Vista boot fixes get unfixed

Issue:
Windows Vista Home Premium Edition does not boot. The green scrolling status bar remains forever. When I run the NeoSmart EasyRe disk, it fixes the MBR and then Windows WILL boot up OK. However, at the next reboot, it reverts back to the scrolling bar again and will not boot again.

Situation:
NO new software was installed; no hardware was installed; I believe Windows did an automatic update, however I cannot confirm it.
I've done a complete back-up of files.
I cannot get the F8 key to work so I can get into Safe Mode.
Hibernate works, but then login does not recognize any ID /passwords.

Tried fixes:
Chkdsk to look for bad sectors. None found.
Memory tests: Did find some issues, but cannot determine what part of memory is affected.
System restore: restored to one month prior to this issue. Did not resolve the problem.

Questions:
1. When the MBR gets repaired, Windows boots OK, so I am assuming that the issue is happening when Windows shuts down, and writes something(?) back to the HD. What would it write that the EasyRE disk would fix ??
2. From within Windows, I can set the boot up option for Safe mode, but they don't seem to work. Is there any other way to get to Safe Mode?

Welcome to the Forums.

I would run a scan with MBAM Something may be attacking the MBR. If you don't find anything I would get Partition Wizard bootable free version. You burn the iso file to CD or get someone to do it for you. You can boot the CD to check the MBR for errors if you can set your machine to boot from CD first.

It sounds like some malware though.

Edit: btw the free version of MBAM is all you need to run scans.

I ran MBAM and found some browser related PUPs, but nothing related to the MBR. NeoSmarts EasyRE disk allows me to fix MBR and reboot into Windows, I just can't ever shut down, or I start the cycle all over again.

All I can see as an alternative is to upgrade to Win 7 or above and bite the bullet and re-install all my applications.

You might try ToolWiz Time Freeze

It is free and works by using shadow service to prevent the system partition from being written. It may keep whatever is writing the MBR from doing it until you can figure it out. I used it for a few weeks. The performance reduction was very slight with it enabled.