[Installation Crash] PC hard shuts off during Installation, no error

[pluto256]

TL;DR: Tried installing Windows 7, but midway through the installer just shuts down the PC without any error or warning.

I recently got a Sun Microsystems Ultra 20 Workstation. I wanted to install Windows 7 on it, considering that it's old but modern and I feel that it would be a perfect fit. I made an installation USB using WoeUSB, a Linux tool to make modern Windows installation USBs. I booted off of the USB, and hit "Install now". After it copied the files, it just powered off. No fans, no monitor output. All that was left was a light on the case that indicated it was still running, despite it not. I tried multiple times, and at some points it would do it in the middle of the partition wizard. I have reset the BIOS as well, seeing if it was a problem. I turned off the option that enabled the PC to shut off upon high temperatures, but that wasn't the problem.

I decided to try other operating systems, and it turns out that FreeBSD had no problems installing, although many drivers were missing. On Ubuntu, any version past 14.04 had kernel panics in installation and "hardware errors". 14.04 Server edition worked fine, surprisingly. I even installed Windows XP to make sure that a Windows version did in fact work, and it did.

SPECS:
- AMD Opteron 152
- NVIDIA Quadro FX [Not sure what Model Num.]
- 4GB of total memory
- Multiple USB ports that have worked out of the box on WinXP
- More info is on my user profile

Is there something that I'm doing wrong? Is there any more info I can provide?

Thanks,
pluto256

P.S. I am new here, if there's anything in this thread I did that I should do differently, please let me know.

 

[TechnoMage2016]

Wrong? That's hard to say, without actually being there, but you're definitely making that USB stick differently than I do.


Once I get the ISO, downloaded to my desktop, for a new OS, I use the latest (Beta) version of "Rufus" set to "MBR and Bios", to burn the ISO to the USB stick. Then I boot up my PC with the USB stick and proceed with the install.
That's still fresh in my mind, since I did it just yesterday. It worked like a Champ!


So far, I've done the same thing, with various OS's, with never a problem.


Give it a try.


Cheers mate!
TechnoMage

 

[Megahertz07]

Weelcome to the Forum

Are you trying to install Wi 7 32 or 64 bits?
With 4G of memory I would install win 7 32 bits.

Any Win 7 install has all versions, that is, the Win7_HomePrem also has Home Basic, Pro and Ultimate. All you have to do is to rename \sources\ei.cfg

 

[TechnoMage2016]

Just a quick question....why would you install Ultimate instead of Professional?


Any benefit?

 

[pluto256]

Hey there, thanks for responding. I do apologize for my late response just now, as I've been sleeping during the day recently.

Are you trying to install Wi 7 32 or 64 bits?

I am attempting to use 64-bit Windows 7, as the processor is one of the Earlier Opterons that do indeed support x86-64.

Once I get the ISO, downloaded to my desktop, for a new OS, I use the latest (Beta) version of "Rufus" set to "MBR and Bios", to burn the ISO to the USB stick. Then I boot up my PC with the USB stick and proceed with the install.
That's still fresh in my mind, since I did it just yesterday. It worked like a Champ!

I will try that next. My reason for trying to use WoeUSB (which has worked in the past) is the lack of free space on my only other windows machine. But I will definitely try Rufus next and see the results.

Just a quick question....why would you install Ultimate instead of Professional?

I actually was installing Professional since it was the ISO I actually had and the only one I have a legitimate product key for.

Thanks again,
pluto256

 

[pluto256]

I followed the instructions and got the same result, unfortunately. I got to "Expanding files..." And it just shut off.
I'm not sure what else to do.

Regards,
pluto256

 

[Megahertz07]

Try Win 7 32 bits
Win7_HomePrem_SP1_English_x32.iso

And 64Bits
Win7_HomePrem_SP1_English_x64.iso

To make it universal (HB, HP, Pro and Ultimate) rename \sources\ei.cfg

eicfg_removal_utility.zip

 

[pluto256]

Try Win 7 32 bits
Win7_HomePrem_SP1_English_x32.iso

And 64Bits
Win7_HomePrem_SP1_English_x64.iso

To make it universal (HB, HP, Pro and Ultimate) rename \sources\ei.cfg

eicfg_removal_utility.zip

I will try the 32 bit version soon and give my results. Thank you for sharing these images with me.

 

[pluto256]

Same thing happened on x86. I wasn't even able to get to the disk management screen.

 

[pluto256]

I decided to install Windows XP 32-bit then start the EXE file on the Windows 7 x86 installation disk. It started and then rebooted, where it got to around 70% on expanding files when it just shut down on me like all the other times. It lasted way longer, but in the end got the same result.

 

[Megahertz07]

I would say you have a hardware problem. It can be a power supply or a damaged CPU or anything else.

 

[2W10]

Try manually installing Windows 7 with the command line.

Get to the partition screen, and then delete all of them. Then exit out of the setup.

