Help with Windows Vista installation

[Guest]

I didn't get too far, and I'm sure it's just a driver.

I downloaded the RC1 release and burned it to DVD. Win XP Pro will not let
me run the DVD as it says, "Setup can not run on this version of the
Operating System. To install Windows please try booting from the install
media."

So, I reboot on the DVD, no problems. However, it does not see the hard
drive. I'm running on an ASUS SK8N motherboard, with the Promise SATA150 tx2
plus controller. I'm not using RAID. Vista flat out doesn't seem to see my
drivers when I put them in the CD drive even thought they are uncompressed
and would install from XP just fine.

I did run the upgrade advisor, and it didn't list my controller as an
issue... what am I missing here?

 

[Chad Harris]

Ken--

The upgrade advisor can also be notoriously wrong as I've pointed out
numerous times and documented.

I think you should try to reburn the CD again, and as slowly as you can and
try if you like when you burn either checking to have the burn's integrity
verified by your burning software. I also recommend that you use RC2 since
it is improved over RC1:

http://download.windowsvista.com/preview/rc2/en/download.htm

CH

 

[Dennis Pack]

Ken:
I have the same motherboard, the latest x64 drivers are still the
beta release from when Windows x64 was still beta. These drivers still work
with x64 but won't work with Vista. I haven't found any Promise drivers
compatible with Vista. I'm currently running Windows x64, Vista x86 and x64
without raid on IDE hard drives without any problems.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Chad, I didn't put a lot of trust in the Advisor, just noting that I
had run it. I barely got RC1 Downloaded and burned when RC2 was released.

:/

Sounds like I may need to purchase another controller anyway, since x64
versions of windows (XP) have never seemed to work with this particular one.
Unfortunately, I own a 940 pin based motherboard that was quickly done away
with.

 

[Guest]

Dennis:

Ah... misery LOVES company! *grin*

Ah fortunately, I *DO* have another SATA controller laying around here....
somewhere. I just feel better knowing that someone else is stuck with this
motherboard since you can't just pop out the cpu and put it in a new one.
All the other motherboads with this 940 pin set are pretty pricey! I guess
they did away with this one pretty quick.

I did try running the XP 64 bit and was successful to a degree. However, it
turned out that I had a defective motherboard at the time. After 40 hours of
troubleshooting, when I finally got Win XP 32bit up and running, I was tired
of installing and left it alone. Asus exchanged my mobo (fortunately I live
close to their RMA center and drove it down there with a video of what was
going on because they couldn't duplicate the error, they finally conceded and
gave me a new board).

I want 64 bit, that's what this processor is for, even if I have to purchase
another SATA controller that works. Anything else I should be concerned
about since you were running XP 64bit? Vista advisor put my audio sound on
the warnings list... that seems to work ok for you?

I appreciate your insight, you've saved me a lot of time!

-Ken

 

[Dennis Pack]

Ken:
Sorry for the delay in answering. I have an AMD FX51 processor with
an Asus SK8N motherboard. I was running a dual boot, XP and XP x64 on a raid
array without any problems since x64 was still in beta until I bought an AMD
4400x2 processor and retired the FX51. The raid drivers from Asus don't work
because they don't have the updated .INF files, use the drivers from Promise
for the FastTrac S150tx2plus, AMD64. Finding drivers for everything was a
job, cameras, web-cams, printers and capture cards can still be a challenge.
I haven't found any raid drivers that will work with Vista. I'm currently
using the FX51 tower as a test tower without raid for XP x64sp2, Vista x86
and x64 without any driver issues, the onboard sound works on all three
partitions. If you have to have raid you're limited to XP or XP x64 until
Promise releases new drivers. Without raid Vista x86 and x64 function fully.

 

[Guest]

Dennis:

Ah ok, so you're saying the 64-bit drivers for Vista DO work, just not RAID
(which I'm not running anyway). I thought you're original post was that the
onboard controller simply didn't work with Vista period.

Regardless, I had a spare controller laying around, it's a Vantec ST200
(www.vantecusa.com) and I installed it. It has a Silicon Image chipset on
it, SII3112 chip. I went to
http://www.siimage.com/support/downloadresults.aspx?pid=63&bios=0&drivers=0&sataraid=0&
and downloaded the drivers for it, it does support RAID in VISTA as well.
You can find this board on Amazon.com for $19.99
http://www.amazon.com/Vantec-UGT-ST200-Storage-controller-SATA-150/dp/B00067YYZY

Of course, that's if you *NEED* to run RAID.

I also decided to run VISTA with Office 2007 beta. I'm a glutton for
punishment. My biggest issue was finding an AntiVirus program to run with
Vista, after reading several boards, I came across AVAST! and it seems to
work just fine (and it's free).

