At IU, how can I synchronize the clock on my Windows computer to a time server?

At Indiana University, the most straightforward method is to synchronize to IU's time server using the Windows net time command. If you connect to a Novell server, your computer's clock is automatically updated.

Using the net time command in Windows 8, Windows 7, Vista, or XP

Note: If you wish to synchronize to a time server on another, non-IU network, in the instructions below, replace ads.iu.edu with the address of that network. For example, if your network's address is ntp.mynetwork.com, you would enter:

At IU, you must be logged into the ADS domain on the IU network (via either a direct or VPN connection) before you can synchronize to IU's time server. To use the net time command:

1. In Windows 8, from the Start screen, type cmd and right-click on the Command Prompt app that appears. Then select Run as Administrator from the list of options at the bottom of the screen.
   
   In Windows 7, Vista, or XP, from the Start menu, select All Programs or Programs and then Accessories. Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
   
   
2. At the command prompt, enter: net time \\ads.iu.edu /set /y
3. At the command prompt, enter exit to return to Windows.

Possible errors and solutions

Occasionally, you will see one or more of the following error messages when attempting the net time command:

System error 5

System error 53 has occurred

Network path not found

If you get one of these error messages, try the following solutions:

• Re-enter the net time command. Follow the steps above. There are many reasons why net time may fail to synchronize with a time server (e.g., there may be too many concurrent server requests). If you've entered the command immediately after your computer booted up, it may not have had enough time to load all of the necessary Windows components.
  
  
• Use an IP address. To look up the IP address of the server you are trying to synchronize to, use the nslookup command.
  
  
  1. In Windows 8, from the Start screen, type nslookup , and then click on the app that appears.
     
     In Windows 7, Vista, or XP, from the Start menu, select Run... . In the "Open:" field, type nslookup , and then click OK.
     
     
  2. At the command prompt, enter the network name for the server to which you're trying to synchronize. For example, to find the IP address for ads.iu.edu, enter: ads.iu.edu
  3. When you have the IP address, re-enter the net time command using the IP address. For example, if you are synchronizing to ads.iu.edu using one of its IP addresses (129.79.6.75), you would enter net time //129.79.6.75 /set .
  
  
• Verify that you have permission to use that network's time server. For example, to use IU's time server, you must first log into the ADS domain. If you are not connected to the IU network, you will be rejected when you attempt to synchronize to ads.iu.edu. Other networks have different rules for access; consult the administrators of the network you wish to synchronize to.

Alternate method for synchronizing your computer's clock to IU's time server

1. From the Start menu, select All Programs or Programs and then Accessories. Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
   
   
2. At the command prompt, enter: w32TM /config /syncfromflags:manual /manualpeerlist:ntp.indiana.edu
3. Enter: w32tm /config /update
4. Enter: w32tm /resync
5. At the command prompt, enter exit to return to Windows.