Cannot perform any Administrator Tasks

Hello,
I'm having a little bit of an issue running anything administrator related. I am running Vista Ultimate x64 (completely updated to the 2/2/09 via Windows Update. I have been running it solidly without problems for a few months now.
Last night I removed all my cards and motherboard, to place a new heatsink on the northbridge.
Put everything back in however moved the sound card to another PCI Express slot on the motherboard.
Booted up Vista everything ran fine except for the sound card being found as "new" when it wasn't, reinstalled the drivers (Creative Soundblaster X-FI Fatal1ty Champion, have everything working for this).
Was able to run programs which I have set to "Run as Administrator" in my Administrator Account.
Rebooted.
There was a checkdisk which "corrected" something, too quick for me to catch.
Automatic Reboot.
The program RivaTuner (set to "Run as Administrator") which boots up on startup via a registry key did not ask permission via UAC and did not start at all. Then tried to open a program that was set to "Run as Administrator".
I then received the well documented error "The Filename, Directory Name or Volume Label Syntax is Incorrect."
However I could run programs which were not set to to "Run as Administrator" e.g. Firefox.
Windows Security Centre Also popped up stating it could not run Windows Defender.
I tried to access control panel to get at System Protection to see if I could fix the volume label issue however any item with the the Administrator shield did not run, I just clicked it and nothing would happen. Same thing when trying to open System Restore.
Ran Vista in Safe mode, could now run some programs set to "Run as Administrator". Attempted System Restore, process looked like it was working then when booted back into Vista normally, no change. Booted back in Safe Mode - popup stating System Restore did not Restore prior state.
Attempted to launch into System Security in control panel again but when trying to run it the same "Filename, Directory Name or Volume Label Syntax is Incorrect" popped up (every time these errors popup, they have no code attached).
Had to go to work so left it there.
Next step would be to run Vista from disc in some form of debug mode? Or reinstall Vista from scratch? (Hopefully not)

Feels almost as if UAC is the problem everytime the UAC would usually be involved, I seem to get the error.

I did try to search for an answer but could not find one anywhere.

Sounds like secpol/Group Policy issue with the User account. Did you not use Ultimate's built in backup utility to create a disk image?
Try creating a new Admin account to see if it resolves the issue. Did Windows prompt you to reactivate? Check you activation status. Reinstallation of hardware could have caused issues with your Vista User account. Try to Take Ownership
Reinstalling Vista may be neccessary.

Unfortunately didn't make a backup as system is only 2 or 3 months old and I knew I had to install some extra parts. Plus I'm very much a noob at Vista, first time I'm ever using it!

No prompt for reactivation

Accessing making a new user account requires administration priority, I've already tried this in Safe Mode and got the error as with all issues requiring administrative control.
I'll try the activation status anyway.

How would I target taking ownership of a user account, reg key?
Sorry again this is the first time I've played with Vista.

Will a Vista reinstall (over the current install) suffice or do you suggest wiping the drive and starting new?

Edit -
Activation isn't required as no new hardware was added only a new heat sink and only the audio card moved physical position.

sK0pe said:

Unfortunately didn't make a backup as system is only 2 or 3 months old and I knew I had to install some extra parts. Plus I'm very much a noob at Vista, first time I'm ever using it!

No prompt for reactivation

Accessing making a new user account requires administration priority, I've already tried this in Safe Mode and got the error as with all issues requiring administrative control.
I'll try the activation status anyway.

How would I target taking ownership of a user account, reg key?
Sorry again this is the first time I've played with Vista.

Will a Vista reinstall (over the current install) suffice or do you suggest wiping the drive and starting new?

Edit -
Activation isn't required as no new hardware was added only a new heat sink and only the audio card moved physical position.

Click to expand...

Try activating the built in Admin account, and click these links for tutorial to take ownership of files/drive/Built-in Admin Account:
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67717-take-ownership-file.html
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67567-administrator-account.html