Cannot Install to SSD - Windows Vista Extended Kernel ISO

[Osaka]

After a lot of trouble trying to install a native ISO of Windows Vista to apply the Extended Kernel, I was relieved to find a nicely-packaged ISO with everything pre-installed on this board: https://board.eclipse.cx/viewtopic.php?t=402

With the native Vista ISO, I could not move forward with the installation because the mouse and keyboard would not function.

With this ISO, I can use keyboard and mouse, however I get this message when I try to install the OS on my main SSD.

https://i.ibb.co/Pv82dN49/20250525-121726.jpg

I have tried seeking out guidance or independent solutions already. I formatted the SSD multiple times, including via Ubuntu - I heard that sometimes solves this issue.

And of course, the biggest elephant in the room being that the disk is not connected through USB or Firewire. So, it begs the question. How do I get this installation image to properly recognize my SSD?

Any help would be greatly appreciated and much obliged. ^_^

[K4sum1]

I wonder if Vista just doesn't know what to do with a 4TB drive and throws that error. I'd try a smaller drive.

[Osaka]

I wonder if Vista just doesn't know what to do with a 4TB drive and throws that error. I'd try a smaller drive.

This is a good point. That is a distinct possibility. The only problem is, I have a 1TB SSD also installed on this computer, and it's not even detected by the installer. So, that really makes me scratch my head. Because what do I need to do to solve this quandry?

However, do you think a solution such as this might work? Before I attempt something more drastic and compromising.

[K4sum1]

Is this 1TB SSD a M.2 or NVMe SSD?

[Osaka]

Is this 1TB SSD a M.2 or NVMe SSD?

Both are M.2 SSDs: https://i.ibb.co/XkScyBnq/20250528-013154.jpg

After trying this between 2 different computers, I'm at my wits' end with this and I'm also hearing that the Vista Extended Kernel is functionally flawed anyway. And the security risks may not be worth it.

Having said this, I'm not giving up on the concept. I don't think it's too much to ask to have a version of Windows that looks and feels like XP, Vista, or 7 as well as has simple user settings that allows for freedom of choice, and of course, anything from Windows 8-onward do not have any of these things. That would serve very well, at least until we're free from the chains of Windows if a superior operating system is ever developed in the future.

For what it's worth, I did try something called Windows Umbrella, which was essentially Windows 10 that allowed for the interfaces of Vista or 7, based on the user's choosing and eliminated a lot of the bloatware and other nonsense which is a step in the right direction, but using it would trigger a lot of Critical Errors that would made the computer Logoff and that's no good either.

[K4sum1]

The 7 Updated v5 here should just work.