Repair Install shuts down and doesn't startup again

Are you trying to in-place Upgrade Vista to Win7?

If so, try clean installing instead from booted Win7 DVD. Make sure your Win7 DVD is bootable - if not, burn another using ImgBurn at 4x speed.

Clean Install Windows 7

gregrocker said:

Are you trying to in-place Upgrade Vista to Win7?

If so, try clean installing instead from booted Win7 DVD. Make sure your Win7 DVD is bootable - if not, burn another using ImgBurn at 4x speed.

Clean Install Windows 7

A clean install using the commercial disk just purchased yesterday.

So just to be absolutely certain it wasn't a hardware issue I have reinstalled Vista, got it up and running with internet. This tells me that it isn't a hardware issue, and besides 7 was up and running just a day ago.
My next step is to remove hardware bits...video card is out and 6gb of RAM, leaving the minimum 2gb for 7 and a very stripped down machine, and try to reinstall 7. I'll just do it over the basic Vista install.

So I'm in hurry and wait mode for a bit.

Not sure it was a clean install attempt if it rolled back to Vista installation. Sounds like a failed in-place Upgrade.

Have you tried booting the Win7 DVD to Custom install, using Drive Options to delete and format new partition? Clean Install Windows 7

The HD may even need to be wiped of conflicting code: SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation
When creating partition after Create Partition Primary command, add "Select Partition 1," "Format" then "Active.

If you know you've not tried the in-place Upgrade from Vista, you can of course try that too.

While you have Vista, make sure you have the latest BIOS version update from computer or mobo model's Support Downloads webpage. If so, reset the CMOS: http://pcsupport.about.com/od/fixthe.../clearcmos.htm

Remove all but 2gb of RAM, test your RAM using memtest86 CD for 5-6 passes, then test your HD using maker's full diag/repair CD scan: http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287

I am pleased to report that the use of a small calibre weapon was not required.
I believe elsewhere on this fine forum somebody had mentioned that W7 had trouble with lots of RAM when installing, so with most RAM out and the ATI 4650 Vid card out, Win7 loaded a treat.

I put the RAM and video card back in, but after the initial boot up screen got black, yet the HD seemed to be working away. Out comes the video card, plug back into the MB jack and bingo Windows 7 in all it's glory.

So, I've at least tracked down a faulty video card, although I'll try it later in another machine running Vista and see if it is just a 4650 vs W7 thing or the card is in fact junk.

As gregrocker just suggested, and I think it was the problem, the excess of RAM for the install was what held it up.

Now whether this freshly installed W7 solves my original problem of being unable to delete some programs and the random shutdown I will have to wait and see because there are a LOT of programs to install.

Just want to say thanks to everybody that gave me advice I learned alot and I've bookmarked this forum.

Suggest you take your time installing programs to gauge performance changes after each.

Don't let any programs write themselves into msconfig>Startup besides AV and gadgets/stickynotes if u use em. Others become freeloaders on your Startup, RAM and CPU and can spy on you.

Use a free lightweight AV like MS Security Essentials with the Windows firewall for no impact on resources. http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

Monitor errors in Event Viewer>Admin View to google repeat errors to resolution.

Clean and order the HD perfectly using state-of-the-art CCleaner and Auslogics Disk and REgistry defraggers. Then save externally a Win7 backup image so you never have to reinstall again. Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

Thanks for the advice Greg and I will surely take it!