Vista x64 TERRIBLY slow installing things

[Tropicocity]

Hey all,

Recently bit the bullet and installed vista ultimate x64 with SP1.

Having some issues in that, for example, my Unreal Tournament 3 install took around 4-5 hours total, it slowed down terribly towards the last 30% or so - then failed to ever say "complete". This might have been due to a dirty/scratched disc so I'll have to check it with another game in a minute.

Another issue - one i'm sure people have mentioned is that with x64 its literally (or so it seems to me) IMPOSSIBLE to get the default install paths working correctly, and everything seems to want to install to my C: drive, which I obviously don't want.

Custom install paths seem to no longer auto-complete the folder name (e.g. instead of changing j:/program files/ to j:/program files/activision/unreal/etc it remains as j:/program files so I have to create a new folder myself then tell it to install there - minor issue but does take up a bit of time and kindof negates any good hardware speeds because of this)
and it no longer shows the programs under my start menu if not installed to c:.

Having said that, the recommended minimum 40gb Vista Ultimate install size for a partition - Is there a point? Should I just format and reinstall with 2 partitions - OS+Games and then storage? the whole program files (x86) thing is so annoying to try to customise and i fear that this might be the only solution.

Thanks for reading the long post those who have!

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Partitioning the disk isnt really going to give you any benefits unless you want one for the os and another for data so when you reformat you dont lose said data. Now as far as the install is concerned have you checked to make sure that DMA is enabled? Have you installed chipset drivers for your board?

 

[Cutthroat]

Originally posted by: Tropicocity
Hey all,

Another issue - one i'm sure people have mentioned is that with x64 its literally (or so it seems to me) IMPOSSIBLE to get the default install paths working correctly, and everything seems to want to install to my C: drive, which I obviously don't want.

Custom install paths seem to no longer auto-complete the folder name (e.g. instead of changing j:/program files/ to j:/program files/activision/unreal/etc it remains as j:/program files so I have to create a new folder myself then tell it to install there - minor issue but does take up a bit of time and kindof negates any good hardware speeds because of this)
and it no longer shows the programs under my start menu if not installed to c:.

Having said that, the recommended minimum 40gb Vista Ultimate install size for a partition - Is there a point? Should I just format and reinstall with 2 partitions - OS+Games and then storage? the whole program files (x86) thing is so annoying to try to customise and i fear that this might be the only solution.

Thanks for reading the long post those who have!

Not sure what you are talking about here. If I install a game when it gets to the install path I just change the drive letter to the one I want and install. And usually it shows up in the start menu as well. There are some issues here as some older games put the shortcuts in the wrong spot so you need to move it or make your own. And some new games only like to show up the games explorer, but you can copy shortcuts to wherever you want. I like to create a folder with all my game shortcuts, and then make a taskbar toolbar to it.

My Drive setup:

150GB WD Raptor
C: (40GB) - Windows & apps (23GB used)
D: (100GB) - Users folders

750GB Hitachi 7K1000
E: (190GB) - Backup
F: (340GB) - Games (installed to F:\Program Flies(x86) for convenience)
G: (166GB) - Scratch disk

H: External Drive for backup

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: Tropicocity
Hey all,

Recently bit the bullet and installed vista ultimate x64 with SP1.

I agree with another poster - partitions are old school and should be retired for most people. Get a Windows Home Server for backups (Still waiting on a 64 bit version, Microsoft!), or Acronis or similar tools. If you have to reinstall the OS, you'll need to reinstall your apps too, so there's little benefit to not simply putting apps on the OS partition.

I haven't had any issues you've described with V64-SP1. It's running flawlessly here and I haven't had any issues with installations - it installs where I tell it to, but then I typically install to the C: default.