Solved Computer abruptly shuts off while installing

[Uniquekind]

I'm having a very frustrating issue while installing a genuine copy of Windows 7 Home Premium on a gaming rig I just built. After the first reboot during the install the computer abruptly shuts off when the screen says "Updating Registry."

System Specs:
Intel 2.93GHz i7 875k (Stock Speed)
Asus Maximus Formula III Motherboard (Already flashed latest bios)
16GB (4x4GB) DDR3 G.Skill Ripjaw @ 1600MHz
768MB Gigabyte Nvidia GeForce GTX 460 (Stock Speed)
2x Corsair Nova 32GB SSD in Raid0 for OS
WD 320GB SATA HDD
CoolerMaster V8 CPU Fan/Heat Sink
OCZ Stealth XStream 600w Power Supply

I have tried the install multiple times on the Raid0 setup, then just on one of the 32GB SSD's, then on the 320GB HDD (Which was the same drive I had this copy of windows installed on before the upgrades, and it worked fine.)

All bios settings were updated properly for each harddrive install.

Proper Raid drivers were loaded for the install. I even tried using the JMicron SATA controller instead of the Intel P55 controller.

Memory test shows no issues on full boot tests. Also tried memory at 1333MHz.

I am worried it is either an overheating issue, or a power issue. At idle in bios for 30 minutes the CPU ran between 31.5-35 degrees Celcius.

I am using Tuniq TX-4 thermal compound which was very difficult to spread on the cpu as it stuck to the spreading applicator that came with it. The stuff is rediculously thick. I ended up with a far too transparent layer, so i just left a line across the middle of the processor and then attatched the cooler. This was to replace the stock thermal compound that came with the CoolerMaster V8 which was running at the same temps.

The motherboard recommends a 650w powersupply, but I figure loading windows is not a very heavy load for the PSU.

Also, I worked with a ESD wristband while handling and installing ALL parts.

I have been going crazy trying to figure this out, spent a full day researching the issue, spent an hour with Microsoft support, with ASUS support conferenced in... still no luck.

I'd appreciate any help or suggestions. This is my first custom build since an AMD Athlon 750MHz I built 10 years ago... I'm starting to lose faith in myself now.

--Nick

 

[gregrocker]

Try removing all but 2gb of RAM to run install. This is the most common problem with even 4gb RAM and 16gb is a lot of RAM.

Next try breaking the RAID to install with only one HD plugged in. We see a lot of problems here with RAID installs so that has to be looked at.

I'd try each controller, first set to AHCI mode, then if install fails try IDE mode.

If you have used HD, then wipe it first with Diskpart: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91339-ssd-hdd-optimize-windows-reinstallation.html

 

[Uniquekind]

I just tried it with 4GB of ram and the same thing happened, although this time it shut off right before it would have said "Updating Registry." I have already tried the harddrives all seperately, with those bios settings.

<edit> I just followed the link you posted, and I will try that in the morning.

Thanks for your quick response earlier. I appreciate the help.

--Nick

 

[theog]

Try using default setting in BIOS.
If you have a lower grade Video card give that one a go.

 

[gregrocker]

Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS

 

[Uniquekind]

The only settings I have changed in the bios are the ones for raiding the harddrives. I've tried a single SSD and HDD on default settings already to no avail. This is why I think it is either a power or cpu issue. I'm just wary to drop $100 for an 800w power supply for that to not be the issue. I have an older NVidia GeForce 9800 GTX I'll try swapping in, but that was fairly power-hungry in its day too.

Thanks for the suggestions. Hopefully I'll get this thing into windows. Getting tired of looking at the bios :shock:

--Nick

<edit> I just put in the older videocard in and tried to start the system in safe mode incase the installer already had drivers for the othercard installed.
The system hung while loading disk.sys, then abrupty shut down.
I assume this means it is still a harddrive issue its running into, and not power then?

 

[gregrocker]

What is your SATA controller setting. Can you disable the one SATA controller to try the other in AHCI mode, then IDE mode. Then disable the other one and try install in each mode with the first controller.

This suggestion was made in a previous post and not responded to. It is hard to help when you don't report back step-by-step.

First I would clear the CMOS to try install at baseline before trying the settings changes.

 

[Uniquekind]

I cleared the cmos, then tried the intel controller in each configuration, with the Jmicron controller disabled. I have already tried all drives through the Jmicron controller, so I didn't try that again. Same results every time, it powers off while loading disk.sys. I've also tried a different 4GB stick of ram to make sure it wasn't a bad stick.

 

[gregrocker]

Did you try each controller in both AHCI and IDE modes?

What other SATA controller modes do each offer?

 

[Uniquekind]

The Intel controller offers Raid, AHCI, and IDE. Tried them all.

Jmicron offers AHCI and IDE, with a "raid" support as Speedy HDD.

I tried everything but AHCI in the Jmicron controller since I reset the cmos.

What is bothering me is that I want nothing to do with the Jmicron controller, it isn't as good as the Intel controller, and the whole goal of this system was to use the P55 chipset for raid0 with 2 SSDs. So even if I can only get windows installed on the Jmicron chip, it will still only be one drive on the controller I didn't want to use.

 

[Uniquekind]

Solved.

After much frustration, I finally was able to correct the issue, which was actually very simple, and now I feel relatively stupid...

The motherboard has an 8-pin cpu power connector with a factory cover over half the pins. I found no documentation in the manual about it, so I figured they were covered for a reason. Finally this morning I said to hell with the cover and plugged in the other 4-pin connector... and windows finshed installing on the first reboot.

I then changed the settings in the bios to raid on the Intel chipset, and reinstalled Windows without a single hiccup.

I feel like it was a very stupid error on my part, but I was playing it safe on the build since it has been so long since my last build.

I appreciate all the help you guys offered, especially gregrocker. It sounds like I may have annoyed you a bit, and I apologize. I wasn't in the best state of mind through a week of failure with this build.

Thanks again for your efforts.

--Nick

 

[gregrocker]

Glad you got it up and running. Let us know if there is anything else we can help you with.