Solved PC shuts off while finalizing Windows 7 Installation

[gwenzors]

Hello, I know this issue has been posted before but none of the solutions are working for me (that or I'm doing it wrong).

I'm building a new system using Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit (bought from my university's bookstore, not a burned .iso). At first, my computer powered off while I was installing Windows 7 on a fresh HDD (about 75% of the way through Step 2). Now I've gotten as far as installing Windows 7 and reaching the "Starting up Windows for the first time" screen, at which point my computer began freezing.

I read into the issue on these forums and saw that clearing the CMOS, changing the BIOS settings (specifically, changing the USB storage setting to "disabled"), removing USB devices during start-up, and swapping out an ATI graphics card had helped people. I've cleared the CMOS, bought a new Nvidia card with the intention of using it long enough to finish the install and then returning it, altered the BIOS settings, removing my USB mouse during startup, etc. None of these have worked for me, and now the computer is powering off entirely rather than just freezing. I've also tried the Windows 7 Startup repair utility to no avail--it claimed it found something, but when it rebooted I continued to have the same issue.

I have not tried updating the BIOS because my motherboard manual says I have to do that after the OS is installed (quite frankly, I don't know for sure how to do it before the OS is completely installed, either).

I think my system specs should show up on the left but, in case they don't, I'll make a list:

• Gigabyte GA-P55-USB3 LGA1156 mobo
• XFX Radeon HD4350 ATI video card/GALAXY GeForce 210 Nvidia video card
• Intel Core i5 750 Lynnefield 2.66GHz CPU
• ADATA 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 RAM
• Corsair CMPSU-750TX PSU
• WD Caviar Blue 640GB SATA HDD
• WD Caviar Blue 320GB SATA HDD
• Sony DVD/CD RW IDE Drive DRU-830A
• HTC XT-1264 Heatsink

I have some ideas about other potential causes for the issue, but I can't really be sure. For example, my heatsink was listed somewhere as a "universal" heatsink. When I got it I found out that it isn't supposed to be comptaible with LGA1156 slots, but I got it to fit anyway so I figured maybe it would be OK. It also doesn't seem as though the heatsink is loose. I don't know if Windows 7 starting up could be causing the CPU to overheat, but I'm not hearing any warning beeps or anything like that.

Any help would be very much appreciated.

 

[HonorGamer]

I thought through the installation process of windows the computer turns on and off by itself so it can make the changes, and configure/install quicker.

Correct me if i am wrong please.

Thanks,
Gamer

 

[gwenzors]

Well, yes, it does that, and it did that. But, it displayed a warning message before those "intentional" restarts and it came back on afterwards. In this case, the computer is just shutting off while trying to boot Windows 7 for the first time, and not starting back up again on its own. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[HonorGamer]

The only few things i can really think of is that it would be a hardware problem. Like the power supply is messing up, the computer itself is overheating. stuff like that.

 

[myzr7]

Welcome to SevenForums
Have you tried safe mode F8 to see if device manger will give a clue to the driver that is causing your problem. If that is the problem. Good luck to you.

 

[gwenzors]

HonorGamer: That's what I'm worried about with the heatsink, but the way it's shutting down isn't really typical for overheating (at least what I've seen). I have Hiren's Boot CD, so maybe I could test the hardware that way. Or, I was thinking about installing XP to see if that works and isolate it to a Windows 7 issue.

myzr7: Thanks! Yes, I have tried safe mode, but when I do I get an error message saying that Windows cannot complete the installation in safe mode.

 

[HonorGamer]

I don't think overheating can cause shutting down, just freezes. I threw that out there just because I could be wrong. It is possible that it could just be a windows 7 deal, so try and install XP and see what happens from there.

 

[Petey7]

I remember one user on here that had a similar problem for quit some time. If I remember correctly he solved his problem by installing 7 with only one stick of RAM installed and only one hard drive connected. If you have not tried those steps, please do so.

 

[HonorGamer]

That's kinda weird. Will 7 work on only 1 stick of RAM?

 

[Petey7]

Of course it will. Let the install finish then add the second stick of RAM. It's actually not that unusual for a computer to have only one stick of RAM actually.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello gwenzors, welcome to Seven Forums.



I imagine it's because you have the incorrect Heat-Sink-Fan and correcting that will sort the issue, if you haven't burned up the CPU in the mean-time and don't forget to re-do the thermal paste.

An over-heating CPU will shut down a PC.

 

[gwenzors]

I remember one user on here that had a similar problem for quit some time. If I remember correctly he solved his problem by installing 7 with only one stick of RAM installed and only one hard drive connected. If you have not tried those steps, please do so.

That sounds like it could be promising, I'll try it later tonight and post an update. Thanks!

 

[gwenzors]

Hello gwenzors, welcome to Seven Forums.



I imagine it's because you have the incorrect Heat-Sink-Fan and correcting that will sort the issue, if you haven't burned up the CPU in the mean-time and don't forget to re-do the thermal paste.

An over-heating CPU will shut down a PC.

As I feared... you're probably right. Removing a stick of RAM and disconnecting one of the hard drives didn't help. But, when I changed a BIOS setting to make the heatsink fan operate only at the highest speed, the problem changed from shutting down entirely to freezing. So I think you're right and that's the most likely issue. Thanks for the help!

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

You're welcome, I hope the CPU is still ok.

 

[gwenzors]

OK, some updates. Geez this has been crazy...

• I replaced the heat sink with a Corsair A50 (super nice!). Still had problems.
• I disconnected one of the HDDs (again) and was then able to complete the installation.
• I installed the drivers for my ATI card, thinking everything was OK, and switched out the Nvidia card I had installed with for the ATI card. Problems came back! (freezing/shutting off on startup)
• I reverted to the Nvidia card. Still no go. Windows startup recovery tool is citing bad drivers.
• Tried recovering from initial system restore points, no go.
• I changed a BIOS setting (HPET) to x64 as it had been set to x32.
• I removed my sound card (totally forgot I had one and it's super ancient) after reading that devices not certified for use with Windows 7 have been causing similar issues. Seems to have fixed the overall issue!

Now I'm working on getting my LAN connection to work (using an old Linksys hub, think maybe that's the problem?) and trying to get my other HDD that I had disconnected back into the game. So far that's causing a blue screen that disappears so fast I can't read it.

But the good news is that the install finished and my CPU isn't fried! Yay!

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

OK, some updates. Geez this has been crazy...

• I replaced the heat sink with a Corsair A50 (super nice!). Still had problems.
• I disconnected one of the HDDs (again) and was then able to complete the installation.
• I installed the drivers for my ATI card, thinking everything was OK, and switched out the Nvidia card I had installed with for the ATI card. Problems came back! (freezing/shutting off on startup)
• I reverted to the Nvidia card. Still no go. Windows startup recovery tool is citing bad drivers.
• Tried recovering from initial system restore points, no go.
• I changed a BIOS setting (HPET) to x64 as it had been set to x32.
• I removed my sound card (totally forgot I had one and it's super ancient) after reading that devices not certified for use with Windows 7 have been causing similar issues. Seems to have fixed the overall issue!

Now I'm working on getting my LAN connection to work (using an old Linksys hub, think maybe that's the problem?) and trying to get my other HDD that I had disconnected back into the game. So far that's causing a blue screen that disappears so fast I can't read it.

But the good news is that the install finished and my CPU isn't fried! Yay!

Hello again.

Sorry for not replying sooner but I've just seen this.


Good to see you got it running and the CPU is ok and thanks for the update