Can't install OS on this server board

[bvcderrttyyhjjjk]

Ok, so I am asking for a bit of help because I am basically losing my mind. I have this problem that doesn't make any sense to me, despite being decently experience with PC building and troubleshooting.

Here's what's going on: a few days ago I bought an Intel Server motherboard with two LGA1366 sockets (Intel® Server Board S5520UR) because I had two paired LGA1366 Xeons lying around and I was trying to build a cheap 8 core machine just for fun. This motherboard does have its issues, having some bent pins on both sockets. That being said, I was surprised to find out that it work absolutely fine, it boots, POSTs without any issues. I put a 2GB stick of RAM in the first memory slot and it worked no problem.

I then booted into a Win7 install disc to install the OS. Everything still fine. Installed it no problem, but then... it just hangs and "Completing installation". No way to make it go past that.

I looked for possible fixes, here's all the things I did:
- I tried rebooting and it says I need to reinstall because there is an error.
- I tried reinstalling with mouse and keyboard unplugged.
- I tried installing on a different hard drive.
- I tried opening CMD and forcing it to start explorer.exe, but it just froze at something like "setting web preferences".
- I tried using regedit to change the install completion status.
- I tried installing with only 1 CPU installed.

Then I tried to run regedit from the install disk screen, forced all the install values and argument line to zero. This somewhat worked, as I was able to get to Win7's login screen, but then it just entered me into a light blue screen that did nothing, because it couldn't "prepare my desktop".

At this point I was quite frustrated and tried installing a trial version of Windows Server 2008 r2, the install seemed to work fine. The computer rebooted, and then it got stuck in a screen that says "preparing your desktop".

Still nothing. I am seriously quite baffled at this situation because it doesn't make sense to me. I thought I would have problems getting it to POST or be stable, as these things were my main problems last time I was trying to repair a damaged socket. But the computer seems just fine and then I can't get it to finaliza a windows install. I just don't get it.

If anyone has any insight on this whole thing, please do let me know, because as I stated this is driving me insane. Thanks.

 

[R_1]

did you load the SATA driver during windows install. it may not be seeing the drives and cannot install to them

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/18667/S5500-Based-Server-AHCI-SATA-Storage-Driver-for-Windows-

 

[mbarnes86]

Hi

what version of Windows 7?
( home or pro or ultimate)
Home only supports single processor

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows7/products/system-requirements

Try booting from Hirens Boot CD and testing RAM (Memtest86)
then stressing the PC to see the CPU#s are running correctly (you mentioned bent pins in the CPU sockets)

http://www.hiren.info/pages/bootcd

I presume the hard disk is SATA, server boards may have several hard disk controllers with SATA & SAS so a different SATA controller port may work (probably not relevant in this case)

Is CPU & RAM used one of types listed in Intel specs?
http://www.intel.com/content/dam/support/us/en/documents/motherboards/server/s5520ur/sb/e44031012_s5520ur_s5520urt_tps_r1_9.pdf

regards
Mike Barnes

 

[bvcderrttyyhjjjk]

in response to R_1: I did not, but is that relevant? I mean, in the windows install the drive gets properly detected, and the install almost finished, so I assumed it was not a drive issue...

in respone to mbarnes86: I am trying to install Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit. And then like I said I also tried Windows Server 2008 r2, but a similar problem occurred. The processor is a Xeon E5620 and it is listed as tested for the board. I am not sure about the ram, it is a spare 2GB stick pulled from a pre-build HP computer that was running on LGA1156, so it should be about contemporary to the platform; then again, it gets properly detected during POST, and gives no apparent issues. Like I said previously, I tend to doubt this is a SATA drive problem, as the install works fine until it gets to "completing installation". I will try the utilities you suggested and update on what happens with it.

 

[bvcderrttyyhjjjk]

Update: I tried running a Memtest86+ test and it gave me no errors.

Edit: when I use regedit to circumvent the final stages of the installation I am able to log into safe mode and it works fine. When I try to boot in the regular OS though, when I log in I get a light blue screen with nothing on it but my mouse. Also, while in this situation I can't open a command prompt with shift+F10, but I can ctrl+alt+del, although task manager will sot start even if I click on it.

 

[bvcderrttyyhjjjk]

So here's an update with the solution, should anyone run into a similar problem.

The way to solve a frozen Windows install on this configuration is to:

- Start the Windows install
- When it freezes at "completing installation", use Shift+F10 to bring up the command prompt
- Type in "regedit"; this will bring up the registry edit window. Use it to change all the installation values to 0 (you can find detailed guides on this on the internet)
- Reboot, you will get to a broken Windows login screen.
- Reboot again, but do so in Safe mode with networking.
- Create a Administrator account from there. Also download and install all the latest network, chipset and SATA drivers.
- Start the Windows installation again, format your drive and install it. It should now work, or at least it did for me.