Well here I am replying to my own post FROM Vista. Here's what it took:
1. Partition #2 HAD TO BE A LOGICAL drive (it was set as a primary which
didn't work no matter what I did.)
2. Be sure to run a thorough CHKDSK on the drive After formatting... maybe
do it two or three times.
3. Make sure BIOS shadowing is turned off (don't know how mine got turned on)
4. Make sure your download AND DVD images are good (you must do a CRC check
with something like Nero) Don't fail this step!
My ATI Mobile Radeon chip OVERHEATED immediately when Vista started and I
could only get the laptop to run for a few minuets. I tried different
settings, but nothing seemed to work. Finally I stuck my laptop in a plastic
bag, and then in the freezer for an hour. (I know this sounds weird but it
worked...) I then ran Windows Update and LO AND BEHOLD there was an ATI
Mobile Radeon update and once I ran it, no more overheating! I have been
running for over an hour on the update now. This is a dangerous issue MS
should be aware of.
Getting my wireless working wasn't as easy as it should have been. When I
first tried to connect to my wireless network it just said I couldn't
connect. It never offered any solution, like enter a security key or
configure the connection.
Finally I figured out how to MANUALLY configure wireless security. It still
wouldn't connect until once again I ran "Connect" and then it finally
prompted me for the WEP KEY. That's a bug!
Of course before that, it didn't even see my Cisco wireless PCI express
card... until I saw (quite by accident) the "Update Drivers" listed in
"getting started". I always skip those getting started things because usually
it's simply a newby tutorial/list of features I don't need to read. I suggest
you go through it.
