Hello Mark,

Thank you for posting.

From your post, my understanding on this issue is: Windows Vista SP2 cannot
sync the time via the w32tm service, and you can do a stripchart command
against time.windows.com. If I'm off base, please feel free to let me know.

Before moving on, could you please let me know if the computer is in a
domain? Do you have other Windows Vista computers have same problem?
Thanks.

Mostly, the following factors can cause w32tm service issue:

1. Third party time synchronization product was installed on the computer.
2. Security software block network Ports.
3. Incorrect w32tm service settings.
4. Corrupted system file.
5. Group Policy.

Given the current situation, I have following suggestions:

Suggestion 1: Register dll file and reset SNTP.
============
Please run the following command in a elevate privileges cmd window.

net stop w32time
w32tm /unregister
w32tm /register
regsvr32 c:\windows\system32\w32time.dll
net time /setsntp:time.windows.com,0x1
net start w32time

Then, please test the issue again. If the issue still persists, please take
the following suggestions.

Suggestion 2: Reset Windows Time Service related group policy
============
1. Click Start, click Run, type gpedit.msc , and then click OK.
2. In the Group Policy Object Editor MMC snap-in, expand Computer
Configuration, expand Administrative Templates, expand System, and then
click Windows Time Service.
3. In the right pane, right-click Global Configuration Settings, and then
click Properties.
4. In the Global Configuration Settings Properties dialog box, click Not
Configured, and then click OK.
5. Expand Windows Time Service, click Time Providers, and then set all the
objects in this node to Not Configured. To do this, follow these steps: a.
In the right pane, double-click Enable Windows NTP Client, click Not
Configured, and then click OK.
b. In the right pane, double-click Configure Windows NTP Client, click Not
Configured, and then click OK.
c. In the right pane, double-click Enable Windows NTP Server, click Not
Configured, and then click OK.

Suggestion 3: Take a Clean Boot
============
1. Click Start, type "MSCONFIG" (without the quotations) in the Search Bar
and Press "Enter" to start the System Configuration Utility.
2. Click the "Services" tab, check the "Hide All Microsoft Services" box
and click "Disable All" (if it is not gray).
3. Click the "Startup" tab, click "Disable All" and click "OK".
4. Restart the computer and test the issue.

Please monitor the system in the Clean Boot environment. If the problem
does not occur, it indicates that the problem is related to one application
or service we have disabled. You may use the MSCONFIG tool again to
re-enable the disabled item one by one to find out the culprit.

Does it work? I am looking forward to your reply.

Thanks.

Best regards,

Robinson Zhang
Microsoft Online Support