I'm only running Vista because I needed to reinstall Windows XP, and
couldn't find my CD. I have a relative that works for Microsoft, and I could
probably purchase another copy, but why? I know I'm a geek and will want to
run Vista Ultimate, so when it comes out, I'll just have that family member
purchase it for me from the employee store, probably won't cost me more than
$60 bucks.

From what I read on several boards, most Palm pilots don't work. Here's
what doesn't work for me so far:
* Palm Treo 650 (phone palm combo from Cingular)
* Hamachi (network application)
* AverTV (video capture, TV tuner, which I don't use now because firewire is
better for capture, and the IEEE 1394 is supported)
* My generic 56K modem, which... is so dusty because it's never used.

What does work is:
* SATA drivers & RAID (using board listed above)
* Radeon 9800 Pro (with just default windows drivers)
* Canon Multifunction Inkjet MP 780/790 (with windows default drivers)
* Vantec ST200 SiI 3112 Silicon Image board (SiI 3114 should work as well
since the only difference between that and mine is mine has two ports, 3114
has 4 ports, hence the last digit difference)
* Photoshop CS
* Command & Conquer Generals (video game, I just had to try one since they
usually place a heavy taxation on the O/S)
* Sansa e250 2GB MP3 player (works better actually)
* Realtec ACL650 integrated Audio
* IEEE 1394 (firewire)

I have one a couple of really bad experiences with one thing in VISTA
though, and I don't know if it was a coincidence or not... I manually
disabled the network interface through control panel, and I could NOT get my
internet back for the life of me. When I ran the "fix" it screwed up windows
so bad, I couldn't boot and had to do a restore. Windows would load up just
before the login screen, but would go no further, I could move the mouse, but
never got a login screen. Once restored, my internet worked fine. Then I
manually unplugged the RJ45 cable, only to experience nearly the same
incident. This time my entire internet really did go down. After resetting
the modem, router, and my VOIP box, everything worked fine.... Scary.

Anyway, really just wanted to let you know to get a board with the SiI3112
chipset and you're good for RAID!

-Ken

 

[Guest]

Well, I interpreted your first post that the chipset on the motherboard
wouldn't work at all! I'm not running RAID, so that doesn't bother me.

Regardless, I had a Vantec ST200 (www.vantecusa.com) controller board laying
around. It uses the Silicon Image SiI3112 chipset. I googled that chipset
and came up with drivers from their website that work with Vista (RAID too!).
If you want to run RAID on your SK8N, you can purchase that board on
Amazon.com for only $19.99.

I only installed Windows Vista because... heheh... I had to reinstall
Windows, and could not (still can't) find my original Windows XP disk. I'm
too cheap to purchase another copy of XP Pro (even though it only costs me
maybe $30 bucks). And I know I'll run Vista as soon as it comes out, I'm
guessing Vista Ulitimate will cost me $65 bucks or less. I have a family
member that work for microsoft and purchases stuff for me from the employee
store! *evil grin*

Anyway, I spent a ton of time finding an anti virus program to work. I
finally settled on AVAST! (and it's free!). I also read on many boards that
a good majority of Palm Pilots will not work.

So far, here's what doesn't work on my install of Windows Vista Ultimate (64
bit):
* AverTV (I never use it anyway since I use firewire for video capture now)
* My generic 56k Modem (man... haven't used that in years, now that I have
VOIP, it probably wouldn't work anyway).
* Hamachi (Internet Networking software)
* Palm Treo 650 (bummer, it seems that the HotSync software DOES work, but
Vista keeps asking for a driver for the 650 when I try to sync. Palm pilot
users MUST run HotSync by setting it to run in XP SP2 mode)
* RAID on integrated controller for SK8N

So far what does work is:
* SK8N motherboard, Nvidia chipset, and integrated audio ALC650 chipset
* IEEE 1394 (Firewire)
* ATI Radeon 9800 Pro (I'm just running default drivers)
* Canon Multifunction Inkjet MP780/790
* Vantec ST200 (using SiI3112 chipset)
* Photoshop CS
* ImageReady CS
* AVAST! Anti-Virus software
* Sansa e250 2GB MP3 Player (actually works better!)
* Command & Conquer Generals & Zero Hour (Just had to try one video game
since they usually tax the O/S)
* Real Player 10.5 Plus
* Plaxo (a must have)
* Office 2007 Beta

I still have to install Adobe Acrobat Professional 7, and Premiere Pro,
Allaire Homesite, and WS-FTP.

One thing I can't figure out, is that my recycle bin has disappeared... how
do I get it back? I tried setting the desktop to "auto arrange" but it's not
coming up.