New build probs - software or hardware?

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I've just built dad a new machine using an i3 530, corsair 4 gb ddr3, and anasus p7h55m board (using the on board gfx). I am using his existing samsung 500gb sata hard drive and a clean install of windows 7 home premium.

The fist 2 times I tried windows setup I got a BSOD before I even got to the language select screen. 3rd time lucky and the install went fine. :confused:

I connected a cable to the built in lan and begun downloading windows updates and ms security essentials. Straight away I got loads of errors with the updates. I reckon I've seen at last 8 different error codes, they seem to be different every time. 80091007 and 80070057 are the 2 most recent. I got security essentials installed but when I came to updating the definitions, I get "unknown error". iTunes was also refusing to install at one point with the unknown error. Also occasionally after restarting I get currupt desktop graphics as seen here

wtf.jpg


This is a totally clean install so there can't be any software conflicts. no overclock either. CPU temperature is showing in the low to mid 30s

Has anyone got any idea what's going on? I don't even know if I'm dealing with a software or hardware problem. It's getting to the point that I'm considering just returning the new parts, binning the old ones and buying dad a mac mini instead
 
Definitely hardware. Especially if you can't even complete a Windows install. As you're getting graphics corruptions is there any way you can change it to a different card?

I'd also run a memory check when you get chance as well just to ensure that's fine. The windows update errors I would ignore - I'd seriously suggest getting a new card and reinstalling windows (chances are with broken hardware it's possible to corrupt the windows installation).

It's obviously pointing to your graphics card at the moment though.



M.
 
Smells like bad memory (either main or graphics memory), though I would have expected some random BSODs.
 
I'm using the on board graphics at the moment but got an old radeon x800 that I could slot in to try out. I'll also try different ram configurations when I get home tonight. Will let you know...
 
Try the new graphics card and reinstall windows - if you get any blue screens then you need to boot from the Windows 7 DVD and run the Windows Memory checker (startup problems I think it's under or something like that).



M.
 
I don't get it, seems too specific. I try to download updates/MSE definitions and it always appears to download fine but then fails at the installation phase with a connection error. Surely if there's a connection error it would fail at the download phase?
 
I think I'm looking at a motherboard fault. When trying to update the whole thing froze up. When I rebooted it wouldn't even POST. Tried with 1 stick of ram and about half the time it'll get as far as loading windows and then lock up or simply not POST at all
 
Bit of an update. I took the system round to a friends house so we can swap ram around try find the fault. We've concluded that 1 stick is totally dead. It won't work in either his or my machine. The other one works fine in his, but is unstable in mine. We're thinking some kind of weird incompatibility. Both his sticks of ram work perfectly in mine. Time to RMA it
 
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