Vista wont load, loops between error messege

Hi all,
Just built 2 identical homebuilts (Dad wanted one too, he's a kick butt gamer!):

Vista 64
Q6600
Asus P5N32-E Sli
4 Gig Ram
8800 GT
Antek 900
OCZ 700W PSU

Got one machine loaded up and running fine, got the Windows updates... (machine kills FSX and Crysis)...

However, the other machine POSTed fine, apparently loaded Windows, finishing the install sequence.
It then went into an error messege, and it looks like I loaded Vista a second time, but the screen asked if I wanted to start Windows, keeps going into an error mode. Windows pops up with a "Windows was shut down" error, then back to the black screen that asks if I want to start Windows again...the loop goes on...

I tried some of the F8 options (load low res, safe load, etc) with no changes...

POST shows that it recognized the RAM, HDD and DVD, etc...

I read about Vista being finicky with 4 Gig of RAM, so I took one stick out (2x2), AND the on board music PCI (after seperate boot ups), and still nothing....

1) Could the two installs of Vista be messing with me?
2) Bad Vista disk? (I tried to boot with the first disk from computer #1, no change)

I cant find my notes on the errors, something like load.exe, Kernal something or other...

Any thoughts on this is greatly appreciated...Im sure im looking over something simple...(I hope)

Also, I didnt change anything in the BIOS, I confirmed that it was on default settings...

Thank you....

Tom W.

During all of my attempts to get it to start, I had started the machine (several times) with the Windows disk in the tray....

Would there be any other steps to 'boot' it off the disk?? Short of just having the Vista disk in the DVD/CD player when I smack the restart button? (like setting up the BIOS)

On the first machine, I left the boot sequence alone, and it ran/found the Vista disk fine....

I do recall that early on, I tried the repair option, and it still ended up in an error...

I have gone back into the case, and everything appears to be plugged in correctly....

Thanks for your suggestion, will work with it in the morning...

Tom W.

Ahh, just woke up (I work graveyard shift), and a big light went on, MAKE it boot on the CD...

Low and behold, this is what you wrote! Maybe im on the right track...

Im off to try it again...

Thank you very much for your reply and time Scottteq.

Tom W.

PS: Funny how when you gotta troubleshoot these machines (hats off to my PS2 for not having to), you dont eat or sleep right until you crunch the numbers and retrace your steps to get it right....Love PC gaming.....

ALL IS GOOD!!!

Looking back, the first machine installed and read the HDD w/o changing the boot sequence....

This machine, 100% identical, was more finicky....needed to boot via the CD, and my mistake was not changing back to the HHD so it could read what it just loaded, Vista....

I immediately loaded the updates, and it appears to be working fine...in the morning I will add the second stick of Ram, and replace the sound card, and off a gaming I will go....

I suppose after a few more builds I will figure it out....

Thank you guys very much for your time and great ideas....

Tom W.

Opps, I spoke too soon. Messed with it Tues. morning and it continued to loop thru the same errors....

I took one of the sticks out, and it is running strong....Loaded up FSX and it ran and looked great....even d/l'ed 3D Mark '06, and it BM'ed at 11717 which was 500 more than the identical machine that still has the 4 Gig of Ram in it!!....

Anyway, I will swap the sticks to make sure the one I pulled doesnt have an issue, then D/L the update involving the KB92977 error....

Thanks again very much!!!

TW