Time Syncronization Problem

[Dell Boy]

I've just restored a Windows XP Home laptop to factory settings, it wasn't
connected to the network when I did so which may have caused the following
problem. When I look at Control Panel - Date and Time - Internet Time the
following error message is displayed "An error occurred getting the status of
the last synchronization. The RPC Sever is unavailable". I've had to manually
correct the time.

I've Googled this and it looks as if this is problem often caused by the
Windows Time Service not running but that particular service isn't in the
service list on this machine.

The computer is at SP3 plus latest updates.

 

[GT4U]

Dell Boy,
Have you made sure that the time is correct in your bios settings.

Regards

 

[Dell Boy]

Thanks for replying GT4U, time in BIOS is fine, this is a Windows problem.

 

[Unknown]

Change your time server to TICK.USNO.NAVY.MIL

Thanks for replying GT4U, time in BIOS is fine, this is a Windows problem.

 

[Dell Boy]

Thanks for replying, I can't change the time server everything's greyed out

 

[John Wunderlich]

Thanks for replying, I can't change the time server everything's
greyed out on the tab. I suspec the problem may be that the
Windows Time Service isn't installed/present but I'm not sure how
to resolve this.

Right-Click "My Computer" -> Manage -> services and applications ->
Services.
Check the window on the right and verify that there is an entry for
"Windows Time" and the status is "Started"

Assuming that it is there and started, try changing the server with the
following commands entered in a command-prompt window
(start->run->cmd):

net time /setsntp:TICK.USNO.NAVY.MIL
w32tm /config /update
w32tm /resync /rediscover

HTH,
John

 

[Dell Boy]

John, there's no Windows Time service on this machine.

To clarify my previous post, I'm not sure if the time service isn't
installed or whether I can't see it because this is a Win XP Home machine
(the other XP machines I have here at the moment are Pro).

If the service isn't present I guess this may be the casue of the problem.

 

[SC Tom]

Try this:

1. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.
2. Type w32tm /unregister, and then press ENTER.
3. Type w32tm /register, and then press ENTER.
These steps will clean up incorrect Window Time service registry keys.

HTH,
SC Tom

 

[Dell Boy]

Thanks Tom. When I run the first command at the command prompt I get "Access
is denied. (0x80070005)" The user account I'm using has administrator
priveliges.

 

[Unknown]

The server area will be grayed out if the 'synchronize time with internet
time server' box is not checked.
In control panel 'time and date' internet time tab. If off turn on and
reboot.
All XP Windows home editions have time sync.
Then go to control panel, administrative tools, services and make sure
'windows time' is set to automatic.
Post back.

 

[Tim Quan [MSFT]]

Hi,

I understand that when running "w32tm /unregister", an "Access is denied"
error message appears.

This error can occur if Windows Time service is still running.

Now let's open a command prompt and enter each of the commands below:

net stop w32time
w32tm /unregister [you may still receive the "Access is denied" error
message this time, ignore it]
w32tm /unregister [enter a second time. This time you should receive a
message telling you this command is executed successfully]
w32tm /register
net start w32time

Does the "Access is denied" error message still appears?

It we can execute the above commands successfully, please open Control
Panel -> Date and Time -> Internet Time. Check the box before
"Automatically synchronize with an Internet time server" and click Update
Now. Please also test other Internet time servers in the "Server:" dropdown
menu.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
Tim Quan
Microsoft Online Community Support

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[Dell Boy]

Tim,

Thanks for your reply.

When I try to stop the time service I get this error:

"System error 1060 has occurred. The specified service does not exist as an
installed service"

I am sure that I have entered w32time correctly.

When I reset this computer to factory settings it wasn't connected to the
network and for some reason I can't expalin I believe the time service was
not installed as a result.

Do you know of any way that I can install the time service or would it be
quicker to just restore the machine to factory settings again (connected to
the network this time).

 

[Dell Boy]

As I said in reply to your previous post, everything on the Internet Time tab
is greyed out so I can't check or uncheck the box.

This computer does not have Windows Time in the list of services.

 

[FredW]

the last synchronization. The RPC Sever is unavailable". I've had to manually
correct the time.

I've Googled this and it looks as if this is problem often caused by the
Windows Time Service not running but that particular service isn't in the
service list on this machine.

An alternative could be to use this:
http://keir.net/neutron.html

(I have put this little program in my start-up procedure)

 

[SC Tom]

Do you have w32tm.exe in your system32 folder? If so, what are the
properties? My version is "5.1.2600.0 (xpclient.010817-1148)", 8/23/2001,
49k. I'm on XP Home SP3, but with a date of 2001 on the file, the SP level
probably doesn't matter. Also, both check-boxes should be unchecked.

SC Tom

 

[Dell Boy]

Hi Tom,

I have sthe ame version of w32tm.exe (Windows Time Service Diagnostics Tool)
as you, with both boxes unticked (because I have the diagnostics tool doesn't
necessarily mean that the Time Service is installed).

 

[Dell Boy]

Thanks for your suggestion Fred but I prefer to solve the problem.

 

[SC Tom]

Well, crap, I was looking at the wrong file. Do you have w32time.dll? That
is the time service dll.

Here's what I tried as a test:
I stopped the Time Service in services, and the entry went away. So once it
was stopped, it no longer showed in services.
In a command box, I typed:
Regsvr32 /u w32time
A message box came up stating that it was now unregistered. Then I typed in:
Regsvr32 w32time
and got a message that it was now registered.
Then I typed in:
net start w32time
and the service started back up and showed again in services.

Try doing a net stop w32time and see what it says. If it stops it, or says
it's not started, try unregistering it, re-registering it, and then starting
it and see what happens.

SC Tom

 

[Dell Boy]

You're the man SC Tom!

Seriously, thank you for taking the time to research the info you gave me,
here's what I tried and the results:

Command: net stop w32time
Result: "System error 1060 has occurred. The specified service does not
exist as an installed service."

Command: Regsvr32 /u w32time
Result: "DllUnregisterServer in w32time failed. Return code was: 0x80070005."

Command: Regsvr32 w32time
Result: "DllRegisterServer in w32time succeeded."

Command: net start w32time
Result: "The Windows Time service is starting. The Windows Time service was
started successfully."

I now have my Internet Time tab back and the time has been synced. Still
going after two cold starts. Thanks again, that closes this one.

 

[SC Tom]

Whew, glad that worked, because I was out of ideas!
Good deal! Beats having to reinstall the system and still have it (maybe)
not work.
SC Tom