After an unsucessful 32-bit installtion, reboot the machine from the DVD,
then go to a Command Prompt, under Repair options. Examine the setup
logs - probably C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Panther\setupact.log - to see what
happened at the end of installation. This may give you an idea just how
far Vista installation got, before it abended; and what the faulting
comonent was.
I did what you suggested, but the setupact.log doesn't provide me with any
information that could point me in the right direction. The last few lines
say..
**********************************************************************************
2007-09-29 12:43:33, Info [0x090062] PANTHR Destroying module:
Diagnostic (SEQ1)
2007-09-29 12:43:33, Info [0x090062] PANTHR Destroying module:
BootPrep (SEQ1)
2007-09-29 12:43:33, Info [0x090062] PANTHR Destroying module:
DiskConfig (SEQ1)
2007-09-29 12:43:33, Info [0x090062] PANTHR Destroying module:
TempDrive (SEQ1)
2007-09-29 12:43:33, Info [0x090062] PANTHR Destroying module:
FixBBPaths (SEQ1)
2007-09-29 12:43:33, Info [0x090062] PANTHR Destroying module:
FirstBootCleanup (SEQ1)
2007-09-29 12:43:33, Info [0x090062] PANTHR Destroying module:
Rollback (SEQ1)
2007-09-29 12:43:33, Info [0x090062] PANTHR Destroying module:
PrepareInstallDrive (SEQ1)
2007-09-29 12:43:33, Info [0x090062] PANTHR Destroying module:
WinPEProgress (SEQ1)
2007-09-29 12:43:33, Info [0x090081] PANTHR Destroying any
unreferenced modules! (SEQ6)
2007-09-29 12:43:33, Info [0x0640d1] IBSLIB [Setup Disk Usage]
Beginning of usage information.
2007-09-29 12:43:33, Info [0x0640d2] IBSLIB [Setup Disk Usage] ------
Drive E: ------
2007-09-29 12:43:33, Info [0x0640d3] IBSLIB [Setup Disk Usage] Total
bytes on drive: 62055.8 MB (65070186496 bytes)
2007-09-29 12:43:33, Info [0x0640d4] IBSLIB [Setup Disk Usage] Free
bytes available to user: 56477.6 MB (59221037056 bytes)
2007-09-29 12:43:33, Info [0x0640d6] IBSLIB [Setup Disk Usage] Found
Setup folder/file [BT Folder ].
2007-09-29 12:43:33, Info [0x0640d2] IBSLIB [Setup Disk Usage] ------
Drive C: ------
2007-09-29 12:43:33, Info [0x0640d3] IBSLIB [Setup Disk Usage] Total
bytes on drive: 176416.9 MB (184986513408 bytes)
2007-09-29 12:43:33, Info [0x0640d4] IBSLIB [Setup Disk Usage] Free
bytes available to user: 37588.3 MB (39414198272 bytes)
2007-09-29 12:43:33, Info [0x0640d6] IBSLIB [Setup Disk Usage] Found
Setup folder/file [LS Folder ].
2007-09-29 12:43:33, Info [0x0640d8] IBSLIB [Setup Disk Usage] End of
usage information.
2007-09-29 12:43:33, Info [0x0601dc] IBS Setup has completed phase
2 at 2007-09-29 12:43:33
2007-09-29 12:43:35, Info [0x090009] PANTHR CBlackboard::Close:
e:\$windows.~bt\sources\panther\setupinfo.
**********************************************************************************
Doesn't appear to tell me any more...
Unfortunately you don't provide any details of the machine. Was it made by
one of the mainstream manufacturers (Dell, HP, Lenovo, Acer, etc?). What
peripheral devices are attached?
My PC Specs are as follows, I don't know if there is an item in here that
might be causing the problems?
