I'm trying to install Vista Ultimate on a Gateway that locked up and became unbootable with a bad update.
Got a full version of Vista Ultimate, and like the XP Home version I tried to put on (formatted drive) it goes through the 'windows is loading files....' and hangs as soon as the bar completes.
Any ideas how to get past that or why it's stopping there?

Vista is a live dvd. It loads almost to a complete OS at the install. It then tries to copy the install image to the hard drive. Normally I'd suggest an issue with drivers but I doubt it if the install worked.

First set bios settings to fail safe or default.

Be sure you understand the boot order of the bios. You could have two installs and only one is trying to boot.(very unlikely but)

Issues could be bios settings too fast, bad ide drives or cables or controllers, memory issues. Might try memtest from the dvd to start.

Might try a system diag suite.

I read it wrong and answer it wrong too. So get off my case you peanut.