Windows Vista system restore keeps running (8hrs)

Sounds like you need to run the check disk utiltity but since you don't have a CD Drive, you're up the creek without a paddle. try booting up into Safe Mode and if you get there successfully reboot and see if the normal mode works, if not you can uninstall Microsoft Security Essential in Safe mode. Or you can use System Restore to restore back to a point (date and time) when the system was working ok. Click Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/System Restore and select a restore point before you loaded Security Essentials. In Windows 7 just click Start then type System Restore in the search box above the start then look at the returned results and click System Restore.

System Restore does not lose any of your data, documents, music, pictures, videos or programs (unless the programs was installed after the date and time you selected).

To get into safe mode follow the steps below:

Turn off the computer, then hit the power button to turn it back on and immediately start hitting the F8 key repeatedly until you see SAFE MODE. Take the Safe Mode option and let it boot up. Safe Mode will look different to you, the screen will be darker and the icons bigger, this is normal.

To run the check disk utility you will need a repair disc or a operating system disc. Put the disc in the cd drive and boot from it. You want to get to the Dos Command Prompt (Black screen with white letters) and type the following command: chkdsk /r
Check disk will run well over an hour or two and you will notice the percentages going from high to low, this is normal. Let it run to completion. Then reboot machine.

If check disk fails to solve your problem you might have to reinstall windows. Try doing a Repair Install that way you don't loose your data, documents, music, pictures, videos or programs.

In windows xp you get to the dos command prompt by selecting R for repair when the options appear.

In Vista and Windows 7 you want to get to the recovery console and look down at the bottom of the window for the Dos Command.

You can try to get to a dos command prompt or you can see if the system will allow you to boot in Safe Mode to get to the dos command prompt.

Try doing a System Restore and choose to restore the system to a date when in was working successfully last, or maybe just before then:
Boot into Safe Mode, then go Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and then choose System Restore. Once the System Restore is complete, let the system boot normally and see what happens.

Please restart the computer in safe mode and check if that is loading. If safe mode loads well, then run system restore (Steps depend on the windows version you have) and restore your computer to a earlier date (say 1 or 2 days earlier) when you know that your computer was working fine.

If you cannot login to safe mode then we might have to do a manual registry restore
Please use the link to know more about it. If you are going to use the step, please keep a printout handy of the instructions.

For XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545
(follow the manual steps)

For Vista & Windows 7
Boot from OS DVD and run startup repair.

If it is booting up in safe mode and not booting up normally then it could be a driver fault or some sort of spyware virus.
Try using system restore in safe mode to restore the laptop to a time when it was working fine.
goto start bar, click on run and type msconfig, in here you can choose anystart up programs or services you dont need or use and stop them from starting, make sure you are positive you are stoping programs that you know are on your mechine.
Dont restart yet goto my computer c:drive, goto the windows folder and find a folder called prefetch open this folder and delete all of it contents, once done close out of all windows and restart the pc in normal mode hopfully the problem will be solved.
hope this helps and please post back what happens.

reeboot ur system with press F8 login on safe mode then resore

Try start up in Safe Mode press F8. Choose Safe Mode, when at the choice window, to select either Safe Mode Desktop, OR System Restore, chooses system restore and choose a time before you had the "Problem" and follow instructions. This should get you back.

Shutdown the computer,disconnect external peripherials.
Turn on the computer and hit F8 key as soon as you restart the computer
You will get the windows advance options menu.
Select the Safe mode option and hit enter.
If the computer boots in safe mode, do a system restore to previous date.
If computer restore then issue is resolved.
If still unable to boot in safe mode.
Ran a harddrive diagnostic.If harddrive test passes. If harddrive test fails replace harddrive.
Boot the system using the windows xp or vista operating system disk. Try to repair the OS then reboot the system and check.
If still unable to boot possible issue with corrupt operating system.
Reinstall Operating system. / Recover System . Good Luck.

I am fairly sure that if you stop the system restore mid stream it  will just resort back to where it was w/o any problems.  Then you can restore in safe mode. If it took that long ,if I were you , i would go and clean the harddrive or run check disk or download hard drive tools from;    seagate.com      and check the hard drive .  Your other option is to use you restore disk and restore the whole thing. If the hard drive is bad you will ending up doing this after you install a new hard drive.

First determine if windows is really hung.

Restart the laptop and keep pressing the F8 function key. You will get a menu. Try the safe mode option by selecting it with arrow keys and pressing enter. Click on Yes when it asks the question.

If Windows runs okay in safe mode, reboot and try starting normally without pressing any keys). If again it won't start, then go back to safe mode and when asked the Yes/No question, reply with a No and it will ask you to do a system restore. Just select a recent restore point say one or 2 days ago or the most recent and select restore. It will take some time and reboot the system. Now everything should be hopefully okay.

HTH,
Deboo

since when r u getting this message
try doing a system restore if the problem started recently
if its a dell
the moment you power on the system press F8
you will get system's advanced options
use up and down arrow key
highlight safe mode
press enter
if will ask about your operating system
press enter again
when you get user name options click on administrator
you will get a pop up which says
to run windows in safe mode press yes and to run a system restore press no
it winn only happen if you are using win XP
press no and you will get system restore screen
choose a highlighted date the date in BOLD