Vista X64 freezes during install

[unixadm]

I work in IT and it's rare for me to ask a question about installing an OS. I've installed Vista X32 several times without any issues, including on this computer in it's exact current form. Well after reading on the forums, ignoring my gut feeling I ordered X64 Ultimate. It arrived today and I figured I'd install it on a 100gb partition on my RAID0 partition. Mind you it was replacing a X32 copy of Vista that was running there, but was just running under the demo key.

Boot off the DVD, it finds all my drives. I select the partition, delete and recreate it and allow Vista X64 to install. That's all fine and good and it reboots once. It comes back up and about minute into "Completing Installation" the computer just freezes up. It does not boot or anything, just hard locks. I tried a different DVD-ROM, clocking to stock speeds, updating the RAID drivers with Nvidia'a latest and it still does not work.

Specs: Evga 680I (P24 Bios), 2x320gb Seagate 7200.10 drives in RAID0, 2gb Corsair XMS2 Pro DDR800, Intel Core 2 Duo E6600, EVGA 8800GTX Video Card. It runs Windows XP like a champ with no stability issues. But after at least 12 attempts at installing Vista, I'm growing tired of it not wanting to finish the install. Anyone had a similar issue?

[unixadm]

Well I got no feedback, so I was on my own. After many more hours, X64 is installed. I felt like an idiot, especially since I manage an IT support group and have been doing this for a LONG time.

I'm not sure which of the last three things did it, but X32 would install perfect and X64 would freeze every time. I changed settings, no raid, new drive, no usb devices, swapped the video card, tried one stick of memory, etc. I finally got it with one of these three items:

1. Used IDE DVD-ROM instead of SATA DVD-RW or USB DVD-ROM. I don't think this was the problem.
2. Reset CMOS
3. Removed Silicone Image PCI-E x1 SATA/ESATA card

[unixadm]

Silicon Image controller is the problem. I reinstalled it and the system would lock up at the login screen. FYI - may help someone.