Vista - Service Pack 1 won't install

Hello all, I've just built this computer and was very excited about Windows Vista now that SP1 is out... But i've run into several snags...

I run Windows Vista Ultimate x64

First, I've read that Vista doesn't like when Nvidia chipset mainboards have 4 or more gigs of RAM, and I have found the answer more often than not is that I am directed to install Service pack 1.

I have tried three times to install SP1, twice through Windows updater, once through the Standalone updater.

When the Windows updater finishes downloading and installing, then tells me to reboot it goes to the configuring updates screen step 1 of 3 and gives me a percentage.

This percentage usually creeps up to about 97% and then hangs, It eventually says the update was not successful, will retry on startup... the computer shuts down (and if i can start up with last known good configuration, i can avoid the BSOD STOP: 0x0000007e), restarts windows, and then attempts to re-install SP 1. Again, the progress stops somewhere between 97% and 99% and says update not successful, reverting changes.

I have attempted to update my drivers, thinking that might be the problem, only to find that the two out of date drivers are my mouse and audio drivers. The Realtek HD audio driver R1.97 installer hangs when the realtek logo and status bar pop up near the end of the install wizard. So if this is the problem, i cannot seem to fix it.

Please help, i'm nearing the end of my rope!

Edit: its gotten worse, i'm also now getting (though much more infrequently) a 0x0000000A error on BSOD, i think this may also be connected to the 4+ gigs of RAM problem

Hi, GoblinWarboss, and welcome to the forums (and leave my Paladins alone!!!)

remove all your drivers and install SP1 *first*.

If it still is a no go, remove any overclocking and try again. If still a no go, remove one channel of the RAM (and just for the record I built my machine below with the specs as is - and never once have encountered a problem with all 4 GB being there).

I'll give it a try either thursday or friday John, thanks for the reply.

Overclocking isn't a problem for me, as i'm not OC'ing at all.

k, good luck and post back please.

To quote UHF after the shop teacher cut off his own thumb... "Boy, is my face red..."

I installed it... It must have been my audio drivers that were preventing it from installing. I thought the Realtek driver installer was freezing near the end of the installation process, but actually it was taking more time than usual in either installing the new drivers or deleting the old ones. I updated those and SP1 installed fine!

(and for your assistance John, I will let your Paladin live... this time! though he may get waylaid by a sneaky trap before the battle...)

Heh - thanks - and glad you got it working.