Synchronize with Internet Time Server

Question

I have a Dell PC with the Vista operating system. I am wondering why I can not synchronize the time on my PC with an Internet Time Server? I always get the same error message 'An error has occurred while Windows was sychronizing with xxx' no matter what Internet Time Server I choose. Any suggestions about how to get this feature working?   Roger in Ann Arbor

kirkd · Answer

One of the only ones that worked for me is:

time-b.nist.gov

Others have solved your problem with it.

Some have had luck with:

tick.usno.navy.mil

This needs to be typed into the selection box.

Also make sure that the time service is turned in Services. It's called Windows Time, anmd should be set to Automatic.

Dimension 9100, Dual-Boot Win XP / Vista Home Premium, 3.0 GHz P4, 3 GB DDR2 533 MHz RAM, 160 GB SATA II Samsung (XP), 300 GB SATA II Seagate (Vista), 250 GB SimpleTech USB (WD Drive), Nvidia Go 6800 (425/825 MHz - XP, 400/800 MHz - Vista, Vista Driver - 163.75), Dell 1901 UltraSharp FP

Inspiron E1705, Win Vista Premium, T7200 Core 2 Duo (4MB, 2.0 GHz 667MHz), 2 GB DDR2 677 MHz RAM, 120 GB Samsung HD, Nvidia Go 7900 GS - 156.69 Driver, 17” Sharp UltraSharp TrueLife Wide-Screen WUXGA

boscocat · Answer

You may need to an administrator, but I had no problem setting my Internet Time to sync with 'time.nist.gov' in the drop down window.

RSkipper · Answer

I have tried a variety of alternative Internet Time Servers and none have worked including the Navy one you suggest. I also checked whether my time service was on and that is the case. I am also the administrator for my computer so that can not be the problem. I wonder what else can be the trouble?   Roger

OhmShanti · Answer

Hello,   - relax - download SymmTime2007.exe from http://www.ntp-systems.com/symmtime.asp - install it - run it as administrator (I strongly advice NOT to synchronize by windows start up, start up manually)   This works for sure IF you have a public accessible NTP server. This program which is 100% freeware, if you unmark a box you never get an e-mail from them or whatsoever and this program has a lot of benefits over the in Vista build in NTP synchronisation.   SymmTime2007.exe has incompatibilities with Vista like the help function of the program, you can't get to see the help (not standard anyway maybe with tweaking) because the Vista help files are in a newer format then the previously used ones but the program works so intuitive that when 'playing' with it you get it at least synchronizing your computer clock. To find the above mentioned webpage only fill out in Google SymmTime and the first link is it.   Why the time synchronisation doesn't work on the build in program can have lots of reasons, I never tried the build in system from Vista because I knew since the preveious century about SymmTime who's the best time synchronasation program for windows, always working, still free (I use it already 10 years). Like I read your problem and replies to it you can select just ONE NTP server but I've a list of a few thousand NTP servers who're publicly accessible and some of them just work maybe 10% during a whole year, second, NTP servers can have levels of access.   For example (I use random IP numbers) NTP server 10.0.0.1 is a level one publicly accessible server but needs to get his request from a level 2 NTP server! Let's say that there're 5 level 2 NTP servers then it can be that 4 of those 5 level 2 publicly accessible NTP servers need first a request from a level 3 NTP server, suppose that the're 100 level 3 NTP servers then it can be that 70 of them are no publicly accessible so you need 1 of the 30 level 3 NTP servers to get finally the time from the level one NTP server. Maybe you become dizzy, you also do not mention your physical location which can have an influence if you get access to an NTP server yes or no therefore I gonne give you 1 IP number who work probably from any place on our planet (or in space, no kidding) and run also 365/365, 7/7, 24/24. What do I need to say? Spread the word in the hope you keep your mouth shut or say keep your mouth shut and you spread the word??? The following IP number is very very well UNKNOWN (although due to me in SymmTime 2007, not before) when everybody on the planet uses this IP number then that NTP server get so much requests that he can't give his answer fast enough so people start to say that that server becomes bad, no, it's because the people doesn't follow the rules of normal healthy practise. I want that that IP address is ONLY used when no other address (in name for or number form) works!   For West Europe try IP number 129.132.2.21 (located in Zurich Switzerland)   For Japan try to use clock.nc.fukuoka-u.ac.jp (located in Fukuoka, Japan) For whole ASIA try to use 0.asia.pool.ntp.org (this is a complex pool of lots of NTP servers) For the UK try to use salmon.maths.tcd.ie (located in Dublin, Ireland) For Scandinavia try to use time1.stupi.SE (located in Stockholm, Sweden) For Australia try to use augean.eleceng.adelaide.edu.au   For the USA try the following if the standard (time.nist.gov) doesn't seems to work Not often used tock.usno.navy.mil (Washington DC) timex.cs.columbia.edu (New York) clock.isc.org (Palo Alto) clock.psu.edu (PSU, PA)   Often used nist1.symmetricom.com (Silicon Valley, CA) ntp1.symmetricom.com (Silicon Valley, CA) ntp2.symmetricom.com (Silicon Valley, CA) ntp3.symmetricom.com (Silicon Valley, CA)   For South-America, contact me BUT try first all given NTP servers! Any NTP server can work for any place on Earth. If the travel time of the signal is longer that's corrected by the SymmTima2007.exe program, you can always try to use any of these NTP servers by the standard NTP program in Vista too.   To be brief, to get a synchronisation UDP port 21 & 22 must be open in the firewall but this isn't your concern when you install SymmTime2007. By the way, SymmTime2005 & SymmTime2006 work also perfectly till the year 2012 (in 2008 they talk again about using DST or NOT, maybe some countries join the club of stupids who use DST, some countries can go away, etc... a database by an old version of SymmTime must be up-to-date and you can see from all over the planet the right time, even if an area with a different time zone isn't in the database you can create your own, etc...).   REMARK : there where I've given an IP address use the IP address, where I havan't given the IP address the IP address can change therefor the Domain Name Server (port 53 UDP or IP, I think UDP) must be accessible BEFORE the NTP address is accessed.   PS : I contribute independently to let's say the public NTP system and don't disclose some secrets

OhmShanti · Answer

SymmTime certainly untill the new version works only for Windows also Vista but till now 32-bit, NOT for Vista 64-bit but I assume you've the Vista 32-bit version, peole who buy on purpose the 64-bit version usually know how things work.

Windows General

Synchronize with Internet Time Server

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