Problem reinstalling Xubuntu 16.04

[MR ZenWiz]

On Tue, Apr 4, 2017 at 5:38 PM, MR ZenWiz <mrzenwiz at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Tue, Apr 4, 2017 at 1:20 PM, Colin Law <clanlaw at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Also hit a key when it comes up with the initial screen right at the start
>> of booting from the install media and select the option to check the files
>> on the stick (can't remember exactly what words the option uses).
>>
> Will do.
>
> I ran the PROM memory and disk diagnostics - all went well.  I'm in
> the process of wiping the disk using the PROM program (v e r y  s l o
> w . . .).  When that's done, I'll do this, too.
>
No help.  The tests all passed just fine, but the install gets some
ways in and just stops.  It's not always in the same place, but it's
almost as if the machine got tired and decided to sleep.  It seemed to
get farther from a fresh boot than after running the diagnostics, so
maybe heat problem?

Is there a way to install Ubuntu on a disk in a running system for use
in a different system?  That feels like it would be worth a shot, but
I've never seen anything on how to do it.  (Haven't googled for it yet
- can't until later.)

Thanks.