Safemode to no safemode to nothing at all

Hello all, I am new to the forum but old with crashes.

I have a Dell Inspiron 1520, Intel Core Duo, Memory Installed 2048 / Available 2046,
160GB HDD ----
F2 Setup has been reset to all defaults

Computer ran fine but would have occassional crashes, after replacing the HD only once though. Have had many different blue screens that are along the lines of the others I found posted. "SESSION 3 INITIALIZATION FAILED".."PAGE MOUNT.." too fast and too many for me to note...sorry, not very savy with debugging, computer language or the like..

It let me go into Safemode in the beginning, which I would run sfc /scannow, other scans, CCLeaner, make a restore point, etc. - then it would either crash at "sleep" mode or simply restart with Error Msg: Internal hard drive not found..try to reseat. Which I did though I only know how to take it out and put it back in so.. Also Event Viewer would show a decent amount of errors, though I didn't know what to do other than run the scannow command)

Tried chksdsk and it would work but then not work..
Tried the Bcd commands and nothing as well..
Ran F10 Memory Tests - worked restart normally - then crash..

From install DVD - no operating system shows, "startup repair" doesn't work

From Command Prompt- Administrator:X:\windows/system32\cmd.exe
(it would allow me to schedule a scan, it even fixed the computer but now nothing)

- sfc /scannow = Windows Resource Protection could not perform..
- chkdsk = no problems found (shows only 3086 total disk space??)
- bcd (anything) = boot configuration store could not be opened...requested system device cannot be found...Windows installation: 0...

Anyhelp would be appreciated..I am willing to try more but am not sure if the computer itself is just screwed e.g. a hardware problem that I have no skills to tamper or afford.

Thanks in advance
m

Also is there anyway to do a clean install without losing my programs?..

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/88236-repair-install-vista.html

Sounds like you have already done all I could suggest.

Tutorial thanks to Brink

Yeah, I figured as much...it just sucks I have to lose my programs...

I have a disk that came with the computer and was wondering if I should just either buy a "retail/full" version to retain them or just upgrade to Windows 7 and thus retain the programs and use a "better" version of Windows...

I guess my question is, is Windows 7 less prone to the Service Pack issues than Vista?..
and/or should I just get the "full/retail" version and do an upgrade?...

Either way thanks for the help.
m

Cont'd from 'Crashes and Debugging'...

So, my Dell Inspiron 1520, is erratic..second hard drive, familiar symptoms/crashes..all seemingly from updates/confused drivers or something...

It would shutdown, restart and say "Internal harddrive not found...reseat drive"...

Ran a variety of tests some successful, some not:

sfc /scannow (both elevated prompt or 'sfc -scannow from windows safemode if allowed) =sometimes would fix or either shutdown computer and restart and repeat "..hard drive not found...reseat..."

chkdsk (elevated prompt)=either no problems or would not complete/run

bcd's and bootrec's all either could not perform the requested or locked or doesn't recognize the drive

After a multitude of these kind of attempts, I eventually attempted to do a clean install but it would say 'missing driver..load disk" but would not recognize or find what it needed. (Note: I have the 'OEM' disk(s) and driver disks)...

Went to Dell's site and read about 'switching SATA' config's and stuff...long story - clean install failed because of said and random scans completed and failed..but after reseting all settings to default(I had also done this previously to no avail) and it loaded into safemode amazingly....but I didn't know what to do afterwards. Ran a 'scannow' from another elevated prompt and at 73% it crashed...

WTF is up with this computer?...I thought hardrive/hardware now I'm thinking serious driver issues..

?: what should I do/utilize if I manage to get into safemode again?..

Thanks
this forum has provided tons of information I appreciate it greatly...
m

PS...now I have an 'I/O error reading device EXTCD001...