Vista - System Crash: all has failed, please help!

Hi everyone, I need some help with my computer and was wondering if anyone could help me with it.
My computer is an Acer Aspire 3680 running Vista Home Basic.

When the computer starts up it gets to the loading screen and then crashes: A blue screen comes up with a load of type on it but the system does a crash dump before I can read what it says.
The computer then restarts with an option to continue normally or launch startup repair. I than launch startup repair and it says it "cannot repair this computer automatically".

The diagnostics and repair details are as follows:
"Number of repair attempts: 13

session details
----------------------------------
system disk= \Device\harddisk0
windows directory= C:\Windows
AutoChk run = 0
Number of root causes=1

Test Performed:
----------------------------------
Name: Check for updates
Result: Completed succesfully. Error code = 0x0
Time taken = 15ms"

(Then goes on to check several other items which are completed succesfully, with the error code 0x0)

"Root cause found:
----------------------------------
Startup Repair has tried several times but can still not determine the cause of the problem."

----------------------------------
----------------------------------
(The above checks than repeat 3 times.

The problem details are

"Problem Signature:
Problem Event Name: StartupRepairV2
Problem Signature 01: AutoFailover
Problem Signature 02: 6.0.6000.16386.6.0.6001.18000
Problem Signature 03: 6
Problem Signature 04: 917518
Problem Signature 05:0xf4
Problem Signature 06:0xf4
Problem Signature 07: 0
Problem Signature 08: 2
Problem Signature 09: WrpRepair
Problem Signature 10: 267
OS Version: 6.0.6000.2.0.0.256.1
Locale ID: 1033"

I have sent this info to Microsoft as recommened and nothing has changed.

My computer is in a limited state and I can only access Startup Repair, System Restore, Windows Complete PC Restore, Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool and Command Prompt.

Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool can find no errors and system restore seems like my only option but I have no restore point, also when it finishes it says
"System Restore did not complete succesfully. Your computers system files and setting were not changed.
Details:
System restore failed due to an unspecified error.
The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable. (0x80070570)"

I am all out of options and don't know what to do someone please help.

Hi afterburnerx,

Can you start up in safe mode?

If yes then I may have an answer.

Pooch

if it starts in safemode click start then run and type msconfig and hit return , in the startup tab disable EVERYTHING then goto the services tab , at the bottom there a is a hide all microsoft services checkbox , put a tick in there and then disable everything that remains and click apply , you will be prompted to reboot do so and see if its ok , if it is you simply need to re enabnle each startup item one by one till it crashes again and you'll have your culprit , if not.............. navigate to c:/windows/minidump , in that folder you will have a crash dump file , if you can make that available for download then we can have a look it for you and tell yuo whats wrong.

I cannot start the system in safe mode, it will only let me start it normally (then it crashes) or launch start up repair. Is there a key I can press, as it is loading up ,to start safe mode?
If not can I do this through Command Prompt?

Keep pressing f8 after the Bios screen this should then open a window with the option to start in safe mode let me know if you can start in safe mode

You can also try system restore from the command line

Running System Restore from the command line is often the only way to get a system back up and running. I’ll describe it from the initial boot.
1. Restart your system
2. When the system first boots, type F8 to bring up the boot menu
3. Select the Safe Mode with Command Prompt option
4. Log-on as administrator if needed
5. At your command prompt type %systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe
6. Hit Enter
6. This will open the system restore wizard

Do you have a vista installation dvd?

I just booted in safe mode from the Vista menu as you said but it crashed again.
I also tried with Boot Logging, from the last known good configuration and in debug mode, all of which crashed.

I do have a Vista installation disk but would prefer not to use it as I have not backed up my HDs.

The Vista installation disc contains a Recovery Console that can help diagnose Startup repairs - it is not *only* for reinstalling Vista.

Also, you can theoretically install Vista over itself - some of your programs may need to be reinstalled as well, but you won't lose your data as long as you don't do something hokey like delete the partitions....

johngalt I am going to try the Recory Console on the disk as you said, but how can I do this in the limited state I am in: Is there a string I can type into Command Prompt to do this?

no.

Yo boot off the DVD - it makes no sense trying to recover your system while being booted into your system because obviously your system is damaged to the point that it will not fully boot.

hence the Recovery Console on the DVD that is *independent* of your machine.

Pardon my ignorance but, Recovery Console?