Moderatly seasoned linux vet here,

Kubuntu, intel 64
I have used several vmware applications and virtual box to
generate a virtual machine either from a downloaded file or
a new machine by new partition within a hard drive.

However, is there a VM application that can start a windows
vm from a pre-existing NTFS windows vista hard drive, so that
I can boot my physical windows machine in a virtual envionrment?

thank you in advance

Vista I'm not sure about, but both vmware and vbox can certainly boot a physical partition with Windows XP. I'd be surprised if it didn't work with Vista also. However,
(1) be careful and make sure you backup
(2) the hardware drivers will be all fouled up in the virtual environment so you should make a different "hardware profile" under Windows if you plan on ever booting the partition normally again (dual booting).
(3) Once you get it setup with two hardware profiles you should be OK with only one Microsoft activation, but you will have to reactivate at least once.
(4) It's probably not an ideal solution to whatever you're ultimately trying to do. So the question should be asked: why are you contemplating this computing act of desperation?