BleepingComputer.com: Disk Access Error - can't boot or reinstall

I started having some issues with my Vista box yesterday - it was slowing down, taking minutes to open folders, apps like Firefox were freezing, etc. Today I ran some scans (Spybot, etc.), found nothing but cookies. Went to install Adaware, at the end of install it asks for a reboot. On reboot, after the bios screen, I get "Disk Access Error, ctrl-alt del to restart." Same thing no matter how many times I restart.

Eventually, I somehow get a screen that says "There was a problem with Windows, blah blah blah, put in your Windows disk and run a repair installation." I never got a repair option, I kept clicking ahead thinking I would get to it, next thing I know I'm apparently reinstalling Vista. Runs through the install, comp reboots, goes right back to the "Disk Access Error."

Safe Mode, Last Good Configuration, nothing seems to work. I'd like to get this up and running gain, since I use it for my job (and have a lot of work to get done). I also have some files on the hard disk I need to not lose, if possible (please let it be possible).

It's a Vista 64 system, 4 gigs of RAM, 250 gig drive, can't remember exact processor speed off the top of my head.

Thanks!

[Update - another try at Safe Mode, it loaded a bunch of .sys files, then hung]
[Update again - sometimes, it loads the .sys files, gets to a blank screen with a functional mouse, then reboots itself]

This post has been edited by zeppelined: 02 April 2009 - 02:24 PM

Ok, I got the repair disk to run. I get a message telling me to remove any removable storage devices that may have been attached, then reboot. I've removed everything except the mouse (USB) and keyboard (non-USB). Still no good.

The repair diagnosis details shows all tests completed successfully except one.

"Root cause found:
Failure while setup is in progress."


Any ideas?

It would have been nice to know what the blah,blah,blah part of the error message was. That's usually important, but probably too late now
It sounds like your system is corrupt and you need to do a total reinstall