i always had to let the OS on a clean install ,be it xp or win 7 to update online and give it a couple of hours before it fully settled down and was ok to run cubase .
uninstalled Cubase SX, then re-installed, it froze during install, lol, I think its a sign, downloading Reaper free trial now, from what I read its under 10MB!!! no dongle, Sound On Sound Mag loves it etc etc
good luck man ,i don`t envy learning a new Program
Usually learning the “what” is a lot easier when you understand the “why”- like being a longtime musician learning a new instrument is still going to be faster than learning your very first instrument