Newly installed Windows Vista returns BSOD errors within minutes of booting

How many partitions are on the external HDD? If you have more than one, and you know what partition contains your data you can install Windows on the other partition. it is possible to partition a drive that has data on it already with the proper program. You really need to back up your data to DVD's, BLU-Ray discs, spare hard drives and even CD's. Important data should be backed up on several devices...

Currently there are no seprate partitions on the drive. Can I partition it with the Windows Vista disk, I believe it has an option to expand, delete, and create partitions. If not should i take it out, put it back in casing and use a program to do it? Any recommended programs?

Also the reason I have not backed it up is because there is just under 1tb of data...thats about 100 gigabytes

*Correction...nearly 1,000gb of data, not 100gb

What is that data? Movies, games?

Check out this link:
https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1...=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=partitioning software free

I've got movies, games, music, documents, and lots of photos...and I got this partitioning software... http://download.cnet.com/EaseUS-Partition-Master-Home-Edition/3000-2248_4-10863346.html
Think it will work with external HDD?

You having fun yet? I don't see why it won't work on an external drive. Just be aware of its drive letter in "my computer"...

Sorry for the delayed responce But I was able to convert my external HDD into an internal one and installed Ubuntu 12.04.
However, I couldn't install Vista because when It was "loading files" upon booting with the instillation disc, the computer would just shut down aburplty with no warning during any point in the "loading files". After 6 or so tries I finally got it but when it needed to restart for the first time (still during install) it had to load files again and this time I couldn't get it to load all the way. I thought it might have been a lack of power so I unplugged my external graphics card and USB devices I wasn't using. Didn't work so I went into the BIOS and disabled the USB, changed primary GPU to internal, and disabled some other devices like the audio. Except, stupid me disabled the USBs so I couldn't "hit any key to boot from disc" OR to even go back into the BIOS settings. I then had to manually reset the CMOS/BIOS by taking unplugging everything and taking out the CMOS battery, putting it back in about 30 seconds later.
This is where things get really messed up. When I plugged everything back in (both external and internal devices/connectors) and tried to turn on my machine, nothing happened. Nothing AT ALL. No fans spinning, no lights, beeps or humming. Nothing. I took out the PSU and tested it with another desktop machine, worked fine:not a PSU problem. Double checked connectors and CMOS battery, all fine.
I assume it is my motherboard which I've only had since last year! It's an MSI H55M-E33, good motherboard and I don't see how it would've been harmed in any way when reseating the CMOS battery (if that's whats causing the issue). I followed an online guide and used my MoBo manual to switch the BIOS jumpers to clear BIOS data.
Any Ideas?

Replace the motherboard

That's what I figured. I have a three year Square Trade warranty on it, this should be covered right? I didn't try to do anything crazy, wasn't exposed to liquid or physically damaged. Followed the manual....
Thanks for your quick reply!

No problem, and yes the motherboard should still be covered under warranty

Really strange. But I got it to work I wiggled the cord that connects the external power button to the motherboard and got it to work.
Now, when I am having installing vista. Set BIOS to boot from dvd drive. Says no bootable device, take disc out, reseat it, still nothing, do it again (a few more times) and will finally load from disc.
After vista installation expands files and reboots for its first time I have to take disc out and put back in for it to load and when it does load it starts the install process all over again.

The DVD drive is going bad, replace it

Ok, but for now I found a program that allows you to put the vista disk files onto a flashdrive and it makes the flashdrive bootable. I used that method and all the files loaded MUCH faster, install was quicker but same thing happened when it came to the first reboot...instead of resuming install it restarted, just the it did using the actual disk.

Okay, you have a hardware fault or conflict... If it is still covered under warranty have it serviced

It's a custom build but I do have my mobo and RAM under warranty, but i really don't want to have to go through the whole warranty/insurance process if I can work my way around this or troubleshoot it.
Any ideas?

It may be a RAM problem, are you going to pay for new RAM or a motherboard, and ditch the warranty?