So I decided to build a new PC (for the second time ever) and I got all the components and put them together (like you do). I then started installing Windows 8 only to find that the machine was freezing up mid-install at different points every time. I'm not even sure where to start trouble shooting this as I'm really just a computer building dabbler and not a true tech head.
Here's the component list:
Gigabyte GAZ77 D3H LGA 1155 Intel Z77 Motherboard
Intel Core i7 - 3770 processor
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO CPU cooler
2x 8GB G.SKILL Ripjaws x Series RAM
Seagate Barracuda 1TB HDD
Corsair Force GT 240GB Solit State Harddrive
Asus Black Blu-Ray Drive
Seasonic x750W Power supply
EVGA GeForce GTX 670 Video card
Rosewill RNX-N250PC2 wireless-N Adapter
Is there a conflict I'm not aware of? Did I screw up on the install process somewhere? Is there something in the BIOS I need to change? Help!
Sometimes you get a dud. I believe the most common time for electronics to fail is soon after purchase.
I'm not seeing any glaring incompatibility there. Try it with a linux live CD and try some troubleshooting.
I remember someone here saying they needed the latest version of the MB bios to get windows 8 installed so maybe check on that?
I remember someone here saying they needed the latest version of the MB bios to get windows 8 installed so maybe check on that?
This
Another computer and a USB stick, typically.
Another computer and a USB stick, typically.
Yep this
Did you manually set your memory times in the bios?
But, yeah, make sure all your ram is in properly. Can't hurt you reseat the CPU.
Strip out all the ram, but one stick. If it's still busted try another stick and do on. Might be a bad stick of ram.
Also, make sure in BIOS you have your HD's set to AHCI.
After doing the RAM tests, you might try to install to the 1TB HD as a test (don't complete registration).
Echoing the others, but yeah in my experience a majority of random freezing issues with new computer builds are either a) bad stick of RAM, or b) RAM of the right speed and size for your motherboard, but which your motherboard doesn't actually claim it's compatible with (ie, you go to the motherboard manufacturer's site, find your exact motherboard model, and find a link to a list of compatible RAM makes and models). I would definitely check that out first.
Download the Memtest86 ISO, burn it to cd and boot from it to test memory.
The easiest way would be to put another stick of RAM in the machine and see if it runs without freezing. I can't think of a way to specifically point at the memory as the cause of a freeze though. But as Khoram said, if your system is freezing randomly, memory is the most likely cause. If you ordered the memory from NewEgg, you almost definitely have a 30 day no-questions return policy. So either RMA the memory with them, or alternately, do as I did and order new memory immediately and return your current set for a refund in the packaging the new set arrives in. That will shorten the time to having a working system if the memory is in fact the problem and save you from having to sort out something to ship the return in (though for memory you can just use a padded envelope).
You could also put one in at a time and run memtest of some kind (like Gumbie suggested). Any stick that doesn't pass the test gets RMAed. If none out of 4 pass... well you may have a different issue. If it's an off brand RAM maker though you could still RMA them and try something from a reliable company that your motherboard docs say is guaranteed to be compatible.
So is there a sure-fire test to know if the sticks are bad before I try to return them?
See my reply 4 posts up and test one stick at a time.
What are the chances the sticks of RAM are the problem but they still pass the memtest?
It's possible. With my recent PC build the machine had tons of trouble booting cold (it would power cycle 15 times before posting), but once running passed memory tests with flying colors. Replacing the memory fixed the problem. Hangs are a bit different, but I figured it was worth noting that memory issues can produce all sorts of weird effects.
Also, make sure in BIOS you have your HD's set to AHCI.
Have you done this? Just making sure you didn't miss it. You can end up with some weird behavior from SSD's if you don't do it.
did you update your SSD's firmware to the latest?
Anytime you get (this goes for everyone) a new SSD.. first thing you should do is flash it to the latest firmware.. in some case the flashes are destructive.
usually theres a boot image you can make for flashing SSD's
usually theres a boot image you can make for flashing SSD's
This is how I did my Intel drive a while back.
Anytime you get (this goes for everyone) a new SSD.. first thing you should do is flash it to the latest firmware.. in some case the flashes are destructive.
Agree with this. I got one of those SSDs with an old firmware that had the 5200 hour test bug... at around 5200 hours of use, it would go into 1 hour test modes. So my build worked fine and everything looked good for the 1st year of use, then my computer would regularly BSOD. Took quite a while to track that one down
I reinstalled Windows 7 on a different PC recently, and the process they sent me through to get a new product key was really weird. I got to some screen in the registration process where they had me call a telephone number and read off this huge serial number to an automated system, and that gave me my new product key. It's been long enough that I don't recall whether the version I have is an OEM or a full copy though. But all I did was try to register online and then follow the error resolution steps presented to me when my key was rejected.
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