Version: (using KDE KDE 3.5.5) Installed from: Debian testing/unstable Packages OS: Linux This is a corner case kcmclock bug. If ntpdate is installed, one can check the NTP checkbox at the top of the dialog. After doing that, ntpdate can be removed. After that, kcmclock even in administrator mode will only allow to change the timezone. Modification of date and time will be disabled. But the NTP checkbox will no longer be shown. This is possible because KDE stores [NTP] enabled=true in /root/.kde/share/config/kcmclockrc. I see two possible fixes: get rid of that configuration in kcmclockrc, using a non-KDE setting instead. No idea how feasible that is. if ntpdate is not installed, let the administrator disable NTP or disable it automagically Thanks to Modestas Vainius from Debian Qt/KDE team for diagnosing the problem.
Nowadays when ntpdate gets removed after initial config, the widget for configuring the NTP stuff will still be enabled and all, but the applying will consequently fail. I hope this is enough a fix :)
Harald, since which versions does your description apply to? I'm getting the same behavior as in KDE 3 in KDE 4.3.4.
The new form taken by this bug was reported in #311286.