HELP! Can't get into safe mode with Vista.

[ZMan2k2]

I'm trying to fix my dad's computer, but it won't even let me get into safe mode. He installed the latest windows Vista updates this morning, and now he's having a problem. It starts up and goes to the screen which says, "Configuring updates: Stage 3 of 3 -- 0% complete" and stays there. There's no action at all and has been this way since 10 AM this morning. When I go to start in safe mode, it comes up to the same screen, then reboots. I can't do anything with it, and I can't find the system CD that came with the computer. Is there anything I can do?

[GQBalla]

sounds like it got corrupt.

are you able to get the menu where it asks if you would like to go to ``last known good configuration`ÉÉÉÉ

[ZMan2k2]

Nope, can't find that either. All that comes up is
-Safe mode
-Safe mode with networking
-Safe mode with command prompt.
Selecting any of these comes up with the same result. It boots in safe mode, then the screen displays the "Step 3 of 3" BS, then it reboots. I've got my parents scouring the basement for the discs that came with their comp. Driving me nuts right now.

[ZMan2k2]

Success!! Pressing F4 when on the initial BIOS screen, I found the windows system repair tool. It restored the computer to the last known good config., and I finally have access to repair the issue with the last update not installing correctly.

[GQBalla]

yay

[ZMan2k2]

Okay, so I restored it to a good configuration, set a restore point, and continued with installation of updates. It got to the final update, and we're back to the same problem. It gets to the "Configuring Update- Step 3 of 3" screen, stays at 0%, then reboots over and over, never changing the screen.

I can get it back to "Last known good configuration", but the problem is, it stays on the same problem. It thinks that the "Configuring Update" screen is the last good load. When I try to go to safe mode, I get the same screen again. I don't know what to do now? Is the HDD corrupted? Do I need a fresh install of Vista? We can't find the discs that came with the comp., so that's a problem too.