Selecting an Internet Time Server

Hello MajorGeeks! :wave

Recently the clock in my taskbar has been off by about one minute. So when I attempted to synchronize the clock in Control Panel < Date and Time < Tab: Internet Time, and clicked Update Now, I got a message that it couldn't synchronize with time.windows.com. Now when I open it up again, it shows the message: "Windows has never attempted to synchronize with an internet time server."

I would like to fix this problem and have Windows XP automatically synchronize with an independent time server of my choice. How can I configure this, and is there a list of safe and reliable independent time servers available? Thank you so much for any assistance.

 

My Vista box rarely succeeds with time.windows.com but works fine with time.nist.gov, the other option in Date and Time Properties.

 

This link may prove useful to you

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/dealing-with-windows-vista-time-sync-problems/

Try adding a number of different servers to your list that you can choose from, when one or more is not working, and you need to update the time NOW.

Check that your firewall is allowing time updating.

You may also increase the frequency of updates, if you wish. (I have set my auto update interval to 8 hours, so that the time is usually updated 3 times a day.)

 

To add more time servers, see ...

http://www.theeldergeek.com/specify_additional_time_servers.htm

This is what my registry entries look like now, with a list of timeservers that I compiled some time back.

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DateTime\Servers]
@="1"
"1"="time.windows.com"
"2"="time.nist.gov"
"0"="time-a.nist.gov (Maryland)"
"3"="ntp.nasa.gov"
"4"="time-nw.nist.gov (Washington)"
"5"="time.mit.edu"
"6"="timelord.uregina.ca"
"7"="time.twc.weather.com"
"8"="time-b.nist.gov (Maryland)"
"9"="time-a.timefreq.bldrdoc.gov (Colorado)"
"10"="time-b.timefreq.bldrdoc.gov (Colorado)"
"11"="utcnist.colorado.edu (Colorado)"

 

Thank you for the assistance. The post from AustrAlien was most helpful as I run Windows XP. The article was very helpful and I have successfully modified the registry to include two additional time servers.

However, I am still having a problem. I get an error message saying, "An error occurred while Windows was synchronizing with {time server}" I tried updating using the two newly added time servers, both with the firewall on and off.

Could this problem be related in any way to my DSL modem? I changed it about two weeks ago and have seen multiple entries in its log within the first week and a lot fewer this week that read as follows:

TUE AUG 18 05:23:43 2009
Setting System clock to Daylight Savings Time TUE AUG 18 05:23:43 2009


TUE AUG 18 05:23:43 2009
Time set from Primary SNTP server: tock.usno.navy.mil


I know for a fact that the system clock has not been properly synchronizing for a few weeks, but was not very noticeable until about two days ago.

 

I have determined the cause of this problem I suspected the DSL modem, and my suspicions proved correct. I reconfigured the modem's firewall to "No Security", thus allowing all traffic. I then tried to synchronize the time and was successful.

I have since reconfigured the firewall status to "Medium Typical Security". This leaves me with a dilemma of sorts because, ultimately, Time synchronization is an important reoccurring event. Conversely, Internet security is vital and reducing the chances for malware is crucial. Should I disable the modem firewall and rely exclusively on my software firewall? At present, I am not sure how to configure the firewall in its advanced mode to specifically allow traffic to and from the time server.

Please advise me how I may best resolve this issue. Thank you so much.

 

I know of no reason why two firewalls would be better than one. As long as the software firewall is correctly configured that is all that is required. The default configuration should be fine unless you have specific need to change it.

 

I was hoping someone might have been able to help you out with your query, since I really can't offer any definitive advise. However, I am wondering if the link that I provided earlier might hold the key ...

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/dealing-with-windows-vista-time-sync-problems/

"If you are using McAfee or another firewall, you’ll need to use the configuration utility to unlock NPT access on UDP port 123."
------------

I am thinking "port forwarding": Open the appropriate port in the router firewall.
Have a look at the following link, and look for your router brand/model and see how you would go about doing that.

http://portforward.com/

 

Or try the free software Simple Port Forwarding.

 

Thank you very much satrow: That I must investigate!

It sounds too good to be true! How can it make such a complex and confusing job .... "simple" ? I know a few people that might appreciate such a tool even more than I.

I just hope it is going to work with the Satellite modem that I have in mind for it to tackle!

 

It works fine for the basic tasks I need it for, if you have a router that is not listed, see the add router page on PcWinTech's site.