DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR _EQUAL/Can't start Safe Mode

Problems started with Realtek HD Audio Manager. While viewing BlueRay I was not getting the digital output. I started updating drivers from Realtek and installed a streaming media capture program (Freecorder). I also messed around with NVidia display settings but then put them back to defaults. Ended up using the 5:1 sound output so we could wath the movie. I usually run two monitors in clone mode. I also installed a printer driver from Safeway to print coupons.
Shut the computer off. A while later turned it back on only to discover it wouldn't boot. It would only come up in the Motherboard untility screen, then time out to:
*DISK BOOT FAILURE, INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER

After getting into Safe Mode......
I have now tried every choice within the Safe Mode menu and none of them work, not even when I changed to "Low Res"- (thinking it might be video driver related) It won't even give me the DOS command prompt so I can run rstrui.exe! It just imes out after atempting to load core drivers, then BSOD- DRIVER_IRQL_NOT LESS_OR_EQUAL
I also notice I no longer have dual video outputs, only the one that was assigned to be the slave clone. Please help....this is ruining my News Years Eve. Maybe I should start drinking early and leave this for Monday?
Thanks for any help

If you have ANY recovery disks for your comp. or any OS Install disks, use them.

Thanks- I didn't mention that the only way I can get into safe mode is by using the Vista DVD install disk and tapping F8 while it's loading. I have the Asus motherboard disk and will try that one today.

leeeep1

I have the Vista CD & the Asus Motherboard CD. None will load. I have since tried to run a Seagate HD app- it won't load either. Just for grins I disconnected the hard drive and the BlueRay drive from the buss and tried to boot from the second CD drive with Vista disk. I was able to get a cursur and the greenish background pattern. It hung from there. It aslo will no longer go into the Safe mode menu while tapping F8.
Am I mistaken to belive I can boot directley from the CD without a hardrive? I have 8 G installed so memory shouldn't be an issue. I also thought about putting the HD into my other machine just see if it's readable.

Sounds like you have a power computer... but IDK whats wrong. Call Asus, they can help.

I found some more information on the 0xd1 error. It may be an NVidea driver that has started all this. While poking around in the BIOS set up, I noticed the Seagate hard drive is not listed. It is set to Auto detect, it's data & power are plugged in. I only see IDE slave1/Pioneer and the SATA Slave2 BlueRay. All other SATA's and IDE Master say NONE.
It looks as though the drive is not being seen but I know I have power to it.

Thanks for yopu help.

Is it compatible? Also, you should not really fiddle around with the hard drive ribbons. The IDE ribbons COULD have been damaged while you were unplugging and plugging them back in. That's why I advise against it.

Yes I belive the drive would work in the other machine- I would have to go purchase a SATA cable. I understand your comment about messing with cables. I have been a Mfg. Eng for more years than I care to mention. The pins are easily bent and the insulation can rub against PCB pins or whatever, that cut through to the conductor.

I have found a lot of information about the NVSTOR.SYS issues when MS installs auto updates to Vista. It apparentley disables the SATA controller but only if you get it from MS. Have you heard anything about this? Many of the posts I saw were very old. Has NVidia and MS resolved this? I wonder if this issue occures with Win7?