Windows Vista Wont Boot!! HELP!!

Question

Hello -- I have owned and Acer Aspire M5641 for 4 months with Windows Vista Home Premium preloaded by Acer. 
I started having problems with random shut dows, restarts, blue screens. The last blue screen was 0x0000007B. I couldnt get past it, not even in safe mode. So I emailed Acer Support (apparently I have to pay to call) and explained the problem to them, asked for help. They told me to do a System Restore back to Factory Defaults.
I went ahead, completed that and now when I turn on the system I get the Acer splash screen, and then  a black screen "Windows Boot Manager" that says: Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be to blame. Well isnt it setting back to factory defaults, How can there be a software/hardware problem?  Anyways, it continues to say : To fix the problem insert installation disc and restart computer. If you dont have this disc, contact the computer manufacturer/system administrator.( I have contacted Acer, they are no longer responding to my pleas for help. I refuse to call and pay $300 for them to probably decide not to help me anyways.) The screen also says,
File: \windows\system32\ntoskrnl.exe
Status: 0xc0000221
Info: Windows failed to load because the kernel is missing or corrupt.
It also gives me an option instead of loading Vista (which I cant) to use a tool: Windows memory diagnostic tool which comes up with, status: Hardware problems were detected, to identify and repair those problems, contact your system administrator/computer manufacturer.
I have tried to contact Acer, thus far they havent helped/responded. I tried booting from a Vista Recovery CD, but that was of no help either.
Can I use a Recovery DVD from another computer manufacturer? (a friend has one from HP) Or is there a way to get a Vista install disc from somewhere? Without buying new from store. I have the product key from the preloaded version that came on the computer.
Any Ideas/Suggestion would be greatly appreciated!! Thank You!!

Answer 1

From what I could find on your particular error code, it appears that the computer had an error as a result of a "INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE". Microsoft support can associate that error with a boot sector corruption possibly as a result of a virus. I would possibly lean towards corruption and not a hardware issue because the computer is only 4 months old. Still, to remove the possibility of a failing hard drive, I suggest you bring the unit into your nearest Geeksquad® and have them run diagnostics under the manufacture warranty. Inform the Agent of what you were doing before the error occured so they might be able to give you tips on how to prevent it. But in your current situation, I would suggest reloading the operating system after talking to an agent in a store who can better examine the computer. Recovery discs are unique to your computer and recovery discs from a friend's HP will not work. Call Acer and they should not charge you to inquire about getting a new set of recovery discs. Recovery discs are generally $10 - $30. As an alternative, go to Acer's support site (http://www.acerpanam.com/synapse/forms/webpage.cfm?website=AcerPanAm.com/us&siteid=7293&areaid=7) and order the dics from there.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Agent Kevin - CIA Precint 00135
Agent Kevin - CIA Precinct 135