i can not get sql to start

[castle77]

no matter what i do, it will not start.
vista 64.
no anti virus running.
i just get a black box saying it is starting, with a bunch of dots, then it vanishes, but never starts. i have tried re-instaling per the instructions listed here, but it does not ever start.

[WhiteRider]

Please don't cross post - we read every post.