It sounds like its just not finding a bootable volume.
At what point is it failing?
1) You put in the bootable installation media and it doesnt start the vista setup?
2) Bootable installation runs, but when complete Vista will not boot?
3) Did you install Vista on this machine, or transfer this HD from another PC and are now trying to boot it?
I would do this, ensure you can run a bootable CD. Anything. (a burnt linux ISO would do) Only bad BIOS configuration could stop you from booting to a bootable CD. This will eliminate that variable.
If you can boot to a CD, use a bootable CD utility which can format a drive. (
http://www.google.com/url?q=http://...t&cd=1&usg=AFQjCNFbK4B67ceQn_3wZGNlydtxkO3yjQ)
Format the drive, boot to your vista installation media, complete install, ensure your boot order specifies the HDD with Vista installed as a boot device.
If I'm missing something, please provide more detail. Let us know if this helps, or what problems you run into, with detail please.