You should be at this screen:

When you get to that screen, hold the Shift key, then press F10.

You will see a command prompt.

Now enter these commands
diskpart
sel disk 0
convert gpt
create part efi size=500
format fs=fat32 quick
assign letter w
create part primary size=######
format fs=ntfs quick
assign letter c
exit
cd /d D:\sources
dism /apply-image /imagefile:install.wim /index:1 /applydir:C:\
bcdboot C:\Windows /s W:
regedit

Once you have opened the Registry Editor, click on "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE", then click on File > Load Hive.

Go to C:/Windows/System32/config and click on Software. Name the hive SOFT. Do the same again but click on System and instead of calling it SOFT call it SYS.

Now go to this key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFT/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Policies

Click on "System"

Right-click, then click on DWORD (32-bit) value.
Rename it to "VerboseStatus" (without the quotes). Double click on it and set the value to 1. Now double click on EnableCursorSuppression and set the value to 0. Now go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYS and click on Setup. Double click on CmdLine and rename it from oobe/windeploy to cmd.exe.

Exit out of regedit and type in wpeutil reboot.

Windows will reboot, Now boot from the hard drive.

When you see a command prompt. type in oobe/windeploy.

When it is done, type in "net user /add name" without quotes and type in your name.
Type in "net localgroup /add users name" and type in your name.
Do the same with "net localgroup /add administrators name"
Type in regedit and go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM and click on "Setup". Double-click on "OOBEInProgress" and set the value to 0. Set "SetupType" to 0 also. Also set "SystemSetupInProgress" and set the value to 0. Exit out of regedit and type in exit in the command prompt. Windows will take you to the login screen. You will see a similar login process to Windows Server 2008 R2. Hope this helped. Lemme know if you have any questions.

These videos might help you:
YouTube

 

[pluto256]

I would say you have a hardware problem. It can be a power supply or a damaged CPU or anything else.

I don't believe so, as other OSes such as FreeBSD did not have problems with the PSU.

Try manually installing Windows 7 with the command line.

I will try that with the instructions you specified below, though I may alter some of them to account for the lack of GPT support on my system. I will report back with results soon.

 

[pluto256]

So when attempting to convert the internal disk to MBR, it mentioned that it wasn't convertible. Soon after, the PC powered off.

 

[2W10]

Try making a Windows 7 virtual machine on another computer and imaging it onto your other computer. You will need to have an external hard drive and a flash drive.
Make a VM, and give it about 15 GB and 1 GB of ram. Then,
Once you have set up and installed Windows 7 on the VM, install Macrium Reflect on it.
Now connect the USB and external hard drive to the Windows 7 VM.
Click on “Other Tasks”, then Create Rescue Media. Click on your external usb. If it doesn’t let you, you will need to create an iso and put the rescue media on the USB with Rufus. Once you have that set up, click on “Image this disk”. Store it on your external hard drive. Now make the image. Once you have done that, go to your other computer and boot from the USB. Also connect your external hard drive. You will see a boot screen similar to Windows Vista. Once Reflect has opened on your Windows PE session, click “Browse for an image file”. Click on your “mrimg” file. Macrium will now deploy the Windows 7 image. Now reboot your machine. Windows 7 should be installed now. When you get to your desktop, extend your partition using Disk Management. Lemme know if you have any questions.

Edit: Assuming that you are using VMWare, if your VM doesn't detect your external hard drive or USB, you will need to install VMWare Tools, then create a Rescue Media ISO, and shrink the VM's partition to 7.5 GB, create a 7.5 GB partition, and backup your VM (not including the 7.5 GB partition) and store the backup on that 7.5 GB partition. Then you will need to copy the iso (usually located at C to your host from the VM. Copy the ".mrimg" file from your 7.5 GB partition on your VM to your external hard drive. You will need to put the rescue media on the USB with Rufus on your host machine.
Videos that may help you:
YouTube

 

[pluto256]

Sorry for not replying for a while, I was busy with other stuff. I will do what 2W10 said and post results when I am finished.

 

[pluto256]

I give up. It shut down on the recovery USB. I even tried burning a DVD with a Windows 7 Image on it and it's no hope. It just shuts down.

 

[2W10]

Your other options would be attempting to install Vista SP2 though you would need to install older versions of browsers or connect the hard drive to another machine and either manually install Windows 7 on that hard drive or apply the VM to that hard drive and then put that hard drive back into your machine. Or try installing Windows 8 or 10.

 

[pluto256]

Your other options would be attempting to install Vista SP2

Tried Vista just now on a DVD. Didn't even get to a GUI. I'm gonna try a drive transplant with 7 installed on said drive from my server. Wish me luck.

 

[pluto256]

I was going to do the drive transplant but I was unable to do so due to circumstances so I made a windows to go Vista drive with Rufus and booted it. Just rebooted after the startup loading bar every time. Think I'll give up.