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Computer Repair with Diagnostic Flowcharts

This manual for troubleshooting PC hardware problems creates a visual expert system for diagnosing component failure and identifying conflicts.

The seventeen diagnostic flowcharts at the core of this book are intended for the intermediate to advanced hobbyist, or the beginning technician.

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Configuring Windows as a NTP (Network Time Protocol) Server

by David Evans

The Windows operating systems from Windows 2000 onwards has an in-built time synchronization service - Windows Time. The Windows Time service facilitates a Windows network to provide synchronization of all machines within a domain. This article describes how to configure the Windows 2000 and Windows 2003 time service as a NTP server. It shows how to manipulate registry entries to configure the Windows Time Service.

Before modifying registry entries it is good practice to backup the Windows registry. This allows the registry to be restored in the event of problems.

Windows 2000 Configuration

Windows 2000 has an integrated time synchronization service, installed by default, which can synchronize to a NTP Server. Indeed, by manipulating registry settings, the service can act as both an SNTP client and SNTP server to synchronize other network clients.

The Windows Time service should be present in the systems service list. The application executable is w32time.exe. The parameter list for w32time can be found in the registry at:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time\Parameters

Windows 2000 can operate as an NTP client and synchronize to an NTP server by setting parameter NTP Server to the IP address of a NTP Server.

By default, the Windows 2000 machine will synchronize to the specified NTP server every 8 hours (or 3 times a day), which may not be enough to maintain accurate synchronization. The period can be reduced by setting the Period parameter to how many times a day synchronization is required. Setting the period to 48 will activate synchronization with the NTP server once every half hour. Windows 2000 can also be configured to act as an NTP server by setting the Local NTP parameter to 1.

After editing any of the registry entries for the windows time service, the service must be restarted for the settings to take effect. The services can be started or stopped from the service control applet in Administrative Tools. Alternatively the service can be controlled via the DOS net command thus:

net start w32time net stop w32time

Windows 2003 Configuration

Windows 2003 has expanded on the original Windows 2000 time service by providing a true NTP implementation. The time service, installed by default, can synchronize to a NTP Server. Indeed, by manipulating registry settings for the service it can act as both an NTP server and client to synchronize other network clients in the domain.

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Here's the information you need to not only prepare for the MCITP certification exams as a Windows 7 desktop support technician or administrator, but also to excel in your job.

From successfully troubleshooting individual desktops to planning and configuring Windows 7 desktop infrastructures on a broad scale, this reference explores the real-world tasks and scenarios you'll face on the job and shows you step by step how to handle them.

Reader Bill Talbott says, "The author has an innate ability to break out complex and often boring topics and make them interesting to the end reader. His writing style, combined with the exercises throughout this text, ensure complete understanding of each topic...

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