W32time event id 36

[Louis Rost]

On an irregular basis I get the subject message logged in event
viewer. The text of the message is:

The time service has not been able to synchronize the system time for
49152 seconds because none of the time providers has been able to
provide a usable time stamp. The system clock is unsynchronized.

The event occurs in intervals ranging from less than 24 hours to as
long as 5 days. It occurs on 3 systems, 2 XP home w/SP2 and 1 XP pro
w/ SP2, networked using a workgroup. The 3 systems are configured to
update the clock via the internet every 7 days and that function works
as a message is logged in the event viewer when the clocks are
updated.

I've read the supporting documentation in help and support about this
message but find no indication of network problems prior to or after
this event is logged. My systems are currrent relative to fixes
provided by Microsoft. I've scanned the systems using Spybot,
Ad-Aware, CWShredder and HijackThis and found no indications of
problems.

Thanks, Lou.

 

[R. McCarty]

Toggle the synchronization server to: time.nist.gov
Date & Time, Internet Time (TAB)

 

[Gerry Cornell]

Louis

Did you read this.


--


Hope this helps.


Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England


Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Details
Product: Windows Operating System
Event ID: 36
Source: W32Time
Version: 5.2
Symbolic Name: MSG_TIME_SOURCE_NONE
Message: The time service has not synchronized the system time
for %1 seconds because none of the time service providers provided a usable
time stamp. The time service is no longer synchronized and cannot provide
the time to other clients or update the system clock. Monitor the system
events displayed in the Event Viewer to make sure that a more serious
problem does not exist.

Explanation
Windows Time Service cannot synchronize with its time source.

When a computer cannot synchronize with its source for a period
of time, it will not provide the time to requesting clients. The local
computer time cannot be updated until successful communication with the time
source resumes.

Usually, this message does not indicate an immediate problem.
However, it represents a condition that can cause problems if it continues
for an extended period of time.


User Action
If the W32Time 36 message appears on a domain controller, verify
that the computer can successfully communicate with other domain controllers
in the domain. While a domain controller is in this condition, it will not
provide the time to requesting clients. If the condition persists, it might
result in problems downstream from the domain controller.

The W32Time 36 message is expected on domain controllers that
are also PDC emulators for the forest root domain. The PDC emulator in the
forest root domain is the root server in the time synchronization hierarchy
and, by default, does not have a time source configured. The PDC emulator
will continue to provide the time to clients despite its unsynchronized
state. It is recommended that the PDC be configured with a reliable and
secure time source, which normally prevents this condition.

If the W32Time 36 message appears on a computer that is not a
domain controller, such as a home computer, business workstation, or member
server, no user action is required. By default, these systems do not provide
the time to requesting clients and should be the only computers affected by
this event. After connectivity or communication with the time source is
restored, the computer will resume synchronizing with its source.

In all cases, verify that there are no Event Viewer messages
that report network connectivity or related issues.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Related Knowledge Base articles
You can find additional information on this topic in the
following Microsoft Knowledge Base articles:
. W32Time reports an incorrect time for how long a computer
is on standby
When you resume a computer from standby in Microsoft
Windows XP, you receive a warning message in the event log that is similar
to the following: Source: W32TimeType: WarningCategory: NoneEvent ID:
36Description: The time service has not been able...
. List of fixes included in Windows XP Service Pack 2
Primarily intended for IT Professionals, this article lists
the fixes that are included in Windows XP Service Pack 2.

 

[Louis Rost]

Thanks, but...

One system was already configured to use time.nist.gov and failed. I
changed another of the system to use this site as well and will wait
and see what happens.

Lou

 

[Unk]

On an irregular basis I get the subject message logged in event
viewer. The text of the message is:

The time service has not been able to synchronize the system time for
49152 seconds because none of the time providers has been able to
provide a usable time stamp. The system clock is unsynchronized.

The event occurs in intervals ranging from less than 24 hours to as
long as 5 days. It occurs on 3 systems, 2 XP home w/SP2 and 1 XP pro
w/ SP2, networked using a workgroup. The 3 systems are configured to
update the clock via the internet every 7 days and that function works
as a message is logged in the event viewer when the clocks are
updated.

