Computer crashes after installing drivers or updates?

[AudeoNinja]

I have windows 7 installed on a PC I built a little over a year ago. I recently upgraded to the windows 8 consumer preview, but I didn't like it so I'm trying to switch back. When I install windows it works fine, I can turn my computer off and on as many times as I want and it will be fine, but if I install any video card drivers or any of the updates that windows tells me to install, the next time it boots up I either get the windows splash screen or a black screen right after it says, "starting windows", and shows the 4 orb things that spin around and turn into the windows logo. It stays on this screen for 5-10 seconds and then continues to black or the splash screen.
I have tried installing only my video card driver, I have tried installing only one of the recommended updates, but no matter what I install it doesn't work the next time it boots, so I don't think it's a problem with one specific driver. However I have selected only the ones that started with: important windows update, or something like that, none of the security updates or anything and those installed successfully.
I have reset my bios and changed every setting I can think of, but nothing works. I have also completely formatted and re-patitioned my hard drive. I have basically reset my computer as much as possible without building a new one.
What else can I do? I need to install my video card driver at the very least or I can't play games, which is the whole reason I built a PC

 

[gregrocker]

Read over these tutorials to understand how to pinpoint a problem driver:
Driver Verifier to identify issues with Windows drivers for advanced users
Driver Verifier - Enable and Disable - Windows 7 Forums

If this isn't sufficient work through these Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7.

Make sure you're hewing closely to these steps to get a perfect reinstall, same for retail: Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

 

[AudeoNinja]

Read over these tutorials to understand how to pinpoint a problem driver:
Driver Verifier to identify issues with Windows drivers for advanced users
Driver Verifier - Enable and Disable - Windows 7 Forums

If this isn't sufficient work through these Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7.

Make sure you're hewing closely to these steps to get a perfect reinstall, same for retail: Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

The first two links won't work because I have to be able to use my computer AFTER I install the updates, which I can't do. also I haven't installed any programs yet so that wouldn't really work anyway. The second one wouldn't do anything because that involves viruses. I know I don't have a virus because I formatted my hard drive an hour ago and then reistalled windows and it still doesn't work.

 

[kegobeer]

Are you installing all of the drivers available from Gigabyte for your motherboard?

 

[gregrocker]

Only the first few Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7 involve checking for infection. The rest are relevant because they check the logs for repeat errors, establish a clean boot, test hardware that might be related, and utilize the System Resources and other important troubleshooting steps.

If you're only going to go as deep as the first couple steps in a long list then it will be hard to troubleshoot your problem since thoroughness is the key.

I also asked you if you deviated much from the Best Practices for installing Win7 detailed in the other tutorial, which you also ignored. Sometimes I don't know why I waste my time.

 

[AudeoNinja]

The best practices page basically explains exactly what I already said I did. I formated the hard drive, reset the bios, installed windows and then can't do anything after that because I can't install any updates. I obviously don't have any applications yet to screw things up.

These are the only steps I can do or that would be relevant to my problem, can I do these from recovery mode or after I have restored my PC to a previous point?
4. Study the Event Viewer>Custom>Admin view for repeat errors to google text and ID# to find out how others have resolved them.

5. Check also the Performance log on Advanced Tools page accessed by clicking your WEI score link at Computer>Properties. Check for cued issues at top of Tools page, Generate A System Health Report.
Look for issues cued in Action Center in bottom-right System Tray.

6. Type "Solutions" in Start Search box to see if any have been cued for Problems reported or not. Always report problems when asked as Windows 7 is interactive this way.

 

[kegobeer]

So, are you installing the motherboard drivers (all of them) from Gigabyte?

 

[gregrocker]

Are there any drivers missing in Device Manager?

In your previous Win7 install which worked, did you use the mobo drivers from the Gigabyte website or installer and Windows Update drivers?

 

[AudeoNinja]

I haven't tried any motherboard drivers, only the windows ones in system update.

 

[gregrocker]

Are these the drivers which were also used in the previous installation of Win7 on this computer which worked okay?

You can set a restore point to install them if you want. Otherwise I'd keep working through the troubleshooting steps to comb the logs for repeat errors, run a Clean Boot, utilize other System Resources.

 

[kegobeer]

Go to the Gigabyte website, find your motherboard, and download all the drivers. Install them. Windows 7 is much better at installing drivers than all previous Windows operating systems, but there is a reason why hardware manufacturers write drivers and provide them to you.