Vista - System Stuck in Loop on Both Reboot and System Restore

Yesterday I tried to install Visual Basic Express 2008. After the
installation completed a reboot was required. During that reboot the
computer got stuck in the configuring updates/restart loop mentioned in many
other posts. I also tried to reboot into Safe Mode and via Last Known Good
Configuration but neither worked as the system went back into the reboot mode.

After hours of seeing if it would resolve itself I tried a system restore.
That process allows me to pick a restore point (I have tried several) and it
proceeds until the point where the "Finalizing file restore" message and
progress bar appears. Now it is stuck there, continuing the finalizing
process but never finishing.

I have tried to reinstall Vista using my serial number but it will not let
me install as an upgrade as it requires me to run it inside of Windows which
I can not access. If I try to run it without the serial number, it only
allows a custom install which will overwrite my files.

Any ideas how to solve this problem? Thanks.