**********************************************************************************
-Operating System
Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 (build 2600)
-Processor
2.13 gigahertz Intel Core 2 Duo
64 kilobyte primary memory cache
4096 kilobyte secondary memory cache
-Main Circuit Board
Board: ASUSTeK Computer INC. P5N-E SLI 1.XX
Bus Clock: 266 megahertz
BIOS: Phoenix Technologies, LTD ASUS P5N-E SLI ACPI BIOS Revision 0703
08/09/2007
-Drives
1051.17 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
282.36 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space
HL-DT-ST DVD-RAM GSA-H54L [CD-ROM drive]
PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-111D [CD-ROM drive]
YV5020S MPT755F SCSI CdRom Device [CD-ROM drive]
3.5" format removeable media [Floppy drive]
Generic USB CF Reader USB Device [Hard drive] -- drive 5
Generic USB MS Reader USB Device [Hard drive] -- drive 7
Generic USB SD Reader USB Device [Hard drive] -- drive 4
Generic USB SM Reader USB Device [Hard drive] -- drive 6
Maxtor 6L250R0 [Hard drive] (251.00 GB) -- drive 3, s/n L50ZZNXH, rev
BAJ41G20, SMART Status: Healthy
MAXTOR STM3250620A [Hard drive] (250.06 GB) -- drive 2, s/n 5QE0VZRN, rev
3.AAD, SMART Status: Healthy
ST3300620A [Hard drive] (300.07 GB) -- drive 0, s/n 9QF2NT7X, rev 3.AFE,
SMART Status: Healthy
ST3300620A [Hard drive] (300.07 GB) -- drive 1, s/n 9QF2NT7X, rev 3.AFE,
SMART Status: Healthy
-Memory Modules
2048 Megabytes Installed Memory
Slot 'DIMM_A1' has 1024 MB
Slot 'DIMM_A2' is Empty
Slot 'DIMM_B1' has 1024 MB
Slot 'DIMM_B2' is Empty
-Local Drive Volumes
c: (NTFS on drive 2) 184.99 GB 39.40 GB free
d: (NTFS on drive 1) 250.06 GB 30.81 GB free
e: (NTFS on drive 0) 300.07 GB 131.41 GB free
f: (NTFS on drive 3) 250.99 GB 28.26 GB free
n: (NTFS on drive 2) 65.07 GB 52.48 GB free
-Controllers
Standard floppy disk controller
NVIDIA nForce 430/410 Serial ATA Controller (2x)
Primary IDE Channel [Controller]
Secondary IDE Channel [Controller]
Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller
-Display
NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GTS [Display adapter]
Maxdata B101715 [Monitor] (16.8"vis, January 2006)
-Bus Adapters
JMicron JMB36X Controller
SCSI/RAID Host Controller
Silicon Image SiI 0680 ATA-133 Medley Raid Controller
Virtual CloneDrive
NEC PCI to USB Open Host Controller (2x)
Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller (2x)
Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller
-Multimedia
Realtek High Definition Audio
-Communications
Standard Modem over Bluetooth link #3
1394 Net Adapter
Bluetooth Device
Bluetooth Device (RFCOMM Protocol TDI) #4
NVIDIA nForce Networking Controller
-Other Devices
VIA OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller
Asus Video3D Device
Broadcom Ultimate Low Cost Bluetooth 2.0+EDR USB dongle
Microsoft Bluetooth Enumerator
Bluetooth HID Device
HID-compliant consumer control device
HID-compliant device (2x)
USB Human Interface Device (2x)
Creative WebCam Live! Ultra
HID Keyboard Device
Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
Microsoft USB Wheel Mouse Optical
NVIDIA Network Bus Enumerator
USB Composite Device
USB Mass Storage Device
USB Root Hub (5x)
Patin Couffin engine
**********************************************************************************
Sorry for a lot of info, but I'm stumped here, my only option I can think of
is to download all the possible drivers for each device, unzip and chuck on
a cd to have in the drive during install and use as additional drivers....
or final option, just have the essential hardware connected whilst
installing.