Vista Tutorial - Internet Time Synchronization

**Brink**

How to Use Internet Time Synchronization in Vista

Information

You can synchronize your computer clock with a internet time server. This means that the clock on your computer is updated to match the clock on the time server, which can help ensure that the clock on your computer is accurate. Your clock is typically updated once a week and needs to be connected to the Internet for the synchronization to occur.

This will show you how to synchronize your computer time with the internet time, and how to troubleshoot and solve problems while doing it.

WARNING

TO HELP PREVENT TIME SYNCHRONIZATION PROBLEMS

Make sure that the time zone and date and time are manually set correctly on your computer, or you may have a hard time trying to synchronize your computer clock with a internet time server. If the time is to far off, it may not be able to synch with the time server.
Vista gets the initial time from the BIOS, so check to see if the time and date are correct in the CMOS settings in the BIOS.
Check the CMOS battery on your motherboard to see if it is getting weak and dying. If weak, it can cause your clock to run slow, loose time, or reset if dead. If this is the case, you will just need to replace the battery. It will usually be a lithium button cell, type CR2032. Check your motherboard documenation to be sure.
Check your 3rd party firewall program and router settings to see if they have blocked the NPT access on UDP port 123. It should be set to open or allow. Windows Firewall will allow Internet Time Server through by default, unless changed.
- For McAfee Firewall, see: McAfee Document ID: 307135

NOTE

The Internet Time Synchronization uses the Windows Time Service with the default settings of Started and Automatic.

Tip

For a list of time server names with their IP Address numbers to use in step 10B, see:

Microsoft Help and Support: KB262680 A list of the Simple Network Time Protocol (SNTP) time servers that are available on the Internet

RELATED LINKS:

Here's How:

NOTE

If your computer will not keep accurate time even after synchronizing and changing the time servers below, then see How to Change the Internet Time Synchronization Update Interval in Vista.

1. Right click on the clock on the taskbar. (See screenshot below)

2. Click on the Adjust Date/Time button. (See screenshot below)

3. Click on the Internet Time tab. (See screenshot below)

4. Click on the Change Settings button.

5. Click on Continue in the UAC prompt.

6. To Just Turn Internet Time Synchronization Off or On -
A) Uncheck or check Synchronize with an Internet time server and click on OK. (See screenshot below step 7)

B) Go to step 13.

7. To Synchronize the Computer Time with the Internet Time -
A) Click on the Update now button. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: Synchronization must be turned on for this to work in step 6.

8. You will now see the screenshot below.

9. If you see this in the screenshot below, then click Update now again to see if it will work this time. If you still get the error message below, continue to step 10.

10. To Change the Time Server -
A) Click on the drop down arrow and choose another time server. (See left screenshot below)

OR

B) Type in a new time server name in the field instead. (See right screenshot below)
NOTE: For a list of time server names to type in here, see: Microsoft Help and Support: KB262680 A list of the Simple Network Time Protocol (SNTP) time servers that are available on the Internet.

C) Click on the Update now button to try the new time server.
NOTE: You may need to repeat step 10 until you find a time server that will work. If you just cannot get it to sync, then see the WARNING at the top of the tutorial for settings to check that may be preventing it from working.

11. If successful, you will see this in the screenshot below.

12. Click on OK. (See screenshot above)

13. Click on OK. (See screenshot below step 4)

That's it,
Shawn

CliveM · 04-03-2008

Hello Shawn

When I try to change the time server, on clicking OK, an error pop up says "Unable to save your changes"

Any idea what I am doing wrong? TAI

**Brink** · 04-04-2008

Hi Clive,

You may have typed in the timer server address incorrectly. What is the one you are wanting to add?

This does not really matter, but you should click on Update Now instead of OK after you enter the time server to just make sure it works.

Shawn

CliveM · 04-04-2008

Hi Shawn

I cannot make any change within the Internet Time Settings applet at all.
It makes no difference what server I try.
It makes no difference if I click on Update Now or OK.
I cannot change the "Synchronize with an Internet Time Server" check box either.
In every case I get the "Unable to save your changes" message and have to click Cancel to get back out of the applet.

Thanks for your input.
Clive

**Brink** · 04-04-2008

Clive,

You might run a sfc /scannow command to see if it can find and fix any bad system files. This will show you how to if needed.

System Files - SFC Command

If that does not help and you have not installed the SP1 yet, then you can try a Repair install.

Repair Install For Vista

Hope this helps,
Shawn

CliveM · 04-04-2008

Shawn

SFC found no problems. I have got SP1 installed and as everything else is running well I will, at least in the meantime, adjust time manually and live with it.

Many thanks for your prompt and helpful advise it is very much appreciated as are your tutorials on Vista. They are an immensely valuable resource have taught me a lot.

Thanks again
Clive

**Brink** · 04-05-2008

Your welcome Clive.

You might see if one of these free 3rd party program will work better for you.

Freeware downloads Networking - Time Synchronization at SnapFiles.com

Shawn

**Dwarf** · 04-17-2008

The default interval between updates is 7 days or 168 hours. This can be modified with the following registry tweak. Open the registry and browse to the following key:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\TimeProviders\NtpClient]

Right click the following entry and select 'Modify...'.

"SpecialPollInterval"=dword:00015180

You can then change this value, which is the interval in seconds, to a more suitable value - the one given above equates to 86400 which is 1 day and is the value that I use. Use the calculator to work out the value. Note that I don't recommend an interval of less than 1 hour (3600 seconds).
Dwarf