If I try any variation of safe mode, it cycles outside of Vista, asking me to click on the user name, beginning to load, and then returning to the user login page. Last Known Good Configuration simply dies, and Repair gives me this error:
C000021A
0xc0000001 (0x00000001 0x00000001)
I can see all my data's intact and I'm in the middle of backing up the files now. The only problem is my Dell Inspiron didn't come with a Vista disc, or if it did, I've long since lost it. I have a friend's copy of Vista Business Pro I could use, but no doubt repairing from that will cause major discrepancies, no?
Anyway, I'm told it's my atapi.sys file that wants repair. Any ideas?