Urgent help needed over many categories

[Benjamin_77]

So, I install a new motherboard, CPU and RAM recentely, but things didnt go to plan. I have had a number of problems recentely including:
- Computer screen freezes every 5 mins or so
- Taskbar freezes
- Games (e.g. Rocket League, CSGO, fortnite) do load, but they either crash or bug out every time.

I did find that one of my 4GB sticks of RAM wasnt working/broken (I got 2x4GB sticks), so I think I need to return that. But even with the one 4GB stick of RAM in my pc, it should still run fine.

Before I installed my new parts (MOBO, RAM and CPU), my old parts were working fine, so I am assuming it isnt to do with my graphics card.

Now I really need help with this as I have no clue what is causing these problems to occur. Thanks for any help!

Specs:
MSI B350 Tomahawk - MOBO
AMD Ryzen 5 1600 - CPU
Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 (2x4GB) - RAM
NVIDIA GTX 750ti - GPU

 

[vrumor]

Did you reformat and reinstall Windows?

 

[Benjamin_77]

No, how on earth would I do that?

 

[gdmaclew]

I assumed you reused your hard drive - the one you were using from your old MB. Please confirm.
If you new MB used the same chipset, you might get away with not re-installing Windows but it is not a slam dunk. Is is an OEM version of the OS?
Which version of Windows is it?
Please gives us the specs on the old MB

 

[Benjamin_77]

It is using the same hard drive as last, the old motherboard is a Gigabyte GA-F2A78M-HD2. My old CPU was a A6-6400K from AMD. New one is Ryzen 5 1600 from AMD. I can access the PC just fine, Windows 10 (Pro) works just fine only with the problems listed above. So it runs like a normal PC, just with the problems that are listed in the original post.

 

[gdmaclew]

Obviously Windows 10 is NOT working just fine if you are having the stated problems, which could be related to chipset drivers, etc.
Windows 10 is generally better than 7 or 8 at reloading or changing MB drivers on the fly but that doesn't mean it's the preferred solution.
You should save your data and re-install Windows 10 with the drivers needed for your new MB.

 

[Benjamin_77]

So, how would I save my data and re-install Windows 10? Is there some sort of guide somewhere for that? I am not a professional in this category otherwise I would know, sorry.

 

[USAFRet]

It is using the same hard drive as last, the old motherboard is a Gigabyte GA-F2A78M-HD2. My old CPU was a A6-6400K from AMD. New one is Ryzen 5 1600 from AMD. I can access the PC just fine, Windows 10 (Pro) works just fine only with the problems listed above. So it runs like a normal PC, just with the problems that are listed in the original post.

Those "problems" are not the indication of "works just fine".

With new hardware, and an old OS, there are 3 possible outcomes:
1. Everything works perfectly
2. It fails horribly. Not even able to boot up
3. It works mostly, but with lingering issues

Generally, 2 & 3 can only be fixed with a full wipe and reinstall.

You've found #3.

 

[Benjamin_77]

Ok, well thanks for that, but you still didnt help me to solve my problem. Have I found the toxic side of Toms Hardware now? Where people just say your sorrows over and over but do not help?

 

[USAFRet]

Ok, well thanks for that, but you still didnt help me to solve my problem. Have I found the toxic side of Toms Hardware now? Where people just say your sorrows over and over but do not help?

The solution is...you need to do a full wipe and reinstall of the OS and everything else. There is no easy fix.
We can go into the specific of that if you desire.

 

[gdmaclew]

So, how would I save my data and re-install Windows 10? Is there some sort of guide somewhere for that? I am not a professional in this category otherwise I would know, sorry.

Make a complete backup using one of the many free or paid software titles available. If you have a WD hard drive you may be able to use their Acronis True Image WD Edition software. Backing up to an external USB drive is acceptable.
Then after reinstalling Windows 10 you can find and restore those files (not programs) to your newly installed drive.
You will have to reinstall any programs or games that you backed up.
Steam files are usually stored in the folder c:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common.

Refer to this link as well...

https://www.howtogeek.com/269515/how-to-move-a-steam-game-to-another-drive-without-re-downloading-it/

Data files such as pictures, videos or e-mail files can be manually restored form the backup as needed.

 

[USAFRet]

So, how would I save my data and re-install Windows 10? Is there some sort of guide somewhere for that? I am not a professional in this category otherwise I would know, sorry.

