Vista - Login Process Initialization Failure Error Message - HELP!

Greetings all,

A friend of mine called me tonight saying he can't get Windows Vista
Home Premium to start on his laptop. All he gets is a black screen with
an error message -

"Interactive logon process initialization has failed. Please consult the
event log for more details."

He didn't receive a Vista DVD so he can't run a startup repair or
anything else - he can't even get into 'Safe Mode'

I suggested he find someone with a Vista DVD and try a startup repair,
or, worse comes to worse, take it back to the place where he bought it
(still under warranty)

Can any gurus out there help us get this guy back up and running again??
I did a google search of the error message - an exercise in futility!

Thanks in advance for any and all replies!



Ray