Machine_Check_Exception

Ok just bought & installed a new Motherboard & Processor (Pent D 3GHz)
After swapping all my hardware to the new mobo and the PC back together, i powerd the PC on - only to have Vista flash up a BSOD and reboot.. and BSOD and reboot, etc

Bugger - "mustn't like the change of hardware" i thought, so i put in the Install Disk.. it gets to the progress bar then BSOD's with a MACHINE_CHECK_EXCEPTION error and sticks there..

Now big question is - Do I have a dodgy CPU, Mobo, or Heatsink

The reason i mention heatsink is that it I don't think its seating properly - despite all my best efforts..

It gets better, XP 64 bit "appears" to be installing fine..

Check how knoppix runs, it might be a dodgy driver

xp x64 has installed fine.. guessing its a fault with Vista somewhere :(
Can now at least back stuff up and reinstall either Vista or XP

Well... last time I saw that one, the consensus was that it's almost always a hardware problem... and that it happens with driver X rather than driver Y doesn't stop it being a hardware problem i.e. X is just exposing the issue.

[It's been a while though so you might find other ideas, especially since it's Vista]