TLDR version: I got it working. I think the reason how I got it to properly install dolby vision bits of color profile, was to make sure HDR was disabled prior to installing and running AC for the first time. (see below as to possibly why).
I tried again. Here are my successful fresh install steps:
1. Download Windows 24H2 install media to USB key via https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11
2. Copied vmd storage driver to usb key.
3. Copied latest Intel Wifi driver (23.120) to USB key.
4. Installed a clean install of Windows 11 24H2. (needed to find storage driver to see disk, also needed to press Shift -f10 to get to command line to install wifi driver during step where windows looks for network connection).
5. Ran Windows Updates until it found no more updates, rebooting as necessary.
6. Ran Windows Store updates until it found no more updates.
7. Installed MyAsus and ran updates until it found nore more updates.
8. Made sure Windows display was NOT set to HDR. (I'll explain why in later step)
8. Installed Armoury Crate (it installed the 6.x version) (from the installer on asus updates page for my model (GU605MY).
9. Ran all the AC updates until there were no more (rebooting as necessary).
10. I think how I fixed my issue: The color profile gets installed when you click on the "Game Visual" Portion of AC. When HDR mode is enabled, game visual is disabled with an overlay stating as such because of HDR being enabled. So this time around, on a hunch, I made sure to disable HDR, prior to opening AC for the first time, and then clicked on Game visual. It installed the color profile. I verified as such in Windows display settings.
11. I then opened Dolby Access, and the Dolby Vision bits were showing!!!! (this was not the case on my original attempt, which is what prompted me to create the original post.
I'm not sure if my issue was an 'order of operations thing, or AC was fixed in a later patch. All I know is that this go-around, my issue is resolved. I no longer have to rely on the ASUS cloud restore from bios.
Sure the cloud restore is nice and simple as far as getting out of the box laptop running for the most part. But what happens when my warranty expires, which supposedly blocks that function....THIS is the biggest reason why I wanted to attempt a clean install without the cloud restore, just to see if it was do-able.
