I've spent the last 24 hours trying to install Vista Ultimate and
still do not have it installed.

I first tried to install it on a brand new virgin Seagate SATA-II hard
drive. Had Windows Install create the partition and format it. It
started installing and got the point where it reboots. PC comes back
up and I get the message saying that it will be a few minutes as
Windows prepares to start for the first time. Then goes back to the
install screen and is at the "Completing Installation" portion. After
about a minute, my monitor goes blank and the PC shuts off. I thought
that was kind of weird so I power it back up and I get to the Windows
Error Recovery menu. I select "start windows normally" figuring that
will go ahead and finish the installation. I then get a dialog box
saying that Windows installation encountered an error and cannot
continue and that I need to restart the installation.

No problem, I figure it's just a glitch. I restart the installation
and the same thing happens again. Attempt number three ends the same
way. I figure maybe it's a hardware problem so I go ahead and
disconnect everything and yank out my video card and use the onboard
display adapter. Same thing happens.

Now I'm wondering if it's a problem with my Vista DVD (OEM). I also
have the 64-bit edition and figure I'll try that to see. Same thing
happens.

I've got a copy of RC1 on CD. Same thing happens.

So no I figure it's got to be a hardware problem and possibly this new
drive. Slap my XP drive back in and spend 2 hours running scans and
low-level formatting it.

Give it another shot. Same thing happens.

Try installing it from within XP. Same thing happens.

I then clone an extra drive over onto the new one to give that one a
shot thinking it's got to be something with this drive. Same thing
happens.

I updated the BIOS on my motherboard. Same thing happens.

I've installed Virtual PC in XP and Vista installs and runs, although very sluggishly.

So I've used 2 different drives (both Seagate 250GB). I've removed
hardware. I've tried 3 different copies and versions (all legit BTW)
and two different methods and they all end the same way.

The only thing I haven't done is slap in a new power supply and I really don't want to have to go buy a new one. I've spent enough money as it is getting my PC able to run Vista.

I'm more curious as to what the problem is now than any desire to use
Vista.

Hardware
Intel Core 2 Duo E6300
Intel DG965WH Mobo
2 GB DDR2 - OCZ
BFG GeForce 7950
Creative Auidgy 2 ZS
2 x Pioneer DVD-R
PSU - Antec TruBlu 480w