Vista - Instant crash on vista startup

I am running Home Premium and have installed backup software called Shadow
Protect (PC Magazine #1 :-)). This has caused my computer to crash to a blue
screen the moment that Vista starts up. I need to uninstall the program but
cannot get into Vista to do it.
Each of the items in the Safe Mode etc. start list leads to the same
immediate crash.
An attempt to Repair from the install disk has not produced any improvement.
Restore System results in a statement that it will not work with this setup.
Can someone please suggest an algorithm for the solution of this problem?
I am thinking of removing my drives from the box and installing a spare that
I have lying around, then installing an OS to it. Then I would put the other
drives back but leaving the drive with the second OS. In this dual boot
mode, I would then boot from the new OS. If that works I should be able to
do the uninstall.
I obviously do not want to mess things up further so if anyone has any
additional thoughts please fire away.

I looked around the net for a bit but couldn't find a fix similar to what can be done to recover the vista registry when the os won't boot. What you are saying is what I'd do to recover my files. Install another hard drive, install fresh os, retrieve files from old hard drive. As for dual booting the bad vista I wouldn't worry about that. I'd just recover the files I needed from it then wipe the drive and use it as a spare storage drive.

Sorry that I don't have an easier fix. I looked in c:\System Volume Information on vista ultimate and it isn't the same as XP as far as system restore is concerned. Vista stores the system restore information in the same area as xp except all of the files in c:\System Volume Information are single blob type files that are probably compressed with microsoft's .cab compression type but i'm not sure as i cant get it to decompress with uncab or winrar.... probably permission settings, but i looks tough.

try starting your pc with your vista disc in it.when it gives you options, press repair my computer. just a suggestion...