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I'm trying to install Windows 10 from scratch on an old Dell machine for testing purposes. The machine meets the minimum Windows 10 specs.
I've tried creating a grub boot USB from Ubuntu Linux. The machine boots from USB, I can select the Windows I want to install (Windows 32 bit). I then see a loading files screen. When the loading files progress bar reaches the end, the machine reboots and I am stuck in that loop.
I've also tried a different installation medium - DVD from a different Windows Image - the 90 day Windows Enterprise evaluation available from MSDN (again, 32-bit version). The machine boots from the DVD drive, all the while showing the Windows logo. After about a minute the machine reboots and asks to boot from DVD again i.e a similar loop.
The only hard drive attached is a Linux formatted drive which has Ubuntu 15.04 installed on it. I plan to wipe that drive.
Its an older Dell machine which has a 3Ghz Intel CPU (p4 with HT) and 2GB Ram. It has a BIOS, not UEFI. I'm not expecting any kind of performance, I just want a test bed machine. I'm not interested in a virtualised install.
I do not believe this is related to a Win10 reboot issue which existing users saw after an update.
CPUInfo:
processor : 0
vendor_id : GenuineIntel
cpu family : 15
model : 3
model name : Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz
stepping : 4
microcode : 0x17
cpu MHz : 2992.539
cache size : 1024 KB
physical id : 0
siblings : 1
core id : 0
cpu cores : 1
apicid : 0
initial apicid : 0
fdiv_bug : no
f00f_bug : no
coma_bug : no
fpu : yes
fpu_exception : yes
cpuid level : 5
wp : yes
flags : fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss ht tm pbe constant_tsc pebs bts pni dtes64 monitor ds_cpl cid xtpr
bugs :
bogomips : 5985.07
clflush size : 64
cache_alignment : 128
address sizes : 36 bits physical, 32 bits virtual
power management:
codecowboy
Posted 2015-10-22T08:18:39.240
Reputation: 465
Do you have a windows box around? I got it running fine with the official tool to make an install usb, and that would rule out the grub boot usb being the issue. – Journeyman Geek – 2015-10-22T08:47:07.163
I could borrow one but it seems weird that I'm getting the power cycle using two different install mediums. I guess I could also create the boot image from a VM. Also, you may be using much better hardware. – codecowboy – 2015-10-22T09:26:47.710
Oh, I missed that you used a DVD. Wierd. hmm. What CPU is it, exactly? – Journeyman Geek – 2015-10-22T09:27:49.680
I dont know anything more than I already put in the question I'm afraid :( Pentium 4 with hyperthreading (tried disabling that in the BIOS, same result) – codecowboy – 2015-10-22T09:29:41.373
I know win 10 has some specific processor instructions it needs. Maybe the output of cat /proc/sysinfo from a Linux livedisk would be useful there. – Journeyman Geek – 2015-10-22T09:40:38.793
@JourneymanGeek is there a way to run the installer in some kind of verbose mode? – codecowboy – 2015-10-22T10:04:06.930
Not as far as I know. I typically end up trying multiple methods till one works. Typically upgrades from USB key work best for me, except when it dosen't. – Journeyman Geek – 2015-10-22T10:05:13.283
1AFAIK W10 doesnt work on platforms previous to LGA775, that being true this system isn't compatible. – Linef4ult – 2015-10-22T10:24:59.140
It is an LGA775. Wouldn't I get some kind of error rather than the machine just rebooting? – codecowboy – 2015-10-24T10:32:54.737