RPi3 ModelB crashing(?) on install

[Nyro]

Hi all,

I just bought a new RPi Model3B for a project im working on. I have run into an issue, which I havnt found in any forum yet, either I am bad at searching, or I'm doing something terribly wrong.

To the problem: I used, (yes I followed the video-setup-tutorial step-by-step), an 8gig-microSD, on which I moved the contents of the noobs v2_3_0-archive (unziped n everything ofc). When I insert this micro-SD into my RPi and launch it, I get into the menu where you can select what OS to install. When I select the standard one (or the lite version from network-install, tried both), after the install-progress-screen its suddenly reboots, and I end up in the menu again, where I can select whatever system I want to install.

- I tested the booting with a preinstalled microSD from a friends 3B, and there I can boot and login, so tahts not a problem.
- The rapsberry Pi is new, so it should technically work.
- The same behaviour occured with my SD-card on my friends RPi-3B
- I have tried 2 different microSD cards, same behavior on both

If anyone has an Idea wehre the issue could be, or if anyone needs other information, I'm happy for any help that I can get.
Regards
Nyro

[Ernst]

You have done a lot of testing but what you have not mentioned/checked is the power supply and the power supply cable.

[Nyro]

I mean, the powersupply is stable enough to boot on the other microSD-card, so I would figure that this would not be an issue.

[EDIT] I tried to attach a video to the main-post, either the file is to big or it got blocked(to be checked), if someone wants to see the tv-output.
[EDIT] https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwK0rx ... sp=sharing i uploaded the video on gdrive, you should be able to have a look at it

[Ernst]

You have already pointed at the problems yourself:
1) The SD card is faulty
2) The downloaded NOOBS image is faulty
3) The copy of NOOBS to the SD card failed

[Nyro]

You have already pointed at the problems yourself:
1) The SD card is faulty

Can try buying a new one (3rd one then...)

2) The downloaded NOOBS image is faulty

Where can I get an older version/how to fix it(?)

3) The copy of NOOBS to the SD card failed

I copied it over multiple times with formating of SD-card inbetween, so that should not be the problem

[Ernst]

2) The downloaded NOOBS image is faulty

Where can I get an older version/how to fix it(?)

faulty = damaged during download

You do not need an older version, you need to do a download from here:
https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/noobs/

[Nyro]

You do not need an older version, you need to do a download from here:
https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/noobs/

I already redownloaded it once, same issue... (like the video is with a already re-downloaded version)
I mean, I tried more or less all standard-fixes I was able to think off before I posted here. (Just informing)
[EDIT] What I might have forgot to mention is that I was able to install it on a RaspberryPi-2. What I could try is to set this up via the RPi-2 and then see if it runs on the RPi-3B (not sure if that works, since not quite the same hardware), but that would not remove the issue of it not being able to install on the RPi-3B

[Ernst]

What I noticed, assuming that you did not shorten the video, is that the crash happens before the image has been expanded on the card. This could point to problem with how you copied the files to the card.
Did you download the NOOBS or NOOBS Lite ?
Did you extract all the files and copied all the files and directories to the card ?

[Ernst]

You do not need an older version, you need to do a download from here:
https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/noobs/

I already redownloaded it once, same issue... (like the video is with a already re-downloaded version)
I mean, I tried more or less all standard-fixes I was able to think off before I posted here. (Just informing)
[EDIT] What I might have forgot to mention is that I was able to install it on a RaspberryPi-2. What I could try is to set this up via the RPi-2 and then see if it runs on the RPi-3B (not sure if that works, since not quite the same hardware), but that would not remove the issue of it not being able to install on the RPi-3B

There is no problem installing with the latest NOOBS using an RPi-2 and then boot the RPi-3B from that card. If the RPi-3B does not boot or crashes then you may have a faulty Pi.

[Nyro]

Video is original-length. I got the NOOBS from the link you put down earlier, not the lite-version. I used (winrar i think is standard on win7) and its extract-option, to extract right onto the sd-card. I also tried to drag-n-drop it right out of the archive, which extracts them too ofc (does it?).

[Nyro]

There is no problem installing with the latest NOOBS using an RPi-2 and then boot the RPi-3B from that card. If the RPi-3B does not boot or crashes then you may have a faulty Pi.

I thought of a faulty-Pi as well, but then i ordered a new one, same issue. So I gave up on that idea

[Ernst]

Video is original-length. I got the NOOBS from the link you put down earlier, not the lite-version. I used (winrar i think is standard on win7) and its extract-option, to extract right onto the sd-card. I also tried to drag-n-drop it right out of the archive, which extracts them too ofc (does it?).

I use unzip (http://www.info-zip.org/) to extract the files into a directory, then robocopy to the SD card.

[Ernst]

I tried to use the latest NOOBS 2.3 for an install but it got stuck, maybe because (for once) I did not format the card with SD Formatter 4 (https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter_4/). After formatting and extract with unzip directly to the card the installation with NOOBS took about (edit) 20 minutes or so on a Pi 0.

