Vista won't boot - System restore/Startup repair can't fix

I'll tell you what DELL users, you're certainly not alone. I have a HP Vista setup... And it not only did this to me last week (after it shut down and stopped my virgin/radial point spyware and virus working) but I had to reinstall windows, the internet, netgear router, lost data the lot... told myself I'd be more careful next time as I didn't want to lose all my stuff again. Lasted about a month... Just happened to me tonight, I'm on my blackberry pissed off looking for solutions.. This time it was slightly different... My msn would not let me connect, nor would my web browsers not connect to the internet, due to "connection resetting itself"... When I did a system restore, the internet worked... But my Virgin security guard didn't work, so I "reinstalled spyware software"... Restarted so it would work, and then got the same problem, no connection to internet, even tho there's a connection as my PS3 would work... So it came down to... Do I want full working internet, without security... Or do I want full working security, without working internet, making security pointless. I thought its ridiculous, so I did another restore, this time 7 days back, instead of just 3, just to be sure... When computer was starting up I got a "loading files" white bar, then a blue screen... I tried the F8 - 'restore to last known good setup' idea, which sounded ever so promising, but did not work... Now I am at a loss as to how to fix this thing at all... Looking like ill have to install everythin and start afresh, again... To be fair, I'd much rather throw it through the window and go "office space" on it, but I need my computer more than ever these next few months :(

I've repaired 3 few laptops with this exact problem in just the past 2 weeks.  Two sucessfully responded to some form of restore or repair from the F8 menu at startup.  One required a full system restore.  If a full system restore is the only option and you have files you can't afford to lose, you can physically remove the hard drive, connect it to another computer, and copy your critical files to that computer.  Then reinstall the hard drive and run the restore utility.  To connect the hard drive to another computer, you will either need to purchase either a hard drive adapter (about $40.00) or a 2.5" drive enclosure (about $20.00).  If you choose a drive enclosure, make sure it supports the type of drive you have (usually SATA) and that it supports your drive's capacity.  You will still have to reinstall all of your programs, but at least you won't loose your personal files.

I have the same issue all of a suddon my computer shut down now windows wont boot ,  wont restore , i cant go in safe mode, says there are no restore points,cant full restore cause it cant find back up files? im operating in a limited state and it just keeps wanting to run scan disk / repair but it stops and says vista cant fix  the problem?? My computer didnt come with a restore disk so now what?????????????

I had the same problem, Vista won't load, then it goes to the repair disk and never stops.  Can't get into safe mode or repair from the F8 screen either.  I repaired this by locating my OS reinstallation disc.  Then started while clicking on F2.   Click on booting options, unselect everything except for CD/DVD drive, so it will ONLY boot from the OS reinstallation disc.  PUt the disc into the drive and restart the computer.  It will walk you through and will repair your computer.  When it restarts, you will have to press F2 again and re-select the other drives to boot from.  Then my computer started right up and I didn't lose any information.   I am now going to back EVERYTHING up again in case something worse happens!  LOL!

Ok, this may have just been a fluke but when i had run the startup it said that they couldnt fix it blah blah blah. Well, i clicked dont send and then finish. I then just turned of my pc and reloaded it. Then i clicked F12 and i just clicked on the option which said my hardrive. It then just loaded perfectly. I dunno if this was just a fluke, but its worth a try. Good luck.