Vista hangs on startup

Are you able to run the dell diagnostic on start up.
If there is a factory default image on the system. You could reinstall your system from there. You will loose your data !

1. Start the computer with Vista Home Premium disc

2. Goto Command Prompt in Vista Recovery Environment

Note: A tutorial of Using Command Prompt in Vista Windows Recovery is in the URL below.

URL: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial147.html

3. Run the command below.

   chkdsk /r

How to restore your system from factory image at

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins1720/en/om_en/html/trouble.htm#wp1063103

Yes I ran the dell diagnostic and it came up with no errors.  Unfortunately I can't get behind the Dell splash screen to get a read out on the hard drive, so I'll have to take a peek inside.  chkdsk /r had been performed with no improvement.  

starting a disk diag from ubcd will tell hyou the model - then you can run the correct one
no need for peeking in

I don't need to know the manufacturer to obtain the correct disk diag?

You need to know the manufacturer to obtain the correct disk diag.

no - the diag will list all the disks models it finds - you can google the model  to fuind the manufacturer

The ultimatebootcd that nobus referred you to includes a very extensive set of tools. All of the common hard drive manufacturer's diagnostic tests are included on that disc. It is a very handly tool but can be unwieldy for a one-off need. If you do download it, you can check the hard drive(s) and memory to make sure they are not faulty.

Another method of obtaining the tools to test the hard drive(s) and memory is to download a copy of memtest86 from download.com.

To get the diagnostic software for your hard drive, take a peak inside your case and get the model number and manufacturer of the hard drive. Get the manufacturer's disk diagnostic utility and run that.

i just posted above that even that is not needed...

Not intending to step on any toes nobus. I'm was attempting to clarify and sum up what we have all said since the op seemed to have questions.

Different brands of HDD have their own HDD diagnostic tools for their respective brand.

of course jackieman )-( we are only discussing how to find the proper one

This download looks awesome but i'm in a rural area ... its going .... but its going to take a while  :)

Downloaded and burned the ISO .. ubcd boots and launches fine.

If I go into HDD diagnosis the only tool that is not manufacturer specific (already tried the fujitsu and it only listed as "other") is the ViVARD tool.  It will perform a surface test etc.

If I go back to the main menu and go into HDD Device info and mangmt then to atainf it identifies the dvd drive, then says no controller found in 4 locations.

DISKINFO id's the dvd as well but flies past the hdd so fast i can't see it and it won't 'pause' or scroll or page up ... After repeated tries I see the sector info etc ... still trying to glean something out useful in the blink of an eye.

a speed test on the hard drive looks promising ... at least the graphics look reasonable.

Fast hdd test passed

The hard drive passed the full test as well with reasonable read write readings.  I wanted to use the restore method described above by asidu but it was not an option.  So after logging into the command prompt and looking for retrievable data, documents, and pictures - there was none - I decided to try to do a basic install again.

Once again the install gets all the way to the 'Completing Installation' and it hangs.

At this point I am giong to search that UBcd for a wipe disk utility and attempt a clean install

try DFT Drive Fitness test - it runs on  nearly all brands - and will show your disk model also
if unsure - post the model

using some of the info from one of the test screens I narrowed it down to a Western Digital and their drive test shows up with all the pertinent model, serial, firmware, etc.

Running their extended test.

The quick test passed with no errors ... so ... after quite a few tests .. with the extended still running, let's say the hard drive passes .. what could be the issue?

Extended hard drive test passed with no errors.

Did you run chkdsk /r ?

at this point, i would say that it looks like a mobo or otherhardware problem -since it hangs during install
btw - you disconnected all peripherals  before installing?  printers, scanners, card readers, etc..?
then i would wipe the disk with DBAN before doing a fresh install
don't forget to backup first !
 http://dban.sourceforge.net/

Ran chkdsk /r for the 3rd time and get the message that windows found no problems ... however, this time the following message appeared at the end:  "Failed to transfer logged messages to the event log with status 50"

It is a laptop and there are no peripherals.

Next trying here2help's method before DBAN.

On the RebuildBcd command it came up with 3 extra "old" copies of windows and when asked I omitted them from the boot list :  Add Windows.old? N.

On  #9.  the rebuild found 5 old copies of window including one on a seperate D: partition.  I omitted all but the C:\Windows installation.

Computer still stayed in some permanent boot loop - never succeeding at boot.

I had high hopes for that routine Here2help.  I am going to retry it using the D:\Windows and the oldest entry for C:Windows.old.002

The Windows.old.xxx folders are copies of previously installed Windows operating systems and files. When you reinstall, the installation renames your current install as c:\windows.old, a second reinstall or upgrade will be renamed c:\windows.old.XXX where XXX is an incrementing number.

I don't think you are having a hardware problem. It's still a possibility but Vista is known to hang for any number of reasons right after crcdisk.sys is loaded. You may be throwing good time after bad in that you may not find the fault and be able to recover the current install. While you still have access to the drive the ultimate boot cd, you may want to consider copying off important files and doing a fresh install.

I do find it interesting that there are so many installs of Windows on this laptop.

Yes - the reinstalls were passed on to me from previous attempts and I may have added one myself... however ....

Tentative success = after trying several rebuilds using here2help's commands canceling all other installations but using windows.old got a successful boot.

Any suggested clean up steps to take before calling this a success?

Also ... when I received the installation disk it looked like the mother had used it as a bib while feeding a baby = super smudged and dried.  I used proper technique to clean it up and it looked great, but as i was preparing to use the DBAN and reinstall i noticed a deep scratch toward the outer edge.  Deep enough to snag my fingernail.  Now wondering if that disk is not performing in the very final stage of installation.  Does Dell provide a downloadable ISO for vista?

In Windows Recovery Environment does it show Dell Factory Image Restore?

If it does, then you won't need an installation disk.  Just click the Dell button to restore the laptop to factory settings.

Backup up any important data!

No ... someone brought that up earlier ... that was not an option when going to the boot screen or from the WinRe from installation disk.

Do I need to submit a new question about cleaning up all these old installs?  I don't mind ...

Thanks.

Try this tutorial:

Windows 7 - Windows.old Folder - Delete (should work for vista as well)

Thanks Here2help.  I am going to submit a new question on the subject since I am operating from the Windows.old installation and I want to rid all other 5 or 6 "old" installations and make it to where there is only the one windows installation / folder with no .old on it.

No probs!