My drive went missing. Since then, I spent 2 weeks banging my head on the
problem. Maybe you heard...

So, I gave up tinkering with a failed Vista Home Prem x64 install, and
started re-installling. My MB was ASUS P5K, my KB was MS Media Pro, mouse was
MS Notebook wireless Optical, my video card ASUS Nvidia 8500GT.

I finally fixed it, here's how:

GIVE UP on the JMicron 363 Vista 64bit driver!! FORGET PATA!! Get a SATA
optical drive. Mine is Lite-On 20X DVD burner, probably any SATA optical
drive will work fine.

Take care to plug it into the SATA ports run by Intel ICH9.
During initial Vista load, DO NOT get creative with giving it HDD and other
drivers, just pray it along with NO INPUT, and try to make it to first
reboot. Don't worry about the LAN card or the audio or your great mouse or
other device. You can add those later.

Think of applying the drivers in layers, like a watercolor. Use only drivers
from MS, so don't get too happy with Nvidia drivers, or a new Intellipoint
from some new source.

Unintall anything strange in Device Manager and reboot. In Fact, reboot at
every step until the Vista install is complete. Add the LAN card as soon as
you get the KB and Mouse and video halfway decent.

THEN WINDOWS UPDATE YOUR BRAINS OUT - ask for the optional non-microsoft
drivers available at WinUpdate.

Reboot.
Turn on System Restore now, and capture a checkpoint you can return to.
DO NOT INSTALL BURNING SOFTWARE EARLY (or perhaps, at all)

Install Office, and just a few KNOWN VISTA COMPATIBLE PROGRAMS, like Acrobat
8, which you may need for troubleshooting tasks. Reboot, Windows Update.

Then, install backup from 3rd party if you want. My favorite is Acronis
Workstation, or home, in that order. Take a complete image backup, and store
it on a different partition or drive.

Copy the Backup Images in the set to DVD MANUALL, USING MS VISTA SOFTWARE.
No ROXIO THIS MONTH. Test NERO later, and let me know if 7 Essentials and be
updated to work

Don't worry about overclocking or trick USB drivers yet. If you have a
camera card reader, resist/avoid installing any software that came with it.
The prettier icons aren't worth the driver conflicts, this month.

Got it? Keep Vista's bow pointed towards simple and Microsoft, and build it
up in layers, with a reboot after each driver or app install.

Run Backup often, so if something goes goes wrong, you don't drop so far
back to zero.

Inspect the logs. Make sure Device Manager is happy with all devices.

If your Vista is the least bit unstable, odd, or unfriendly with any device
- TAKE THE DEVICE AWAY. Wait till a month and try later. If it still throws
errors, or hangs, reinstall and reformat.

I hope this helps.
Aloha

Oh, I changed the mouse from advanced (wireless) to wired MS Comfort Optical
Mouse 1000. It really simplified my issues, and worked more reliably and
faster too.

"Bill Hill" wrote:

My drive went missing. Since then, I spent 2 weeks banging my head on the
problem. Maybe you heard...

So, I gave up tinkering with a failed Vista Home Prem x64 install, and
started re-installling. My MB was ASUS P5K, my KB was MS Media Pro, mouse was
MS Notebook wireless Optical, my video card ASUS Nvidia 8500GT.

I finally fixed it, here's how:

GIVE UP on the JMicron 363 Vista 64bit driver!! FORGET PATA!! Get a SATA
optical drive. Mine is Lite-On 20X DVD burner, probably any SATA optical
drive will work fine.

Take care to plug it into the SATA ports run by Intel ICH9.
During initial Vista load, DO NOT get creative with giving it HDD and other
drivers, just pray it along with NO INPUT, and try to make it to first
reboot. Don't worry about the LAN card or the audio or your great mouse or
other device. You can add those later.

Think of applying the drivers in layers, like a watercolor. Use only drivers
from MS, so don't get too happy with Nvidia drivers, or a new Intellipoint
from some new source.

Unintall anything strange in Device Manager and reboot. In Fact, reboot at
every step until the Vista install is complete. Add the LAN card as soon as
you get the KB and Mouse and video halfway decent.

THEN WINDOWS UPDATE YOUR BRAINS OUT - ask for the optional non-microsoft
drivers available at WinUpdate.

Reboot.
Turn on System Restore now, and capture a checkpoint you can return to.
DO NOT INSTALL BURNING SOFTWARE EARLY (or perhaps, at all)

Install Office, and just a few KNOWN VISTA COMPATIBLE PROGRAMS, like Acrobat
8, which you may need for troubleshooting tasks. Reboot, Windows Update.

Then, install backup from 3rd party if you want. My favorite is Acronis
Workstation, or home, in that order. Take a complete image backup, and store
it on a different partition or drive.

Copy the Backup Images in the set to DVD MANUALL, USING MS VISTA SOFTWARE.
No ROXIO THIS MONTH. Test NERO later, and let me know if 7 Essentials and be
updated to work

Don't worry about overclocking or trick USB drivers yet. If you have a
camera card reader, resist/avoid installing any software that came with it.
The prettier icons aren't worth the driver conflicts, this month.

Got it? Keep Vista's bow pointed towards simple and Microsoft, and build it
up in layers, with a reboot after each driver or app install.

Run Backup often, so if something goes goes wrong, you don't drop so far
back to zero.

Inspect the logs. Make sure Device Manager is happy with all devices.

If your Vista is the least bit unstable, odd, or unfriendly with any device
- TAKE THE DEVICE AWAY. Wait till a month and try later. If it still throws
errors, or hangs, reinstall and reformat.

I hope this helps.
Aloha