Solutions for Windows Time Service (W32Time) Problems
Atomic Clock Sync features the capability to repair the Windows Time Service in by stopping, unregistering, registering and restarting the service.
Unfortunately, there is a potential problem that has been confirmed by Microsoft
for users with Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008 R2, and Windows
Server 2008. When you attempt to start the time service, some users will receive
an error claiming the service could not be started. There are a few errors that all
seem to end up with a similar solution:
Message 1
Windows could not start the Windows Time Service on Local Computer.
Error 1290: The service start failed since one or more services in the
same process have an incompatible service SID type setting. A service with
restricted service SID type can only coexist in the same process with other
services with a restricted SID type. If the service SID type for this service
was just configured, the hosting process must be restarted in order to start
this service.
Message 2
The Windows Time service failed to start due to the following error:
The service start failed since one or more services in the same process have an
incompatible service SID type setting. A service with restricted service SID
type can only coexist in the same process with other services with a restricted
SID type. If the service SID type for this service was just configured, the
hosting process must be restarted in order to start this service.
Message 3
Error 1079: The account specified for this service is different from the account
specified for other services running in the same process
Solution
Using Atomic Clock Sync, unregister and re-register the Time Service.
When you unregister the W32Time service, Microsoft clears all the current
registry values guiding the sync process. When you re-register the W32Time
Service, Microsoft sets everything back to their default values. One of these
default values sets the system account used to run the service to "Local
Service". The problem is that this Local Service account also needs an
appropriate password to run.
Click Start, type "Services.msc" in the Search
programs and files box, and then press ENTER.
(Alternatively, go to your Control Panel, launch Administrative Tools, then
launch Services.)
Find the Windows Time service on the list and double-click to edit the
properties.
Go to the tab at the top for Log On.
"This account" should be selected, NOT Local System account.
The text box next to "This account:" should say Local Service.
In the Password and Confirm Password boxes, delete all of the mask bullets to
make each of these boxes completely empty.
Click Apply, then OK.
Try to start the Windows Time service again, either from the services program
where you just edited the Log On properties or by using Atomic Clock Sync.
Microsoft offers their own "Fix It" download if you don't want to make this
change yourself. Details are available at
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2478117