Anilrgowda

Update:

Turns out the HD I was using was failing.

New resutls:

You can run an upgrade using an OEM vista home premium disc from XP home sp2.

Notes:
Selling the OS in this manner is a violation of the OEM ToS.
Using this method to reinstall Vista on a system with a valid retail or upgrade license for vista should be OK.
OEM DVDs only contain 32 or 64 bit files. I believe retail copies contain both.

Anilrgowda

Found this web page on your message:

http://vistasupport.mvps.org/run_blocked_startup_programs.htm

The Vista feature that is blocking one of your startup programs is probably User Account Control. That is also what is causing "all the security verifications." You can turn it off this way, although it is certainly not recommended:

http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10877-6155343-2.html
Vista's best-kept secret: It's possible to turn off the User Account Control feature--but it's not recommended. UAC takes some of the risk out of logging on with an administrative account, and if you regularly do so, you should let Vista protect you. That said, if you really want to get rid of those nag screens, here's how:

1. In the Administrative Tools menu of Control Panel, select Local Security Policy.
2. When prompted, click Continue.
3. In the left pane, expand Local Policies and click Security Options.
4. In the right pane, scroll down to User Account Control: Behavior Of The Elevation 5. Prompt For Administrators In Admin Approval Mode and double-click it.
5. In the drop-down box on the Local Security Settings tab, select Elevate Without Prompting, as shown in Figure H.
6. Click OK.


As to finding where your Start Menu is: open Windows Explorer -> find the item for Computer and open it -> click on the item for OS (C and open it -> find the item for Start Menu.