WSUS, Unable to Detect time

[cschenck]

I have WSUS 3.0 on a sbs 2003. I have around 15 computers, all except for one are regularly reporting in to the server and getting updates. The one client (XP Pro) had been reporting in normally and just randomly stopped one day. I have followed the troubleshooting client self update issues guide from Microsoft and all checks out ok except for when I check the registry on the non reporting client, I find a "UnableToDetectTime" string in the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update

I belive "unabletodetecttime" is related to the client not reporting to the WSUS server (sbs 2003) and not getting updates. What would cause this client to have this in the registry?

Any help is appreciated,

Chris

 

[markdmac]

Is the time on the PC correct? See if it is somehow blocking port 123 UDP which is used by the time service. Verify what SNTP server is set:

NET TIME /QUERYSNTP

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

Work SMARTER not HARDER. The Spider's Parlor's Admin Script Pack is a collection of Administrative scripts designed to make IT Administration easier! Save time, get more work done, get the Admin Script Pack.

 

[cschenck]

Mark,

Thank you for your response.

The time on the client in question is correct and when I run NET TIME /QUERYSNTP I get the following response:

The current SNTP value is : time.windows.com,0x1

The command completed successfully.

 

[markdmac]

Set the client to use your PDC Emulator as its time source.

NET TIME /SETSNTP:SERVERNAME

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

Work SMARTER not HARDER. The Spider's Parlor's Admin Script Pack is a collection of Administrative scripts designed to make IT Administration easier! Save time, get more work done, get the Admin Script Pack.

 

[cschenck]

Mark,

I successfully set the client to use my server as its time source. However the "unabletodetecttime" is still a problem. After going through the event logs, I have found a Userenv 1030 error that goes pretty far back. After reading up on the error, it seems that it could be causing alot of the problems that I am having with this client. Could it be related to the time issue as well?

Thanks for your help,

Chris

 

[markdmac]

I honestly don't know if they can be related, but I would resolve whatever issues you can first and see if that takes care of the WSUS problem.

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

Work SMARTER not HARDER. The Spider's Parlor's Admin Script Pack is a collection of Administrative scripts designed to make IT Administration easier! Save time, get more work done, get the Admin Script Pack.