no text. Microsoft green progress thinger, then blank screen for a min, then a super quick flash of something then dead.

Check that the cable connection to the drive and motherboard are tight. Mine sometimes worked loose from vibration.

Next check the bios.

I did that last night... pressed fi and it asked me if I wanted to start vista, or press f8 for other shit. I pressed f8 and tried to get it to start in safe mode and got same results.

It doesn't sound like you've hit the bios screen yet. Try rebooting and pressing f2 (repeatedly). If that doesn't work try again with f3. Then Esc, then del.

If none of those work, you might want to take it out back and pound it into scrap with a sledge hammer. :D

what does bios screen look like?

Like one of these:

http://images.google.com/images?hl=e...1g-m2&aql=&oq=

It'll say something like "bios setup" or "cmos setup", maybe "hardware setup"

Once you get there, tell us what you see on the screen and we'll try to get you further.

Ok, f2 got me "windows boot manager"
Choose operating sys to start - vista is only option

to specify advanced option press f8

also, can tab to "windows memory diagnostic"

What are the options when you go to the advanced area with F8?

Jinx - I don't think you found it yet, the bios screen won't have anything to do with windows.

the memory thing ran, found no errors then tried to restart, no change


F8 - advcanced boot options

safe mode with networking
safe mode with command prompt

enable boot logging
enable low-res video (640X480)
last know good configuration (advanced) (( I tried that last night, nada))
directory services restore mode
debugging mode
disable automatic restart on system failure
disable driver signature enforcement

start windows normally




Nothing about bios anywhere

Wait, that's Windows bringing up that menu... there is hope

Does the system beep when it starts up?

No I don't think so.

if you go to safe mode with command prompt do you get a c:/ ?