Can't boot normal or safe mode and can't restore

I can no longer boot my laptop. It's running Vista Business SP2. I'm pretty sure I know what I did. I tried reinstalling the Realtek audio drivers ... didn't reboot like it asked me to... then decided to uninstall them from the device manager since I wasn't sure I had the right version... then rebooted and am now in an endless loop.

Both regular boot and safe mode put me in the same spot "Startup Repair". That fails with this:

"startup repair cannot repair this computer automatically"

Problem Event Name: StartupRepairV2
Problem Signature 01: AutoFailover
Problem Signature 02: 6.0.6000.16386.6.0.6000.16386
Problem Signature 03: 6
Problem Signature 04: 1507351
Problem Signature 05: BadDriver
Problem Signature 06: BadDriver
Problem Signature 07: 3221226017
Problem Signature 08: 1
Problem Signature 09: WrpRepair
Problem Signature 10: 0
OS Version: 6.0.6000.2.0.0.256.1
Locale ID: 1033

I try all 4 system restore points and that fails with "The system cannot find the file specified. (0x80070002)"

I tried chkdsk -r with no errors

I tried all of the above off of the harddrive and off of the vista dvd

I tried copying the driver files into system32 and windows from an identical machine with working drivers from the command prompt

I'm currently backing everything up to an external drive expecting to have to wipe and reinstall, but I would love it if someone had a suggestion on something else I could try.

Can I prevent windows from trying to load those drivers? I found this program called pcregedit that allows you to boot into linux and edit the registry, but I'm not sure where to look in the registry.
If it is a driver issue, I don't understand why I can't use system restore though.

Can you afford to lose documents in computer? If so you may be able to boot to factory specs.

I could do that since I have everything backed up. I was just trying to somehow repair the existing install so I don't have to reinstall all my programs etc..

Your computer has a recovery drive. The factory specs are on it, just like the day you brought it home. How to do it is in your computer manual or you can get it online. If you give me the make and model of your computer, I will try to help.
It is done by hitting an f key at boot, but which one.
This will require you to reinstall programs, etc.



If you have the install DVD you can try a repair install and you should not lose programs etc.
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/88236-repair-install-vista.html

Thanks, I can handle the recovery drive method. I'm still holding out hope for fixing the current install. When I boot off a Vista Business SP2 DVD, I don't get the option to repair. It seems like it's going to overwrite everything, so it looks like I'm out of luck.