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Do you know when this problem began? Try a System Restore to a point in time BEFORE the problem began. Here's the procedure: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/using-windows-vista-system-restore/. Be sure to check the box to show more than 5 days of restore points. If the first attempt fails, then try an earlier point or two. NOTE: You will have to re-install any software and updates you installed between now and the restore point, but you can use Windows Update for the updates.
If the System Restore doesn't work, do a Startup Repair by booting to the genuine Windows Vista Installation Disk (or one you can borrow from ANYONE) or from a Recovery Disk. Here's the procedure: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial148.html. To boot to the CD you may need to change the BIOS to make the CD-drive first in the boot sequence. To do that, wait for the screen that tells you the F key to push to access the boot menu or boot setup. Push it quickly. Make the changes, save your work, and exit. Put the CD in the drive and reboot. When prompted, push any key to boot from the CD.
If you don't have either disk, you can make a bootable Recovery Disk using http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vista-recovery-disc-download/ along with burning software like: http://www.snapfiles.com/get/active-isoburner.html and, of course, a blank CD.
If that doesn't work, try to boot into safe mode (repeatedly click the F8 key while booting and go to safe mode with networking). Then let's check some of your system files:
Go to Start / All Programs / Accessories / Command prompt and right click on command prompt and click run as Administrator.
Type sfc /scannow and enter and let it run. It will scan and try to fix some of your system files. Hopefully it will complete with no corruption it could not repair (if there is such corruption post back here or try to analyze it to find the problem file(s) using http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928228.
While in Command Prompt, type chkdsk /f /r and enter and let it run. It will scan and try to fix any corruption or bad sectors on your hard drive and mostly remove that as a cause.
If that doesn't work, then please post any repeating error messages from the Event Viewer concerning startup (Start / Control Panel / Administrative Tools / Event Viewer). Here's how to use Event Viewer: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic40108.html.
This could also be caused by malware. While in Safe Mode with networking (click repeatedly on F8 during the boot process) and try to run anti-malware programs. To fix this problem (if it is a problem) download, install, and run the following two programs: http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php and http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html. You may also want to try a free trial of Pandasoft (www.pandasoft.com). Before downloading pandasoft, uninstall whatever anti-virus program you are currently using (because installing and running two at the same time can cause conflicts, freezes, and all sorts of problems). Once you've uninstalled your current AV program, download, install, update, and scan using Pandasoft. I think you might be amazed at how much it finds that the other software missed. Once complete, uninstall pandasoft and re-install your current AV program (unless you decide to switch which I did when I first tried it about 4 years ago). You may also want to try the new, free Microsoft Security Essentials http://www.microsoft.com/security\_essentials/default.aspx (with the same caveat that only ONE AV program can be installed and running on your system at any one time). Reboot after completing all the scans. You may also want to try the free OneCare at http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/default.htm and let it run all the options because that’s good maintenance (it will take some time to complete but can be done in the background).
If that doesn't work, we'll need to do a system repair/upgrade using the genuine Windows Vista Installation Disk (one you own or one you can borrow from ANYONE). Here's the procedure: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/88236-repair-install-vista.html along with the upgrade from an earlier version of Windows section of the following: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/918884. Although this will not affect your data, settings, or programs, you should still backup your data before starting just to be on the safe side. If the other procedures don't work, THIS one is almost certain to work. You may have a lot of updates to re-install (including any service packs you had to remove). If the version on the system cane with SP1 or SP2 pre-installed and the disk is an earlier version, then you'll need to make a slipstream disk as follows: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/151606-vista-sp1-slipstream-installation-dvd.html.
Hopefully one of these procedures will resolve your problem. If not, post back and we'll try something else. Post back in any case so we'll know how it turned out.
Good luck!
Lorien - One - MCSE/MCSA/Network+/A+