Hi folks, here is what happened inbetween:

I tried to follow Bruno's advice and do a complete and clean new install:

I uninstalled Vue 7 infinite, deleted the extras CD, all registry files from the C:/ windows folder. I also copied my Vue 6 infinite as well as all Vue 7 download data to a backup drive which is now not connected to my computer and deleted all existing Vue files from my D partition where Vue files are located.

Then I inserted my burned Vue 7 DVD and installed again,including the serial numbers and activation code.

Upon launching the software.Vue warned me that "during your last session Vue crashed in compatibility mode... contact staff" etc.

Thus, Vue "knows" that Vue had been there installed before and crashed. Obviously I  haven't deleted everything on my Windows Vista system before the new install- But where is it???

My guess is that this is the root cause.

What, by the grace of the blue teapot and the flying spaghetthi monster, shall I do to resinstall Vue 7 infinite so that it works with my ATI radeon 3800?

Vue stuff did reply and asked me to furnish the scene where Vue crashes. I informed them of what I just wrote here: I am not getting even close to trying a render! This is getting really bad.

Aaaaaaw!