w7 unusable after install

[Marabou]

Oh noes I checked the device manager again and now it said EVERYTHING is ok, even the vga´s and Im retty sure I didnt even update graphix card drivers yet.

Does this mean all the drivers are ok after all?!

 

[gregrocker]

You need to update the Display driver from Standard VGA, especially since you have apparently found the correct driver (verify again) on Nvidia website.

Try installing it in Normal mode if you can boot in now. If not, try again by rightclicking on the .exe file to Run As Administrator. Google the error message to see how others have gotten around it.

Another method is to go to Device Manager>Display driver, click on Driver tab, and browse to file where the display driver downloaded, keep trying different files within until the utility picks up and installs the driver. Try also the browsing the entire file, or even the entire directory where it downloaded if you can't find the exact file. Try "Automatically Install driver" too.

Once you get the display driver in you should see improvement but if not research the chipset for that computer or mobo model, download the latest and install it. If you fill out your System Specs in bottom left corner of post others will help you find these drivers.

 

[Marabou]

So sad

I tried to perform windows update yesterday. I loaded over 200MB content and there was 46 updates coming. Windows Update went fine until part when something had to be verified. It took 7 hours to get to this verifying part, and I let it load verifying 14 hours. No result so I cancelled Windows Update.

I also tried to load graphix card drivers and chipset drivers. From internet, from USB-stick and from other ways gregrocker suggested (and with admin rights). It allways stops at verifying part. I cant verify installs (not even sure what this means).

I keep on trying?

 

[gregrocker]

You may need to install the chipset from the PB website. If it fails again when running its installer, then find the location it unzips to (usually in the C drive root), go to Device Manager, click on the SATA controller driver, on Driver tab, Update driver, browse to folder to try to install the driver. Now repeat that for each component of the chipset, which should be detailed in the ReadMe file within the driver download.

Check if any devices are in error with a (!) exclamation mark and locate the latest Device driver to install likewise from the Driver tab.

With the same problem after repeated reinstalls, I think you have to check hardware next:

Burn memtest86 to CD and run 5-6 passes or overnight to stress test RAM. Remove sticks to isolate problem RAM.

Run the HD maker's full diag/repair CD scan: Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities (Storage) - TACKtech Corp.

Earlier I gave you tips to troubleshoot errors in the Event logs. I would do that as well to try to pinpoint what is causing this strange problem.

 

[Marabou]

Bad news

I somehow managed to install the newest drivers for chipset and graphix card, but after this OS started acting even MORE slower, and became unstable. It came so slow that even I didnt have time to wait for it to open anything so I whiped the hard drive completely again. (For example I waited half hour for control panel to open, but it didnt) I would have opened the event log here if I could have opened it

So we are pretty sure the problem is not the drivers, eh?

Maybe its hardware problem? But how? As I have said Vista ran perfectly.

I have no OS installed atm, just reminding, if it affects anything.

Im trying to run memtest86 now. The thing is I dont think its working. It opens as it should and there is all kind of information and text, but it seems its not doing anything. Even its clock isnt ticking, no numbers are changing anywhere. It has been overnight now, nothing happened. Clock has freezed on 4 seconds and it is not taking any commands, not (c) or even (exit).

Be patient with me. What am I doing wrong?

 

[Marabou]

Found out that memtes86 doesnt support i7.

Memtest86x 4.10 does support, so I burn it and run.

Will be continued

 

[gregrocker]

Rather than wiping the HD when the new drivers caused problems, you need to roll back each driver on it's Device Driver tab to isolate which driver is causing the problem, then seek out another driver for that Device or run the one given by installer/Updates.

Are there driver updates cued up on optional Windows Updates? Look now.

If so, try installing them one-by-one. If this works try installing all of your updates in small groups to isolate which one might be causing the whole group to fail. Then you can open a support case via email with WUD to get that installed.

You may be able to pinpoint a cause of problems by googling the repeat errors in your Event Viewer>Admin View to find how others have resolved them, as I have suggested now several times.

Testing the hardware should be the first priority.

Also check that you have the latest BIOS version update. If so, reset the CMOS: http://pcsupport.about.com/od/fixtheproblem/tp/clearcmos.htm What is the SATA controller setting in BIOS? Check all of the cable connections, swap cables.

 

[1Bowtie]

+1 Greg

 

[Marabou]

Nice to see Im being helped so fast

I know whiping HD isnt very wise solution to fix for problems, actually its not a solution at all but OS came so slow I snapped or something..

Memtest86+ came back clean I did 2 passes with 0 errors.

Next I will try to update BIOS if its possible w/o OS, I dont know do I have to, I´ll check. Btw I have reseted CMOS between my clean install performs few times, before and after reseting SATA controller setting has been ACHI or AHCI was it. I will also ensure that this setting is on after (possibly) updating BIOS.

Then I will try perform HD maker´s full repair CD scan, if I will get to know who is my HD´s manufacturer. Maybe I can sort that out by peaking inside.

After this I will clean install w7 (if scan comes clean) and I will start installing new important drives by your, my dear Greggie, instructions. Will also check event log, which I should have done long time ago.

Correct me if something else should be done or should be done in different order. Thank you, I´ll bb

Forgot to mention Im going into woods camping, or trekking is it, so I wont post before next week.

 

[gregrocker]

You may need to try another SATA controller setting. AHCI would be first choice but sometimes it needs IDE.

I would do at least 5-6 passes with memtest CD. Swap and reseat your RAM sticks too.

Enjoy your outing. You'll be refreshed to work through all these steps.

Feel free to ask any questions. The important thing is to complete each step to eliminate the possibility so that we can move on until fix is found.

 

[Marabou]

PROBLEM SOLVED

but dont know how I did it

After running memtest86+ 8 times with no erros I swapped the places of RAM-sticks.
Then I ran memtest86+ 4 times with no errors.
After that I clean installed w7 exactly like many times before and... BOOM, it works as fast as it should.

WTF was the problem? Id like to know that because now Im scared that my OS might start lagging again without any reason.

Anyways I updated pretty much everything including w7 and all the drivers and everything runs smooth, so lets say problem solved.



Thank you very much for help, +reps for you greg and BFK!

I also learned lots of stuff that I can use later-on if I need to, and I found out these forums are great. I will be using the advice that is given here if I got problems in future.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hell again Marabou.





Thanks for the kind words and I'm glad to see you found a solution, thanks for coming back with an update.

 

[gregrocker]

Did you check performance after swapping sticks?

Then you would know if it was that and not the clean reinstall.

Some suggestions:

Install programs slowly over time to gauge performance changes. Don't let any write themselves into msconfig>Startup as they become full-time freeloaders on your RAM/CPU and can spy on you. I only allow AV and gadgets/stikynotes.

Use a lightweight free AV like MS Security Essentials with the Windows Firewall.

Google repeat errors in Event Viewer>Admin view to see how others have solved them. Check also Performance log on Advanced Tools page accessed by clicking WEI score at Computer>Properties; look for issues cued at top of Tools page, Generate a System Health Report.

Save a Win7 backup image externally so you never have to reinstall again, just reimage to HD or replacement in 15 minutes.