BleepingComputer.com: Vista repair install

I was brought an HP laptop with Vista Home Premium for repair. The problem with is when you log on, there is no background, desktop icons or taskbar. I hit control, alt, delete, started task manager/ file/ new task/ explorer.exe. The system can't find explorer. I checked, it's not there. I tried to restore trhe system to an earlier date but the only system checkpoint is today. I tried booting off the install DVD and performing a start up repair, but it doesn't find any problems. Is there any way to do a repair install on Vista like you could on XP, or am I looking at saving his stuff and reinstalling?

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/88236-repair-install-vista.html

But your system may be infected - a repair install won't fix that. I'd suggest you check that out first.

Thanks for the reply.
I pulled the hard drive, installed it in my machine and ran Avast anti virus and Malwarebytes. Neither found any infected files.