Startup Repair has tried several times but still cannot determine the cause of the problem.

According to Startup Repair that I run from the Vista Boot Disk it appears as if the OS is working properly, and that I should 'remove the recently attached device.' The lap top belongs to my sister who is a freshman in college and I was hoping to be able to get the computer up and running, with all her files, before she goes back to school next week. For Christmas she received a Coby key chain picture viewer and installed the hardware to upload images. She says that the same day she transferred pictures the computer crashed. She did not 'Safely Remove Hardware' so I don't know if that could have affected the computer in some way.
I know that I can re-install Vista, but that would mean she looses all her files. Unfortunately there is no System Restore point or backup. Starting the computer in Safe Mode does not make any difference, Startup Repair runs just after the green runner and the MS logo.
Is there any way to repair without re-installing?

Computer Specs:
HP Pavilion dv6000 (GA451UA#ABA)
AMD Turion 64x2 TL-56
1800MHz

I am not sure what kind of hard drive she has.

Please let me know if there is other information I can provide.
Thanks,
-Daniel

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
My sister says that the computer was able to restart once, but lacked wireless connectivity and she was told to update vista, which she did and then the problem became what it is now.

Edited by dec512, 30 December 2008 - 11:36 PM.

I'd have to suggest a repair install of Vista here (unless you're confident locating the drive in RE mode and disabling it). Here's a link on how to do it: http://vistasupport.mvps.org/repair_a_vist...e_vista_dvd.htm

Unfortunately the upgrade option is disabled and I am not able to uninstall SP1.

How can I locate the drive in RE mode and disable it?

Thanks for the help!

--Daniel

UPDATE IN INFORMATION:
I am able to access the hard drive using the command prompt (via the reboot disk) and have successfully moved some pictures out of there & onto an external hard drive. Is it possible for me to uninstall SP1 via the command prompt?

Edited by dec512, 02 January 2009 - 03:57 PM.

See Method 3 at this link: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948537

I didn't have the specified file in the temp drive and so I searched for it using by typing @ the C:\> prompt:
dir windows6.0-kb936330-x86.exe /s
after a while it replied
File Not Found

Could that mean that SP1 was not installed? Why would the upgrade option be disabled on the boot disk? Did I perform the search correctly?

I appreciate your help.
Thanks!

Edited by dec512, 03 January 2009 - 02:20 PM.

Can I perform a backup using command prompt? If I do will restoring the backup restore the problem?

At the command prompt type "ver" (without the quotes) and press Enter
6.0.6001 is the version on my 64 bit Vista Ultimate w/SP1 - I think that Vista w/o SP1 is 6.0.6000

Generally the upgrade option is only available when you launch the installer from inside of Windows (this also may be affected by the version of Vista that you have).

I'm unsure about the backup - but it will only work if the backup contains the right files and registry entries to replace the faulty one's currently on the computer.

Thanks for your help usasma. I had to reinstall vista due to time constraints.
Thanks again for your guidance.
-Daniel

Not a problem. Sometimes time is a factor - and the reinstall may be the fastest way to fix the problem for you.
Good luck!