PuTTY should work just fine on Vista (and is much better than Hyperterminal anyway).
http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/download.html

From what you're describing I would say IDE header or cable problems. May also a dying drive.

Get the boot log with PuTTY and we'll go from there.
_________________________
Christian
#40104192 120Gb (no longer in my E36 M3, won't fit the E46 M3)