Err Msg: Invalid System Time with the Real Time Clock (RTC) and Windows NT (220951)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Terminal Server Edition
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
This article was previously published under Q220951

SYMPTOMS

If your Real Time Clock (RTC) or BIOS are not year-2000 compatible, logging on to a computer running Windows NT in the year 2000 may result in the following error message being displayed:
Invalid System Time

The time or date on your system time is invalid. Please use the date/time applet in the Control Panel to properly set your system time and date.

CAUSE

This problem occurs during the log on process when Windows NT checks the date to see if the date is possibly out of synchronization. If Windows NT 4.0 detects the date is before 1996, then it assumes that there may be a problem with the date and presents the above error message. Windows NT 3.51 uses the date of 1990 as the reference date.

For more information on how Windows NT interacts with the RTC and BIOS, please reference the white paper Microsoft Operating System Interactions with BIOS and Real Time Clock.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, contact your hardware manufacturer and get an update to your System BIOS or RTC.

This is the best way to get your hardware ready for the year 2000. Some older or specialized computers may not have an updated BIOS available and the above error message could become tiresome or could hinder functionality.
If your system does not have an updated BIOS that addresses the year 2000 problem, you can use the Time Server Service from the Windows NT resource kit. This utility allows one computer to be specified as a time server. The other computers in the enterprise connect to the time server and update the Windows NT clock. The Time Server service runs as a service so it loads whether a user logs on or not. The computer designated as the time server needs to be year-2000 compliant because the computers that are not year-2000 compliant are synchronizing with the time server.
The Time Server Service utility comes with the Windows NT resource kit and instructions on how to use the service are included.

MORE INFORMATION

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:6/28/2004
Keywords:kbprb KB220951
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