I've now spent 2 weeks trying to get vista 64 sp2 to install with no luck, and I do mean luck since there seems to be no consistent method for successful installation. I've reformatted and started from scratch with a slightly different approach about 10 times, and each time I get some error which the MS site barely explains and only gives generic tips on how to fix. So, heres the most basic approach to installation I take (I have the SP2 stand-alone(I've tried both the 580mb 5 Language, and the 800mb All Language) and the System Readiness Update Tool downloaded on another partition)
> Create new partition and format.
> Install Vista 64 sp1 from disc (no problems, vista loads up fine)
> Log-in as Admin.
> Install drivers for network, vid, and audio.
> Restart as necessary.
> Turn off UAC, Windows Firewall (just for updating process)
From this point I've tried so many different things. I've used Windows Updater to manually install all the important updates that come up, 1 time everything went smoothly, another time only half installed, another time Windows Updater didn't even update itself correctly. I've tried finding just the most critical updates between SP1 and SP2 to install, that didn't work either. So at this point I do the following:
> Run the stand alone SP2 update on a completely clean and working install of sp1. Error. (similar to something the system readiness tool is supposed to fix)
> Go through reformatting, reinstallation etc as noted above.
> Run System Readiness Tool. Success.
> Restart comp.
> Run stand alone SP2 update. Error.
What can I possibly do different that might make SP2 install correctly? How SP2 can't install on a completely fresh, clean, and working install of the vista sp1 from disc is beyond me. Am I doing something wrong in the order? Should I not install any drivers? Should I do something I haven't listed?
In the end, my unfortunate quest for SP2 comes from the fact that I have the dreaded atikmdag softcrashing problem. After spending too much time online reading about it, that problem is almost as infuratingly mysterious as trying to update to SP2. Whatever the case, I've been told that SP2 has an update to the WDDM (Windows Vista Display Driver Model) that could fix the atikmdag errors.
> Create new partition and format.
> Install Vista 64 sp1 from disc (no problems, vista loads up fine)
> Log-in as Admin.
> Install drivers for network, vid, and audio.
> Restart as necessary.
> Turn off UAC, Windows Firewall (just for updating process)
From this point I've tried so many different things. I've used Windows Updater to manually install all the important updates that come up, 1 time everything went smoothly, another time only half installed, another time Windows Updater didn't even update itself correctly. I've tried finding just the most critical updates between SP1 and SP2 to install, that didn't work either. So at this point I do the following:
> Run the stand alone SP2 update on a completely clean and working install of sp1. Error. (similar to something the system readiness tool is supposed to fix)
> Go through reformatting, reinstallation etc as noted above.
> Run System Readiness Tool. Success.
> Restart comp.
> Run stand alone SP2 update. Error.
What can I possibly do different that might make SP2 install correctly? How SP2 can't install on a completely fresh, clean, and working install of the vista sp1 from disc is beyond me. Am I doing something wrong in the order? Should I not install any drivers? Should I do something I haven't listed?
In the end, my unfortunate quest for SP2 comes from the fact that I have the dreaded atikmdag softcrashing problem. After spending too much time online reading about it, that problem is almost as infuratingly mysterious as trying to update to SP2. Whatever the case, I've been told that SP2 has an update to the WDDM (Windows Vista Display Driver Model) that could fix the atikmdag errors.
