Serious Start-up issues in Vista

[thenix]

My computer (Windows Vista) went blue and restarted. I ran the repair wizard after that and it didn't work. I can start the system in safe mode but when i run anti-virus and spybot programs they eventually stop scanning (one program shows it stops on a file 'ntoskrnl.exe'). It starts with the last known working configuration but all the startup programs are not working and need to be closed (eg. sttray.exe - unable to locate component and it also says that numerous tray applets have stopped working and need to close). I just cant seem to get around it and i need suggestions before i restore my system to factory settings. Thanks!

[shadowpr]

What is the stop code on that blue screen?

Can you use system restore?

[thenix]

C0000218

Its now followed by:
The registery cannot load the file systemroute/system32/config/sam (or security or components. It seems to have affected multiple files
becuase each file keeps changing with each attempt to load windows)
It says it is corrupt, absent or not writable.

NB: Also, odly, there are no system restore points wen I start it in safe mode

[shadowpr]

http://support.microsoft.com/search/...3comm=1&res=20

Something there may offer some help.