An error occurred while Windows was synchronizing with time server

[SaintSatinStain]

An error occurred while Windows was synchronizing with time.nist.gov, time.windows.com, and time-b.nist.gov. I pinged these servers with mixed results. I pinged from command prompt and from my router.  I turned the time service off and on again.  I checked the settings in my software firewall and made sure that port 123 was not blocked. The event log did not have any information. I Googled for information but none that worked. The pickings were small.

I have CD from Microsoft for installation, a full version not upgrade. Here are the relevant specs:
Router: Linksys Router WRT54G2 v1
Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3 (build 2600)         
Compaq Compaq PC CTOAAAAA
1.20 gigahertz AMD Athlon
128 kilobyte primary memory cache
256 kilobyte secondary memory cache
Board: Compaq 070Ch
Bus Clock: 133 megahertz
BIOS: Compaq 786K2 03/28/2002
220.27 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
170.43 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space
COMPAQ CD-ROM LTN486S
LITE-ON DVDRW LH-20A1P [CD-ROM drive]
3.5" format removeable media [Floppy drive]
LEXAR JUMPDRIVE SPORT USB Device [Hard drive] (123 MB) -- drive 1
Maxtor OneTouch II USB Device [Hard drive] (100.25 GB) -- drive 2
ST3120026A [Hard drive] (120.03 GB) -- drive 0,
rev 8.01, SMART Status: Healthy
c: (NTFS on drive 0)    23.30 GB    13.55 GB free
d: (NTFS on drive 0)    49.08 GB    26.35 GB free
e: (NTFS on drive 0)    47.65 GB    47.57 GB free
h: (NTFS on drive 2)    100.24 GB    82.96 GB free
768 Megabytes Installed Memory
Slot 'DIMM1' has 512 MB
Slot 'DIMM2' has 256 MB
Physical Memory   768 MB Total, 279 MB Free  (I have several Firefox tabs, SIW, and Belarc open)
Property   Value
Virtual Memory   1492 MB Total, 1071 MB Free
Registry Size   3 MB (current), 54 MB (maximum)
The system clock interval   10 ms

Node Type   0   
IP Routing Enabled   No   
WINS Proxy Enabled   No   
NetBIOS Resolution Uses DNS   No   
WINS Enabled   No
Open Ports:

[TCP]   svchost.exe [904]Listening 135 epmap 0.0.0.0   0   
[TCP]   System [4]Listening 445 microsoft-ds   0.0.0.0   0   <file not found>   
[TCP]   firefox.exe [3300] Established   127.0.0.1 (localhost)   3292
[TCP]   firefox.exe [3300] Established   127.0.0.1 (localhost)   329
[TCP]   firefox.exe [3300] Established   127.0.0.1 (localhost)   3294   
[TCP]   firefox.exe [3300] Established   127.0.0.1 (localhost)   3295   
[TCP]   ekrn.exe [1440]   Listening   127.0.0.1 (localhost)   30606   
[TCP]   System [4] Listening   139 netbios-ssn   0.0.0.0   0   <file not found>   
[UDP]   System [4] 0.0.0.0  445 microsoft-ds   0.0.0.0   0   <file not found>   
[UDP]   lsass.exe [680]   500 isakmp   0.0.0.0   0   
[UDP]   lsass.exe [680]   0.0.0.0    4500   0.0.0.0   0   
[UDP]   svchost.exe [968]      127.0.0.1 (localhost)   123 ntp   0.0.0.0   0   [UDP]   Weather.exe [1800] 127.0.0.1 (localhost) 1053   0.0.0.0   0 WeatherBug
[UDP]   svchost.exe [968]  127.0.0.1 (localhost)   1864   0.0.0.0   0   
[UDP]   svchost.exe [1076]      127.0.0.1 (localhost)   1900   0.0.0.0   0   
[UDP]   svchost.exe [968]      192.168.1.171
[UDP]   System [4] 137 netbios-ns   0.0.0.0   0   <file not found>   
[UDP]   System [4] 138 netbios-dgm   0.0.0.0   0   <file not found>   
[UDP]   svchost.exe [1076]      192.168.1.171