I've read the supporting documentation in help and support about this
message but find no indication of network problems prior to or after
this event is logged. My systems are currrent relative to fixes
provided by Microsoft. I've scanned the systems using Spybot,
Ad-Aware, CWShredder and HijackThis and found no indications of
problems.

Thanks, Lou.

Try setting the service up anew:

1. Start->Run-> cmd.exe
2. net stop w32time
3. w32tm.exe /unregister
4. w32tm.exe /register
5. net start w32time

Note spellings w32tm and w32time in different commands
Use all 5 steps regardless of any error messages

 

[Louis Rost]

Try setting the service up anew:

1. Start->Run-> cmd.exe
2. net stop w32time
3. w32tm.exe /unregister
4. w32tm.exe /register
5. net start w32time

Note spellings w32tm and w32time in different commands
Use all 5 steps regardless of any error messages

Ok. Did it. Will wait and see.

Lou

 

[Guest]

just try this
hopefully it will fix:
Try this:
1.Start->Run cmd.exe
2. net stop w32time
3. w32tm.exe /unregister
4. w32tm.exe /register
5. net start w32time

Ignore errors, continue with the steps
if this doesn't working copy get acopy of w32time.dll from another computer
adn then do the above steps again

this will fix your problem

 

[DoctorQuality]

"W32Time. Event ID 36. The time service has not been able to synchronize the system time for 49152 seconds because none of the time providers has been able to provide a usable time stamp. The system clock is unsynchronized."

When a user sees this Event ID 36 being thrown, even though the computer is synchronizing regularly and/or manually, it is being caused by a specific application (in my case it was Mozilla Sunbird) calling w32Time directly to try to effect a resynchronization. If that specific synchronization fails, then this error message is thrown. The error message is not truly descriptive or accurate regarding what has actually occurred. The number 49152 quoted is simply an artifact, being derived directly from a calculation based on the value of MaxPollInterval, and the number actually has no bearing on the true amount of time that has expired unsynchronized.

An error message more along the lines of "W32Time was unable to perform the synchronization requested by an application," without mention of any "elapsed time unsynchronized," would be more precise and useful. It appears that the coder simply didn't bother to develop the better error message, instead re-purposing the error message already available. Or perhaps the error is just dropping out of the bottom of the error subroutine, defaulting to this message.

The above-referenced calculation is 2 raised to the MaxPollInterval power x 1.5. The default MaxPollInterval value is 15. 2 to the 15th power = 32,768. 32,768 seconds x 1.5 = 49,152 seconds. Thus the intent is that W32Time should wait no longer than 32,768 seconds to attempt a synchronization. And that 49,152 should be the point at which W32Time throws an Event ID 36 error to the inform the user if no successful synchronization occurs by that time.

However most users do not see Event ID 36 throw in every-day/default usage because MinPollInterval and MaxPollInterval value are being superseded by the value of SpecialPollInterval. Such is the case when the entries for the time servers to be polled (listed in the NtpServer key) are appended with ",0x1". And, indeed, "time.windows.com, 0x1" is, historically, the default entry. (And typical instructions regarding how to adjust the list of time servers include the appending of ", 0x1".) The default entry for SpecialPollInterval is 604,800 (seconds, or exactly 7 days). So, in every-day/default usage, Event ID 36 will not throw unless 10.5 days has passed without a successful synchronization. (If the NtpServer key entries are not appended, then the MinPollInterval and MaxAPollInterval are indeed in force.)

If the computer is not connected to the Internet (ie, not connected to a domain), then the polling interval does not increment at all, as the scenario is such that it is not possible for the computer to synchronize at all.

Again, if a user sees this EventID 36 W32Time error message -- and the computer hasn't actually expired its allotted time limit before the error message ought normally occur, and/or it is known that the computer is regularly and/or manually synching correctly -- then the cause is an application calling W32Time to synchronize and then that specific synchronization failed. So W32Time throws its/this standard "couldn't synch" error message, where the message isn't truly informing what occurred and the number it contains is not accurate.

MaxPollInterval is found at HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\Config\

MinPollInterval is found at HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\Config\

SpecialPollInterval is found at HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\TimeProviders\NtpClient

NtpServer is found at HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\Parameters