Are you still trying it with the first iso you downloaded or did you download it again and try? If you are still using the first one I still believe it's bad no matter how it checks out. It's not a big deal to burn an .iso and any of the programs you used should have been fine. And also you tried on your wife's computer, so it's not hardware related. As far as the speed...I burned mine at 16x with no problems. If you are still using the first one....Redownload It!!

SUCCESS.......AT LONG LAST


VISTA BURNT & INSTALLED

but what a Performance

As the heading so boldly announces, I now have Vista RC1 installed on my machine, tho it came at a cost.....close to a spindle of 30 DVD's and a large portion of my sanity. if I had any to begin with. And with all the settings changes I made during the many failed attempts, my clicking finger thinks it has rigor mortis

Anyway, here's the run down! It wasn't any of the downloaded ISO images or any of the burning programs used. It came down to two main issues: the first being the spindle of discs were apparently not compatible with burning ISO images...being that they would not successfully burn in either my wife's or my machine; and the second being both Lite-On DVDRW SHM165P6S drives seem to have some compatability issue with my system/OS...possibly driver related?

When I discovered the last remaining disc from a pack of Laser DVD's, I put it in my wifes machine and successfully burnt the RC1 ISO using Ashampoo's Burning Suite 6....the Vista install screen immediately appeared upon its re-insertion, and that's when I realised the batch I had previously been using were not the right discs for the job.

However, the issue was still not entirely resolved! When I inserted the successfully burnt disc into my own machine, it would not autorun and clicking on 'setup' resulted in yet another 'invalid Win32 Application' warning....meaning that I still could not install Vista RC1 via the autorun while XP was operating, despite being able to do so on my wife's system.

Thing is, I don't accept defeat easily and took a wild hunch on re-inserting the disc after resetting my BIOS to boot from disc...which worked, thankfully. The Vista RC1 screen appeared immediately after 'pressing any key to boot from disc' and thus was installed to the desired drive.

Obviously, then, there's an ISO burning/reading issue with Windows XP and the Lite-On DVDRW SHM165P6S somewhere. I've been able to write/burn in other formats, audio and video discs on both CD and DVD, and XP has been able to read/play them, but further investigation is required to determine if there are any other issues, etc. There are no relevant Windows updates available at this time, but I shall go to the Lite-On website for information/fixes/updates and report back should there be anything relevant. Also, when I return to the store, I will also get back for future reference with the brand and format of those discs which didn't work for ISO's (discarded the original package as I have a storage spindle).

Also to Island Dog, thanks again for your offer to send me a copy, and not to worry if it's already on its way....the spare'll come in handy (one each) if the wife and I aren't speaking to eachother.

Anyway, now I'm gonna bugger off to play with it.

Well you will have a spare to play with.

Thanks, ID...we're most appreciative.

I also installed RC1 on my wife's machine and managed to install quite few programs on her vesrion without issue, but I've not had the same luck on my own. Downloaded installations go in like a dream, but installing from disc is a problem....the autorun feature on RC1 is broken and I have to access the installers via Explorer. I've been to the Lite-On site and updated the drivers, but the autorun feature is still a bit iffy.....sometimes it'll start up immediately, others I have to reinsert the disc a couple of times before its recognised/runs.

This issue does not occur when I'm booted in XP (didn't when I was running the second beta), however, so I'm guessing my DVD ROM's/drivers aren't compatible with the RC1 release at this time, being that autorun and RC1 play well together with my Samsung CD burner. I've sent feedback to both MS and Lite-On, so hopefully they'll resolve the issue between them.

As for using Vista RC1, I find it much better/easier than beta 2....programs seem to install more quickly/easily, and more of them, too. My only gripe is the HP Director for my HP 3 in one won't run, whereas it did on beta 2. Nero is incompatible at this point also, but that's not a problem as ImgBurn and Ashampoo's burning proggies work well. Overall, though, Vista RC1 is quite nice and I'm looking forward to the final realease....and of course, being able to run all my Stardock proogies on it.

Thanks very much, Island Dog, the RC1 disc arrived in the post today.

Dunno what you did right that I didn't, but when I insert the disc while XP is running, I don't get the 'not a valid Win32 application' error message that I was getting with those ones I burned....and burned, and burned.

All's well that ends well, though...Vista RC1 will be easier to install now and you have our gratitude.