Time Synchronization

[Artie18]

Inexplicably, I cannot sync my computer time to any of the
time servers, although this feature worked perfectly for
the past several years. If I try using the Date & Time
Properties/Internet Time, I get an error message saying
that "the peer's stratum is less than the hosts stratum'!
If I try using a separate program - About Time - the
connection takes a very long time and then presents a hugh
error. (Also, the SNTP protocol displays a "red" light, but the other protocols are green for go.

I have searched the MS Knowlege Base and have followed
the instructions contained in
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-
us;307897&Product=winxp. When the listed commands are
typed in after the command prompt, the reply message is
that the commands were received OK. Afterwards, trying to
sync the time results in the same errors as above.

Does anyone have any other remedies for this problem?

[Panama Red]

Probably not an answer you want to hear, but I disabled the time sync rather that have it load everytime on startup and run in the background. One of the tips from Black Viper's site. I just set the clock a few months ago, after the tweak, and it's still right on.

[andyms18a]

do you have a firewall and is it bloking the time sync

[Artie18]

Re possible firewall problem . . I am running ZA Pro, but the time sync working flawlessly for a long time with ZA Pro running. This possible interference also occurred to me, and I have tried synching the time with ZA Pro shut down, and I also shut down Norton Anti-Virus. This had no effect, as I get the same errors.

As a last resort I'll try disabling the time synchronization, although it seems to me that there should be another solution to the problem.

Artie18

[andyms18a]

have you tryed system restor ?

[Artie18]

Yes, I tried restoring to the most recent System Restore file and also the oldest one shown. Neither restore made any difference in the error messages.

[doctorgonzo]

I don't know much about NTP, but I have done some reading and I think the error message is the key. It says that the pee's stratum is less than the host's stratum. Ordinarily, I think that this means that NTP won't update, because it should be the other way around.

What time servers are you trying to connect to?

[Artie18]

I have the About Time program setup to use any one of three time servers . . NIST, NASA, or US Naval Observatory . . all using the SNTP protocol. There are three other protocols available with this program, but they only synch to the minute, whereas SNTP syncs to less than a second. When I check the status to these protocol connections the three less accurate ones . . DaytmTCP, TimeTCP and TimeUDP display a green light for "go", whereas the SNTP is showing "red" for no go.

[doctorgonzo]

Are you using more than one program to try and sync the time? It sounds like you are trying to use both Windows and About Time. They may be conflicting.

[Artie18]

I have both programs but normally only use About Time (with Windows Internet Time not running). When About Time suddenly quit working I tried using Internet Time which then produced the "peers not matching" message.

Since your last message I tried both programs again . . and About Time is still malfunctioning, but . . voila! Win Internet Time synched the clock OK.

I can live without About Time if I can't find out why the SNTP protocol will not work with that program. I'll try querying the author, even though his web site says that he doesn't provide tech support.