[Nyro]

I tried to use the latest NOOBS 2.3 for an install but it got stuck, maybe because (for once) I did not format the card with SD Formatter 4 (https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter_4/). After formatting and extract with unzip directly to the card the installation with NOOBS took about (edit) 20 minutes or so on a Pi 0.

well, then it can only be the unzipper... i will try several things and report back when I am successful/not sucessful. ty for help so far tho!

[HawaiianPi]

...
- I tested the booting with a preinstalled microSD from a friends 3B, and there I can boot and login, so that's not a problem.
- The raspberry Pi is new, so it should technically work.

Likely, but it's not a given. While defective Raspberry Pi computers are uncommon, they do exist. However, the fact that you can boot with your friend's card indicates your Pi is probably not defective.

- The same behaviour occurred with my SD-card on my friends RPi-3B
- I have tried 2 different microSD cards, same behavior on both.

This seems like an SD card problem. Were the 2 "different" cards the same make and model?

I'd say the most likely causes are:
1. Power supply.
2. Poor quality/defective SD cards.
3. Improper creation of the boot media (SD card), which may me due to bad downloads.

Have you verified the SHA-1 hash of the download? If not, then do that before going any further. If you are running Windows you can get a shell extension called HashCheck to verify all kinds of file checksums. Once the download has completed you right-click on the file and go to properties, where you will find a new Checksums tab. From there you can paste the hash you are looking to verify and see if it matches the calculated value.

The fact that you are rebooting when trying to write the SD card points to the power supply as the most likely culprit. Have you noticed the red LED turning off or blinking while you are booting or trying to install from NOOBS? When you had the same problem with your card in your friend's Pi, were you using your power supply?

If you had the same problem when using the same SD card in a different Pi with a different power supply, then it is most likely the SD card(s).

If all of the above checks out, then the problem must be in the creation of the SD card. Download and verify the Raspbian image instead of NOOBS, and use Etcher to write it to the SD card. You don't even need to extract the image file from the .zip with Etcher (it can write the image directly from the archive).

[Nyro]

1. Power supply.
2. Poor quality/defective SD cards.
3. Improper creation of the boot media (SD card), which may me due to bad downloads.

Have you verified the SHA-1 hash of the download?

The fact that you are rebooting when trying to write the SD card points to the power supply as the most likely culprit. Have you noticed the red LED turning off or blinking while you are booting or trying to install from NOOBS? When you had the same problem with your card in your friend's Pi, were you using your power supply?

If all of the above checks out, then the problem must be in the creation of the SD card. Download and verify the Raspbian image instead of NOOBS, and use Etcher to write it to the SD card. You don't even need to extract the image file from the .zip with Etcher (it can write the image directly from the archive).

So I tried again today, downloaded Etcher and the RaspbianLite image (dont need the full). Check-sum was fine. before I used etcher i did a full-erase-format thingy with proper settings on the MicroSD.
The RaspberryPi ends up in a circle of constantly rebooting again. I noticed a yellow electricity-symbol, and the red LED blinked once, right before the RPi restarted a new.. "cycle". The powersupply I use is my phone-charger. Should I assume that the power is the issue? (idk if the yellow thingy is enough power or not-enough power)

[Nyro]

So I put the MicroSD into my Pi-2 and it had no troubble booting there. I assume the power then actually IS the issue. I am confused tho, since the phone-charger I use is totally fine and I dont know how to supply more power to the RPi-3 otherwise (I can try the gpio-power-pins I guess)

[Nyro]

So, its running now, using a 11.1V 2.4mAh battery (with a regulator inbetween ofc).
It seems like the power was the issue, but I still cannot explain why on one SD-Card it would still boot with the same power-supply, as it doesnt on this other one (different sd-card-brands, i will not make any guesses on why its workin with one, but not the other), but for now, my problem is solved. Ty for help!

[HawaiianPi]

One of the problems with using phone (or tablet) chargers is that charging phone batteries does not require very precise voltage regulation, and as a result, some chargers have poor regulation. I have tested chargers rated a 5V/2.4A that dropped to 4.5V at only a 1A load. That will still charge your phone, but it won't run a Raspberry Pi3. Your charger is probably one of the ones with poor voltage regulation.

Another possible issue is that micro-USB cables often have thin wires with too much resistance to deliver the kind of power a Pi3 needs. The USB 2.0 specification is 500mA (0.5A), so that's all many USB 2.0 cables are designed to deliver. Check your micro USB cables to see if they have markings on them, and if they have anything like 28AWG/24AWG? You'll want something with at least 24AWG for the power wires, and preferably lower (lower AWG=fatter wires).

I posted a thread about some of my favorite micro-USB cables a while back. Best Micro USB cables.

The reason it may seem to work sometimes and not others would be dependant on how much current is required. Often power supplies with poor regulation will output less voltage at higher current loads. NOOBS installing Raspbian will use more power than a pre-imaged Raspbian card. Different SD cards may have different power requirements. A Pi2 requires less power than a Pi3, etc.