NVIDIA GeForce2 MX [Display adapter]
COMPAQ FS7600 [Monitor] (15.7"vis, October 2004)
1394 Net Adapter
SMC EZ Card 10/100 PCI (SMC1211 Series)
Creative AudioPCI (ES1371,ES1373) (WDM)
Game Port for Creative
Texas Instruments OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller
Easy Internet Keyboard
Maxtor OneTouch II
HID-compliant Cordless Mouse
Logitech-compatible Mouse PS/2
Maxtor OneTouch II
USB Mass Storage Device
USB Root Hub (2x)

All required security hotfixes (using the 07/08/2008 Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary) have been installed.

ESET NOD32 Antivirus 3.0 Version 3.0
Realtime File Scanning On
Tall Emu - Online Armor Security Suite Version 2.1.0.0
catchme
gmer Version 1.0.14.14205
Simply Super Software - Trojan Remover Version 1.3.4 *
Simply Super Software - Trojan Remover Version 6.7.0 *
Simply Super Software - Trojan Scanner Version 6.7.0 *
Sophos Anti-Rootkit Version 1, 3, 1, 0 *
SourceForge.net - Password Safe Version 3, 13, 0, 2010 *
SpywareBlaster AutoUpdate Version 4.01 *
SpywareBlaster Version 4.01 *
Safer Networking Limited - Spybot - Search & Destroy Version 1, 5, 2, 0 *
Sysinternals Rootkitrevealer Version 1.70 *
IceSword Application Version 1, 2, 2, 0
Rootkit Unhooker Version 3, 7, 300, 503 *
Antimalware Development a.s. - ewido anti-spyware microscanner Version 4, 0, 0, 1 *
McAfee SiteAdvisor Version 2,6,0,0
tzuk - Sandboxie Version 3.26.0.0 *
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware Version 1.19 *
PGP Version 9.8.3 (Build 4028) *
PGPsdk Version 3.10.2 *

ERUNT 
ERUNT AutoBackup  *
NTREGOPT
MozyHome Remote Backup Version 1,8,8,0 *
Maxtor OneTouch II Version 3, 0, 0, 2 *

NirSoft - CurrPorts Version 1.41 *
NirSoft - IPNetInfo Version 1.11 *
Piriform Ltd - CCleaner Version 2, 9, 0, 600
Shoot The Messenger, by Steve Gibson Version 1.0 *
SocketLock, by Steve Gibson and Jeremy Collake Version 0.92 *
SocketToMe, by Steve Gibson Version 0.92 *
SoftPerfect Network Scanner Version 3.5 *
Sysinternals - www.sysinternals.com - Process Explorer Version 11.20 *
Sysinternals autoruns Version 9.21 *
Sysinternals System Defragmenter Version 2.32 *
Sysinternals TCPView Version 2.53 *
NirSoft - SmartSniff Version 1.36 *
Foxit Reader Version 2, 2, 2007, 2129 *

Flock Version 1.2.3 *
http://kmeleon.sf.net/ - K-Meleon Version 1.10 *
Microsoft Corporation - Internet Explorer Version 7.00.6000.16674 *
Microsoft Corporation - Windows Live Mail Version 12.0.1606 *
Microsoft Corporation - Messenger Version 4.7.3001 *
Mozilla Corporation - Firefox Version 3.0 *
Mozilla Corporation - Thunderbird Version 2.0.0.14 *
Mozilla Foundation - Composer Personal *
Opera Internet Browser Version 9.51 *

C:\Documents and Settings\WeatHerly>ping time.nist.gov

Pinging time.nist.gov [192.43.244.18] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 192.43.244.18: bytes=32 time=63ms TTL=52
Reply from 192.43.244.18: bytes=32 time=62ms TTL=52
Reply from 192.43.244.18: bytes=32 time=62ms TTL=52
Reply from 192.43.244.18: bytes=32 time=61ms TTL=52

Ping statistics for 192.43.244.18:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 61ms, Maximum = 63ms, Average = 62ms

C:\Documents and Settings\WeatHerly>ping time.windows.com

Pinging time.microsoft.akadns.net [207.46.197.32] with 32 bytes of data:

Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.

