diff --git a/installer b/installer
index 69c1fbc..44d759b 100755
--- a/installer
+++ b/installer
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 # AIF, Calamares, and the Arch Wiki.. Credit where credit is due
 
 # shellcheck disable=SC2086,SC2046,SC2254,SC2164
-VER=2.1.58
+VER=2.1.59
 
 # default values {
 
@@ -203,17 +203,16 @@ declare -A LOGIN_PKGS=(
 declare -A PKG_EXT=(
 [bluez]='bluez-libs bluez-utils bluez-tools bluez-plugins bluez-hid2hci'
 [cairo-dock]='cairo-dock-plug-ins'
-[kdenlive]='qt5ct qt5-styleplugins'
+[kdenlive]='qt5ct'
 [mpd]='mpc'
 [mupdf]='mupdf-tools'
 [noto-fonts]='noto-fonts-emoji'
 [pcmanfm]='tumbler'
-[qbittorrent]='qt5ct qt5-styleplugins'
-[qt5ct]='qt5-styleplugins'
-[qutebrowser]='qt5ct qt5-styleplugins'
+[qbittorrent]='qt5ct'
+[qutebrowser]='qt5ct'
 [thunar]='tumbler thunar-volman'
-[transmission-qt]='qt5ct qt5-styleplugins'
-[vlc]='qt5ct qt5-styleplugins'
+[transmission-qt]='qt5ct'
+[vlc]='qt5ct'
 [zathura]='zathura-pdf-poppler'
 ) # }
 
@@ -2007,9 +2006,9 @@ install_bootldr()
 
 install_packages()
 {
-	typeset -a inpkg rmpkg
+	typeset -a inpkg rmpkg goodinpkg
 
-	inpkg=("${SES_PKGS[@]}" "${USER_PKGS[@]}")
+	inpkg=("${SES_PKGS[@]}" "${USER_PKGS[@]}" "$NEWSHELL")
 
 	if [[ $INSTALL_WMS ]]; then
 		inpkg+=("${BASE_PKGS[@]}")
@@ -2040,22 +2039,32 @@ install_packages()
 		fi
 	fi
 
-	[[ $INSTALL_WMS =~ dwm ]] && inpkg+=('git make gcc pkgconf')
 	[[ $NEWSHELL == 'zsh' ]] && inpkg+=('zsh-completions')
 	[[ $NEWSHELL =~ (bash|zsh) ]] && inpkg+=('bash-completion')
+	[[ $INSTALL_WMS =~ dwm ]] && inpkg+=('git' 'make' 'gcc' 'pkgconf')
 
 	# remove the packages we don't want on the installed system
 	[[ ${rmpkg[*]} ]] && chrun "pacman -Rnsc ${rmpkg[*]} --noconfirm"
 	
 	[[ -e $MNT/boot/${UCODE}.img ]] && rm -rf "$MNT/boot/${UCODE}.img"
 
-	# install crucial packages first to avoid issues, reinstalling iputils fixes network issues for non-root users
+	# install crucial packages first to avoid issues
+	# reinstalling iputils fixes network issues for non-root users
 	chrun "pacman -S $KERNEL $UCODE iputils --noconfirm" 2> "$ERR" 2>&1
 	errshow 1 "chrun 'pacman -S $KERNEL $UCODE iputils --noconfirm'"
 
 	# install the packages chosen throughout the install plus any extras added
-	chrun "pacman -S ${inpkg[*]} $NEWSHELL --needed --noconfirm" 2> "$ERR" 2>&1
-	errshow 1 "chrun 'pacman -S ${inpkg[*]} $NEWSHELL --needed --noconfirm'"
+	# check that packages were trying to install are available, slow as shit
+	# but I'm done doing this manually every time the arch repos change
+	for pkg in "${inpkg[@]}"; do
+		if pacman -Qq $pkg >/dev/null 2>&1 || pacman -Ssq "^$pkg$" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+			goodinpkg+=("$pkg")
+		else
+			echo "package missing or no longer available: $pkg -- ignoring"
+		fi
+	done
+	chrun "pacman -S ${goodinpkg[*]} --needed --noconfirm" 2> "$ERR" 2>&1
+	errshow 1 "chrun 'pacman -S ${goodinpkg[*]} --needed --noconfirm'"
 
 	# bootloader packages
 	if [[ $BOOTLDR == 'grub' ]]; then
@@ -2077,6 +2086,9 @@ install_packages()
 		chrun "pacman -S ${KERNEL}-headers virtualbox-guest-utils virtualbox-guest-dkms --needed --noconfirm"
 	fi
 
+	chrun "pacman -Syyu --noconfirm" 2> "$ERR" 2>&1
+	errshow 1 "chrun 'pacman -Syyu --noconfirm'"
+
 	return 0
 }
 
@@ -2215,7 +2227,7 @@ install_mirrorlist()
 	if hash reflector > /dev/null 2>&1; then
 		if [[ $AUTO_MIRROR ]]; then
 			reflector --verbose --connection-timeout 2 --threads 10 \
-				--latest 150 --age 24 --score 75 --sort rate --fastest 6 --save /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist
+				--latest 200 --age 24 --score 75 --sort rate --fastest 6 --save /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist
 		else
 			reflector --verbose --connection-timeout 2 --threads 10 "${MIRROR_COUNTRY[@]}" \
 				--latest 100 --age 24 --score 50 --sort rate --fastest 6 --save /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist
@@ -3284,7 +3296,9 @@ errshow()
 	local txt
 	txt="\nCommand: $cmd\n\n$(errmsg)\n\n"
 	tput cnorm
+
 	if (( fatal )); then
+		read -re -p $'\nAn error occurred.. Press [Enter] when ready to continue to error dialog'
 		dialog --backtitle "$DIST Installer - $SYS - v$VER" --title " Install Error " --yes-label "Abort" --no-label "Continue" \
 			--yesno "${txt}Errors at this stage must be fixed before the install can continue.\n$_errchoice\n" 0 0 || return 0
 		[[ -r $DBG && $TERM == 'linux' ]] && less "$DBG"