/dev/amro

So I install Windows Vista Ultimate (legitimate copy, thank you very much) on my PC after months of drooling and wanting Aero.  What I got (instead) was a driver nightmare.

1st Install (x64 version):  All’s well (it installs lightning fast btw — GJ Microsoft) until I realize my BT dongle isn’t picked up automatically and the updated video card drivers from nVidia make my full-screen games do a neat old-style tv snow effect (artifacts from hell) AND the lack of functional overclocking support in Vista (for nVidia cards), at the moment (nTune did the same thing as the games).  I was also irritated by the fact that there were no drivers for my Envy24 onboard sound (temporary solution was to use xp64 drivers which worked sans control panel — which I need for the EQ).  The BT dongle was made to work by using generic drivers in Vista (why it didn’t try, I don’t know).
Install 2: So I’m like whatever, I just spent hours installing all of my software, why not reinstall…so I do (x86).  Driver situation is slightly better (beta sound card drivers, same trick for the BT dongle), but the bloody video card issue is still there (go nVidia Forceware 97.46!).  I had run coolbits both times, and of course it didn’t work..so I thought that might have been the issue…………onto install #3.

Install 3: Wanting to OC my slow 7900GT (it runs 700/1.8 OC’d), I reinstall Vista, get frustrated and mod the BIOS using nibitor to get my clock speeds.  I then spend the next little while making failed boot cds (wrong cmd line args for nvflash) to flash the video card with..I give up and do it in Windows (to my surprise, the card still works AND is OC’d in 3D — good stuff).  I’ve cluttered the installation w/ crap so It’s time for the 4th install.  I figure I can just run my games in Windowed mode until nVidia fixes their practically beta drivers which SOMEHOW received WHQL certification.

Install 4: I install x86 version one LAST time..hopping with glee, get everything going and all’s well.  I run Windows update and get some PCI-express root driver upgrade from nVidia (also running a nforce4 board) and install the 97.52 forcewares and move along.  I do all the normal stuff..etc..etc.. try my games and they run like absolute HELL compared to XP.  I’m talking 30-50% slower here.  No matter what resolution, AA (always on) settings, etc.. the FPS is about the same (vsync was on so that wasn’t it).  I give up and shut off AA and somehow my FPS jumps back up CLOSE to where it was in XP (granted I had AA on in XP but whatever) so I’ll deal for now.  All this and I get an email from my NAS saying a drive failed..what a week. :D.

Edit: I beat the drive senseless with a mallet and popped it back in and all’s well (not really, I just reseated it and let it resync w/ the array).