Windows install problems (HELP!)

[PacificTJ]

So I just installed Windows 7 (64bit) home on my first homebuilt PC. It was awesome, for five minutes. Now I find myself fighting with issues I didn't expect. When I delved into the project I assumed that I would have difficulty with the wiring or the components, however the OS is proving to be the only thing I can't defeat.

Here I my issues and I would love any help you all could provide:

#1 Windows Updates fail to install. Almost all worked perfect, but approx. 8/50 security updates fail. Various error messages, rarely the same one.

#2 Random unexplained crashes/restarts

#3 Firefox and Windows Explorer fail and restart themselves.

#4 My hardrive available space appears to be less than what it should be. I understand that my SSD HD when formatted in NTFS shows 111GB instead of 120GB, thats not what I mean. What Im refering to is installing only Windows 64bit, drivers for my componenets, McAfee and Firefox, and the drive showing 82GB available. Yet when I open the individual folders within the drive, and add up their shown size in their folder properties, its significantly less (Approx. 9GB). I have reduced the shadow drive limit to 15% and still can't figure it out. Is this just hidden restore points that I need to delete from my failed Windows updates?

#5 While this may be a problem with Biowares downloader, my SWTOR download speed is approximately 1GB every six weeks. I have yet to finish the install, and I've had to restart it after it times out about 30 times. Deleted and started over 2 times to no avail. Even copied and pasted the entire patched folder from another computer only to have the launcher try to download it anyways.

I'm at my wits end and would love some help. Already completely wiped the SSD and re-installed windows once, not opposed to doing it again.

Cheers and thanks in advance!


System Specs:
i5 2500k
MSI Z68A GD55 (G3)
Corsair Vengence 8GB(2x4GB) RAM
EVGA GTX 560ti
Corsair Force Series SSD 120GB
Thermaltake 850W PSU
Corsair 650D Case
Asus CD/DVDR
Corsair H60 Processor Cooler

 

[n8dogg]

when you are doing your updates, do it in windows with the update window on your screen. Don't let windows update when you are shutting down. For some reason I run into this a lot. When there are a bunch of updates to do at once, do it that way.

As for your SSD, do a clean wipe and re-install your windows, install the most current bios for your SSD and mobo. Make sure your bios is set for AHCI mode and no IDE.

Also make sure you install all your mobo drivers before you connect to the internet. Have all your installable programs on a backup hdd or thumbdrive so you can install everything before you go online.

 

[alyoshka]

#1.... Is something you will need to check with each individual update, as to why it failed and rectify it.

#2 & #3 Are again a sign of bad RAM timings or modules. Maybe voltage problems too. OR a plugin malfunction.

#4.... Is the Pagefile and Hiber File, those 2 are the ones that will take up that amount of space. You can change the pagefile to another drive and delete the existing pagefil.sys from drive C. That will free up 8GB of space.

#5.... Is a sign of Bad RAM, try running memtest to check each individual stick, one at a time pls.

 

[PacificTJ]

Update:

Ran MemTest and found out one of the sticks of RAM was bad. Removed it, wiped SSD, re-installed windows. So far no problems.

It appears that the bad stick of RAM corrupted some files from Windows as it installed. /fingers crossed that it works.

Thanks for the replies!

 

[rmiiirusty]

Update:

Ran MemTest and found out one of the sticks of RAM was bad. Removed it, wiped SSD, re-installed windows. So far no problems.

It appears that the bad stick of RAM corrupted some files from Windows as it installed. /fingers crossed that it works.

Thanks for the replies!

I recently built a pc for my gf using an msi h67 mobo. My issues may have nothing to do with what you experienced but I thought I would warn you anyway.
It is not a serious prob and easily fixed.
This mobo came with msi live update 5 which is a realy handy program that doesn't quite work as intended.
You can ask it to scan your msi based software and all drivers associated with your mobo which it does fine spitting out your current version and informing you if updates are available.
I noticed that it did a good job of this including updates for some of the msi programing I would not have thought to check.
However at this point there is an option to update everything as a group. Every attempt to do so failed most of the updates.
After trying 2 or 3 times, and only getting 1 or2 of the updates succesfully applied I chose to pick them individually and try it that way. This was much more affective and even tho their was still an occasional fail , retrying it eventually worked. Good luck.