BleepingComputer.com: Vista boot problems/ Overall boot problems

Okeedokee. Ill try and make this as short as possible. Im trying to fix up a computer of mine for a friend. The last time I used it was less than a month ago, but now all of a sudden, its having MAJOR booting problems. The first thing i noticed was that when i started it up, the VGA wasnt detecting a signal. So, i took all of the RAM out except for one 512 MB stick and it booted. It booted once. I got to the Vista login screen, entered my password, and then waited for ten minutes as it welcomed me. After that, the Aero waiting loopy thing stopped spinning and i knew it was time to reboot. so i hard shutdown and the next thing i know, it goes to the "Windows didnt shut down properly" BIOS screen with two options: "Run startup manager (recommended) ", and "Start windows normally". If i choose Run startup manager, the screen flashes and then resets that screen and i get the same options again, and the 30 second timer at the bottom resets. this is almost instantaneous. if i choose start windows normally, the screen goes black, and then BIOS resets from the splash screen. ive tried resetting the CMOS by taking the battery out for 3 minutes. ive tried resetting the default BIOS settings, and nothing has gotten me past that first booting screen. HALP!

How about trying reinstalling Vista?

i tried to boot the reinstallation disc from the CD drive, but it stops at "verifying DMI pool data, boot from CD:"

Verifying DMI Pool Data . . . Then System Hangs - http://www.therthdimension.org/Computers/Software_Fixes___Workarounds/_Verifying_DMI_Pool_Data______/_verifying_dmi_pool_data______.html

Louis