In Windows Server 2003 and in Windows XP, W32Time frequently logs Event ID 50, and poor time synchronization occurs

When the Windows Time service (W32Time) synchronizes with an external clock, the following event may frequently appear in the System log:

Event ID: 50
Source: W32time
Type: Warning
The time service detected a time difference of greater than 5000 milliseconds for 900 seconds. The time difference might be caused by synchronization with low-accuracy time sources or by suboptimal network conditions. The time service is no longer synchronized and cannot provide the time to other clients or update the system clock. When a valid time stamp is received from a time service provider, the time service will correct itself.

In the default domain hierarchy, when a Microsoft Windows Server 2003-based child domain controller tries to synchronize the time, you may receive the following event messages:

Event ID: 38
Source: W32time
Type: Information
The time provider NtpClient cannot reach or is currently receiving invalid time data from yourpdc.forestroot.com (ntp.d|65.53.232.135:123->65.53.250.22:123).

Event ID: 47
Source: W32time
Type: Warning
Time Provider NtpClient: No valid response has been received from manually configured peer yourpdc.forestroot.com after eight attempts to contact it. This peer will be discarded as a time source, and NtpClient will attempt to discover a new peer with this DNS name.

Event ID: 29
Source: W32time
Type: Error
The time provider NtpClient is configured to acquire time from one or more time sources. However, none of the sources are currently accessible. No attempt to contact a source will be made for 15 minutes. NtpClient has no source of accurate time.

Note Event ID 29 may also occur on Windows XP-based computers.

Hotfix information

Windows XP

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

To apply this hotfix, you must have one of the following installed on the computer:

• Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1)
• Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2)

Restart requirement

You must restart your computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other previously released hotfixes.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

Windows XP, x86-based versions (Extracted from WindowsXP-KB830092-x86-ENU.exe)

Windows XP, x86-based versions, version 2 (Extracted from WindowsXP-KB830092-v2-x86-ENU.exe)

Windows XP, Itanium-based versions, version 2 (Extracted from WindowsXP-KB830092-v2-ia64-ENU.exe)

Windows XP, x86-based versions, version 3 (Extracted from WindowsXP-KB830092-v3-x86-ENU.exe)

Windows XP, Itanium-based versions, version 3 (Extracted from WindowsXP-KB830092-v3-ia64-ENU.exe)

Windows Server 2003

Service Pack information

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows Server 2003. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

No prerequisites are required.

Restart requirement

You must restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

Windows Server 2003, Itanium-based versions

Windows Server 2003, x86-based versions

Important Microsoft recommends that you install this hotfix on all Windows Server 2003 domain controllers. Start by installing this hotfix on the primary domain controller that is the operations master in the root directory of the forest. If you experience this problem only on member servers, install the hotfix on domain controllers first and then install the hotfix on the member servers.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section. This bug was corrected in Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1.

Microsoft recommends that you synchronize the primary domain controller with multiple external Stratum 1 Network Time Protocol (NTP) servers. You should leave all other domain controllers and member servers unchanged. In the default configuration, these servers will synchronize the time with the domain hierarchy.

For additional configuration and deployment suggestions for the Windows Time service in a forest, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc773061.aspx