Try booting into Vista's "Safe Mode".
Turn the computer on, and just before Windows begins to load, start tapping the F8 key gently once a second. This should take you to a list of Safe Mode options.
Select the top one, "Safe Mode" and press Enter. Hopefully this will load Windows but only with generic display drivers. Other non-essential drivers are not loaded.
If it loads OK in Safe Mode you can then reboot, (restart), back into Normal Mode and see if that has fixed the problem. If not, return to Safe Mode and see if you can run System Restore to return the system to a previous date/time.
Mark
I. I have a Dell studio 1735 that operates on Windows Vista. The problem: Windows will not boot normally...the stopping point is a black screen with a white cursor.
I saw the the Dell start up screen, then the "Windows loading..." screen with the loading bar that looks similar to a green caterpillar (Haha), then it got to a black screen with a cursor (that you could move) and the computer halted all progress. My computer would not let me use Ctrl+Alt+Del so, I held down the power button and forced a shutdown.
The screen is the "Green Caterpillar" loading screen, then the following screen is only black with a cursor. The computer does not make any sounds.
The last thing thast was done to the computer was an automatic update.
How do I get my computer to start correctly in normal mode again?
1. Is this a virus?
2. Is this a result of a Windows update?
3. Is this because of something else I have not mentioned?
III. I think it is a virus, but I could be wrong. I have the explanatory abilities of a young child when it comes to computer terms, so hopefully, you can help me out! (I hope you liked my "Green Caterpillar" reference.) I am definitely not a computer expert, so any help is GREATLY appreciated. Thank you!

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