Can't reinstall DD, can't copy disks with DD either

OK what I wanted to do was copy a drive I am getting SMART errors  on so that I can save the data. (Not the drive either OS or DD is installed on)

I have Win Vista64 Pro and XP pro double installed with Acronis OS selector, it sort of worked.

Mainly I run Vista.

So from Vista I use Disk Director and try to copy the disk onto an external USB drive that has room. 

During the reboot that DD requests I boot not to Vista but XP and no disk copy takes place. Up down Up down goes the OS.  Try again No joy.

Disable OS selector from Vista selector and do it again.  Up down XP back…really.

Disable OS again and get a boot to the disk copy but it exits early and no copy.

Up down try again OS selector boots to XPs again Don’t ask me… I disable OS selector for both Vista and XP up down goes the OS  a few more times.

Boot to the copy…it exits early.  Check Acronis web site up date available.  Down load both TI and DD.  Try to uninstall the DD….Uninstaller hangs.  Kill and try again.  Still hung.

Up down goes the OS.. Still no uninstall.. hang even yet.

Uninstall by hand (A mistake?) Del directory.  Clean registry of all Arcronis entries.

Can’t install.  It says DD is still there.  Up down try again.  Still no install.

OK web site says try boot from a DD disk.  Fine away I go.  But DD can’t see any of my SATA drives.  It sees USB drives fine but not the SATAs that are the boot disks (There are four and they are there, they booted to write this)
Up down try DD boot again.  No disks
Try install…can’t already installed.
Stuck
Suggestions?

Thanks
Nick