Synchronizing Windows NT workstations or servers to a Windows 2000/2003 server or to a time server

Windows NT servers or workstations will not automatically synchronize to a Windows 2000/2003 server or to the Time Server. W32Time Service has to be installed and configured to allow a Windows NT workstation to sync to a Windows NT/2000/2003 Server or to the Time Server. Spectracom cannot supply you with the W32Time program. For Windows NT workstations/Servers, the program can be downloaded at no cost from Microsoft from ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/reskit/y2kfix.

Install the W32Time program on Windows NT workstations/servers

1. Verify there are no other Time Service programs running in the background (i.e. Net Time which is a built-in time program that would be loaded in a start-up batch file, Timeserv program, found in "Services" or Clock Update Service which would be found in "Services"). The Timeserv program as well as any other time services has to be disabled or removed prior to running W32Time. These programs conflict with W32Time and may cause erroneous time jumps.
2. Copy the W32time.exe files to the %SYSTEMROOT%\SYSTEM32 folder.
3. Copy the W32time.ini file to the %SYSTEMROOT% folder.

    

   Edit the W32Time.ini file

    

4. Edit the W32Time.ini file to configure W32Time. The W32Time.ini file is edited to allow operation from a synchronized Primary Server or to the Time Server.
   
   Select one of the following:
   1. To sync to the primary server: instructions to edit the ini file for synchronization to the Primary Server
   2. To sync to the time server: instructions to edit the ini file for synchronization to the time Server
   After the W32Time.ini has been edited from one of these two sections, proceed to step 5 of this section.
5. Exit and save the file.

   Verify proper operation

6. Reboot the machine. The service should start automatically. You can also manually start and stop the service. Refer to below.
7. The clock display in the bottom right hand corner should update within a couple of minutes of starting the service.
8. Stop the W32Time Service
   1. Controlling the W32Time Service from Services
      Go to Start > Settings > Control Panel > Administrative Tools. Find a shortcut for Services. Select W32Time Service. Click NetStop.
      
      or
   2. Controlling the W32Time Service from the command prompt
      At the command prompt, type: net stop w32time (stops the time service)
9. Manually change the time to incorrect value using Date/Time properties screen in the lower right-hand corner of the screen. Set the time of the PC back by a minimum of 3 minutes.
10. Re-start the W32Time service
    1. Controlling the W32Time Service from "Services"
       Go to Start > Settings > Control Panel > Administrative Tools, to a shortcut that goes to Services. Select W32Time Service. Verify Automatic is selected. Click NetStart.
    2. Controlling the W32Time Service from the command prompt
       At the command prompt, type: Net start w32time (starts the time service)

The time should jump to the correct time. Go into the Event Viewer. Look at the Application Log and click on the W32Time event. Click on view, then Refresh. You should get a line stating that time offset is either < or > .5 seconds indicating the service is operating correctly. The < or > sign depends on the amount of change that occurred from the original setting.

The W32Time program only logs the first time synchronization. All future time syncs are not logged. Only errors obtained while running W32Time are logged after the initial time sync. Refer to the Event Viewer to help troubleshoot problems with W32Time service.

If the time is not corrected after restarting the time service, refer to Troubleshooting.

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