Windows Time Service Issue

I just wanted to make a statement regarding the time service registry entries. There really is no need to modify the time service registry entries. The time service works by default, out of the box. The only thing that’s recommended to do, is synchronize the PDC Emulator in the forest root domain to a reliable outside source. That’s it.

I’m stating this because based on numerous public postings regarding corrupted time service settings due to attempts at changing registry entries because it was thought that’s how it’s done, is usually the culprit that corrupted the time service settings. The time service should only be configured using the w32tm utility.

If there are any problems with corrupted settings, and it’s not working properly, I would suggest to simply reset the time service itself (stated in the “To Reset the Time service” section below), by simply running the following commands:

If you’ve experimented changing time settings to unknowlingly avert default behavior, you can set the time settings back to default:

1. On the DC that you’re experiencing issues with, run the following in a command prompt:

•  net stop w32time
•  w32tm /unregister
•  w32tm /register
•  net start w32time

2. On the Server in question (whether it’s the PDC Emulator or another server), run the following in a command prompt: 

• “net time /setsntp: ” (Note the blank space prior to the end “)  [This tells the client (whether a DC or workstation) to delete the current registry settings for time and use default settings.]
• Restart the time service:  Net stop w32time && net start w32time

3. On the PDC Emulator run the following in a command prompt:

• W32tm /config /manualpeerlist:time.nrc.ca /syncfromflags:manual /reliable:yes /update
•  W32tm /resync /rediscover
• Restart the time service: net stop w32time && net start w32time

4. On each DC that are not holding the PDC Emulator role, run the following in a command prompt:

• w32tm /config /syncfromflags:domhier /update
•  W32tm /resync /rediscover
• Restart the time service: net stop w32time && net start w32time

5. This will take out any errors in the Event Viewer, if there are any.

.The only real time that you may have to configure it is only with the assistance of Microsoft Support.