Make a complete backup using one of the many free or paid software titles available. If you have a WD hard drive you may be able to use their Acronis True Image WD Edition software. Backing up to an external USB drive is acceptable.
Then after reinstalling Windows 10 you can find and restore those files (not programs) to your newly installed drive.
You will have to reinstall any programs or games that you backed up.
Steam files are usually stored in the folder c:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common.

Refer to this link as well...

https://www.howtogeek.com/269515/how-to-move-a-steam-game-to-another-drive-without-re-downloading-it/

Data files such as pictures, videos or e-mail files can be manually restored form the backup as needed.

Actually, I would NOT use one of those imaging tools for this.
Recovering individual files out of one of those imaging things may be problematic, and more hassle that it is worth.

A simple copy/paste of any personal files off to an external drive is what is needed.

 

[vrumor]

The toxic side? There are I would guess 1000s of guides online for installing Windows of any version. Google pulled up a list for me.

 

[USAFRet]

So, how would I save my data and re-install Windows 10? Is there some sort of guide somewhere for that? I am not a professional in this category otherwise I would know, sorry.

Question: Where did the existing OS come from?
And with this all new hardware, is it still activated?

 

[Benjamin_77]

So, I should save personal files (Like documents, pictures, etc.) to an external USB/Hard Drive, then completely wipe Windows 10 off my PC and then reinstall it?

 

[Phillip Corcoran]

Benjamin - - contrary to what you suggest - - you don't need to be a "professional" to install Windows, you exaggerate.

I'm not a professional by any stretch and I've installed Windows many, many times. First time was even before internet was available for advice & support - - and I was the only one in the street with a PC (circa 1990) so no help from neighbours either.

Once you've done it you'll wonder why you thought it was difficult.

 

[gdmaclew]

So, how would I save my data and re-install Windows 10? Is there some sort of guide somewhere for that? I am not a professional in this category otherwise I would know, sorry.

Make a complete backup using one of the many free or paid software titles available. If you have a WD hard drive you may be able to use their Acronis True Image WD Edition software. Backing up to an external USB drive is acceptable.
Then after reinstalling Windows 10 you can find and restore those files (not programs) to your newly installed drive.
You will have to reinstall any programs or games that you backed up.
Steam files are usually stored in the folder c:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common.

Refer to this link as well...

https://www.howtogeek.com/269515/how-to-move-a-steam-game-to-another-drive-without-re-downloading-it/

Data files such as pictures, videos or e-mail files can be manually restored form the backup as needed.

 

[Benjamin_77]

Would these problems occur, say, (not in this case, for another case) if Windows wasnt activated?

 

[gdmaclew]

So, I should save personal files (Like documents, pictures, etc.) to an external USB/Hard Drive, then completely wipe Windows 10 off my PC and then reinstall it?

Yes you could do that, keeping in mind that all programs and games will need to be reinstalled.

 

[USAFRet]

So, I should save personal files (Like documents, pictures, etc.) to an external USB/Hard Drive, then completely wipe Windows 10 off my PC and then reinstall it?

Yes, but that is only a part of the Prep you need to do.
Let's take this one step at a time...

 

[gdmaclew]

Would these problems occur, say, (not in this case, for another case) if Windows wasnt activated?

No. This sounds like an incompatible driver problem.

We all assume you have a valid (legal) copy of Windows.

Go for it USAFRet.

 

[USAFRet]

Would these problems occur, say, (not in this case, for another case) if Windows wasnt activated?

No.
Unactivated Win 10 functions no different than activated, mostly.
But those issues are not part of it.

 

[Benjamin_77]

I am still completely unaware of what is causing my problems to occur.

 

[Benjamin_77]

Also, why would Windows 10 need to be activated?

 

[USAFRet]

Also, why would Windows 10 need to be activated?

That is one of the deals with licensed software.
You give them money, they give you a license to use it.

Windows 10 has some small restrictions if you leave it Unactivated.
No personalization, randomly appearing nag text that appears on top of everything.
Other than that, it runs.
Of course, Microsoft could cut off this unactivated thing at any time, and revert back to the old '30 day' thing.


Previous versions of Windows would run perfectly for 30 days, then start an increasingly annoying level of nag. To the point of a hard reboot every hour.

Other licensed applications have their own procedures.

Bottom line...a lot of software is not "free". Windows is one of those.