Ultimate install onto new HD

[Guest]

While installing Windows Vista Ultimate onto a computer with a new 500GB SATA
HDD, the install proceeds normally until the "Completing Install" step. It
has been on that step for a bit over 4 hours now, but it doesn't appear
"hung", as the elipsis are still ticking off (. .. ..., . .. ..., etc.)
Could it really take that long to format the new HDD? Should I interrupt the
install and restart? Should I partition and format the HDD first (Vista
didn't complain when I selected the unpartitioned / unformated device during
setup). Thanks.

 

[John Barnes]

It is long past the formatting stage, and Vista only does a quick format
anyway. If you are upgrading an old XP, it can easily take that long and
more. If you are doing a custom install, you are having problems as it
should not take much over 1/2 hour.