org"
"6"="clock.isc.org"
"7"="north-america.pool.ntp.org"
"8"="time.windows.com"
"9"="time.nist.gov"

Closing the registry editor will automatically save your changes.
Open the Date and Time Properties/Internet time and scroll down the new list.