Ping statistics for 207.46.197.32:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss),

C:\Documents and Settings\WeatHerly>ping time-b.nist.gov

Pinging time-b.nist.gov [129.6.15.29] with 32 bytes of data:

Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.

Ping statistics for 129.6.15.29:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss),

C:\Documents and Settings\WeatHerly>ping time.nist.gov

Pinging time.nist.gov [192.43.244.18] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 192.43.244.18: bytes=32 time=63ms TTL=52
Reply from 192.43.244.18: bytes=32 time=61ms TTL=52
Reply from 192.43.244.18: bytes=32 time=62ms TTL=52
Reply from 192.43.244.18: bytes=32 time=63ms TTL=52

Ping statistics for 192.43.244.18:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 61ms, Maximum = 63ms, Average = 62ms

From router:
      
PING time.microsoft.akadns.net ( 207.46.232.182 ) : 56 data bytes
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
--- time.microsoft.akadns.net ping statistics ---
packets transmitted = 5 , packets received = 0 packet loss = 100%

      
PING time-b.nist.gov ( 129.6.15.29 ) : 56 data bytes
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
--- time-b.nist.gov ping statistics ---
packets transmitted = 5 , packets received = 0 packet loss = 100%

 PING time.nist.gov ( 192.43.244.18 ) : 56 data bytes
64 bytes from 192.43.244.18: icmp_seq=0, ttl=53 times=60. ms
64 bytes from 192.43.244.18: icmp_seq=1, ttl=53 times=60. ms
64 bytes from 192.43.244.18: icmp_seq=2, ttl=53 times=60. ms
64 bytes from 192.43.244.18: icmp_seq=3, ttl=53 times=60. ms
64 bytes from 192.43.244.18: icmp_seq=4, ttl=53 times=60. ms
--- time.nist.gov ping statistics ---
packets transmitted = 5 , packets received = 5 packet loss = 0%
round-trip min/avg/max = 60/60/60

[drmsucks]

I've had that problem, from time to time, for years - never have found a solution; I've quit worrying about it!

For what it's worth, I seem to get the most reliable connections to: time.windows.com.

Good luck!

[SaintSatinStain]

drmsucks , I tried all the Google finds and they didn't work. Your solution seems sanest. I have spent too much time on this already; it doesn't seem to affect anything. The clock on the computer and on the tv are the same. I am assuming that tv has the correct time.  This was my last hope.

[drmsucks]

This was my last hope.

I hope that we didn't disappoint you!

Like you, several years ago I followed the path and, like you, ended up where I began!

Truth be told, I suspect that the time servers get overloaded and return the error that we get. But, as I said, the Windows server seems, for me, to return the fewest errors.

...and, of course...what is time?

Best of luck!

[Broni]

I've had that problem, from time to time, for years - never have found a solution

Same here.

[drmsucks]

I've had that problem, from time to time, for years - never have found a solution

Same here.

We mortals have no hope then!

[Broni]

...which led me to start this topic: http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php/topic,61722.msg391471.html#msg391471

[Sandy1]

Hello Friend even I also faced so many problem with my operating system. My hardware engineer every now and then comes and charge huge money from me i was so annoyed and then i decided to learn some computers so that I can prevent my computers from money eaters for that i took the help computer acronyms  which was an angel for my computer and for me. I hope you all will take help from there. 

[SaintSatinStain]

The problem was human stupidity unfortunately, and not human ignorance. Mine! I reinstall my OS each year. I do all OS upgrades, SPs and such, before I install any programs. I'm behind a router. I harden the OS before installing programs, even security programs. I turn off unneeded services and installed IPset policies. I forgot that there is one policy that I have to change for my system, not deny udp. That is  why I couldn't synchronize my clock. It was the simplest, basic reason, almost as simple as "Is the power cord plugged in?" I apologize. I sought some complex technical reason. If you can't synchronize your computer clock make sure that there aren't policies or program blocking udp.

[patio]

Welcome Back triple S ! !

Thanx for posting your resolution to this issue...it may help someone down the road....