Network Driver fails in Vista x64 in a Internet-Direct Connection; no router in loop
I also had this problem, but with a twist. My workstation works with Vista Ultimate x64. What I realized was that network operation worked after installing Vista x64 straight off the disk but without the Vista SP1 upgrade. For my system, I switch the network connection between a direct to the Internet and via a router Internet connection. I do this because a router-connection is slower. BUT, with Vista-SP1 and the MS Update "NVIDIA driver update for NVIDIA nForce Networking Controller" I could NOT access the direct-Internet; with the router in the loop all operations worked well. Therefore, do not install this Nvidia Network Controller single update; just hid it in your update window.
In a similar situation, if you are introducing the Sony Memory-Stick "MircroVault-8Gbit" only after installing Vista-SP1 you OS may not recognize nor install the related drivers. This is also the same for the Sony camera "SuperSteadyShot DSC-1100: 8.1 Mpixels". To overcome this restriction the workaround is to introduce the peripheral devices immediately after installing Vista of the DVD disk and before going to any MS Updates (I also noted that each stick should be treated as individual devices rather that generically - I have two sticks so each needed to be introduced to the system).
To realize these facts, I installed Vista a number of times and utilized image files of my C-Drive to search to find a fix during a 2-week period. In trying to install Vista SP1, I continually encountered round-robin booting after SP1 was introduced whenever I previously installed certain MS Updates OR such third party programs like O&O Defrag or Rixio V10. Eventually, my fix was to STRICTLY install in this order...Vista off the disk, introduce those devices (Sony Memory Sticks or Cameras) which auto-install drivers, install Microsoft’s "Installation Program", follow this by installing Vista SP1 and afterwards install the various programs you desire. One program installed after SP1, O&O Defrag, works well but then fails by not showing the computer’s drives in the program’s window. To fix, go to Program and Features, right-click and select "Change or Repair" to return functionality. But, this condition will return again and again.