This is what I initially tried when I said the system tried to repair itself.
It tried running the Startup Repair Tool four times in a row. After the
fourth attempt, it said the problem could not be repaired, at which point it
gave me the other options mentioned in my post.

"Engel" wrote:
[color=blue]
> Startup Repair Tool - When something causes Windows Vista to start improperly
> or not at all, Startup Repair Tool can automatically fix most issues and get
> you up and running again with minimal troubleshooting and time wasted.[/color]