New Build, OS Won't take. Ubuntu/Windows Install Fails.

cjhusband

Reputable
Mar 1, 2015
3
0
4,510
Hello,

I'm hoping someone with more experience than myself can shed some light onto my situation. Here is the background. I've just built a new pc. AMD Athlon 5350, MSI AM1I Mini ITX Mobo, 4 Gb Crucial Ballistix Sport. The hard drive is a salvaged Seagate 1.5 TB, freshly formated on a functioning pc.

So, built it up without any issues, tidied my wires, was really pleased with it. Loaded the latest stable Ubuntu (14.10) onto a thumb drive using Linux Live USB Creator. Here's where things got screwy. Trying to boot to the drive caused no end to my misery, but I was finally able to work through and get it going. USB connectivity seemed to drop from time to time, only remediated with a restart. Eventually, I was able to get the installation going, but ran into what I can only describe as a freeze somewhere between 65 and 75%. This occurred each time I tried.

To start trouble shooting I tried to install via DVD Rom. This resulted in the same issues. So I ruled out USB connectivity issues. Next I tried a different hard drive, brand new, bought solely assuming that was my issue. This was tried via USB and DVD install. Same results. Now I know it wasn't the hard drive.

Assuming it was a bad download of Ubuntu, I tried again, got a fresh copy, and made a USB and DVD. Same results. So maybe there is an issue with my build and Ubuntu, perhaps windows will work. I picked up a copy and tried that.... Different OS, same results, during the installation, it freezes, or at least stops progressing, then tells me there was an issue and restarts.

At my ropes end I pulled the hard drive, and connected it to my other PC. Installed windows this time without issue. Definitely not the drive. Once complete, I pulled the drive again, and put it back in the new build. I booted it up, and after the windows logo, that blue screen saying there was an error, and restart.

So. Whats going on? I've done everything I can think of. Do I have a bad MOBO? RAM? Power Supply perhaps?

Thanks in advance, you guys are my last hope.
 

cjhusband

Reputable
Mar 1, 2015
3
0
4,510
So... Kept reading on here and found a post suggesting swapping the RAM DIMM... did that.... booted up with request for repair or restart. Restarted... Now looking at a log on screen. Amazing. I don't understand why DIMM 2 allowed it to work, but not DIMM 1.... Any ideas?

Short story, swapped Ram from DIMM 1 to DIMM 2... solved issue.

Thanks TH GURUS!!!
 

Dogsnake

Distinguished
Well you put a stick of memory in the slot and it does not work, then you move the memory to the next slot and it works. So my guess is something is going on with the slot. If it is a physical defect you can inspect the slot to see if there are any irregularities in it's appearance as compared to the other slot. But other than that no. My guess is based on your trial and error findings.