windows server 2019 install from usb

Hi,

Are you able to provide the blue screen stop codes? 

Can you try using 2.1. Using the LifeCycle Controller in this article: https://dell.to/3edJCau if it helps.

Hi Joey

T40 has no LifeCycle controller.

What other options we have?

Regards

Hi @Steve Bungay,

You are right. That passed my thought on T40 ability. Seems to be quite straight forward installation with OS media. 

Are you having issues? What OS are you trying to install? T40 seems to be limited to only few OS. 

Hi Joey

I am trying to install Windows Server 2019 and it has become a nightmare. 

The Server does not recognise UEFI NTFS USB key without legacy media selected. Once we install using legacy media option, it does not boot from hard drive.

BIOS has very limited options and almost all advise on forums is either incomplete or misleading e.g. may experts do not know that T40 does not come with Lifecycle controller.

Dell support has spent more than 8 hours so far without any success. 

It will help if you can give me step by step instructions on how to create media, specifically the formats because I understand the USB can be recognised only when formatted FAT32.

Regards

Hi,

Could you let me know more about how you create the OS media? Are you using Rufus? If it's Rufus, the partition scheme is GPT and target system is UEFI non-CSM right? And the file system is FAT32 (as default)? Can you give me a screenshot of the media creation settings that you have used.

What is the server's BIOS settings on Advance Boot Options?

The WIM file is too large for FAT32, so you have to split it.

1. Mount ISO by double-clicking it in Windows.
2. Run the following command to split the install.wim file:

dism /Split-Image /ImageFile:e:\sources\install.wim /SWMFile:k:\sources\install.swm /FileSize:4096

-Assumes E: is your mounted ISO
-K: is the location where you will copy the SWM files (split WIM file)

3. Run diskpart.exe, then the following commands:

select disk 1 (assumes disk 1 is your flash drive, 'list disk' to be sure!)
clean
create partition primary
active
format fs=fat32 quick
assign
exit

4. Run the following command to copy all the install files except the WIM file (which is too large), this will take several minutes to complete:

echo install.wim > list.txt | xcopy f:\*.* /s/e/f /exclude:list.txt d: | del list.txt

5. Run the following command to copy the SWM files to the installation flash drive:

copy K:\sources\*.swm F:\sources

-Assumes K: is still the location where you saved the SWM files.
-Assumes F: is the letter assigned to your flash drive.

You can usually use Rufus, but it has been pretty hit/miss for me.

Hi Joey

Sorry, just saw it.

When I created the disk using GPT - UEFI non CSM setting, it was not recognised when I used UEFI setting with External Legacy media disabled.

One of the posts stated that there is some firmware issue and FAT 32 is recognised. I then created a USB with FAT32, MBR, UEFI Non CSM, NTFS. This showed up during the boot. The installation however did not proceed with error message - UEFI:NTFS "Could not locate '\efi\boot\bootx64.efi': [14] Not Found

Next time, I created another disk with the above and it is not showing in boot sequence.

Other tried options GPT - UEFI non CSM with Legacy Boot enabled. This allows installation but after installation, does not boot from the hard drive. I have to keep the USB inserted. It then boots from hard disk.

Regards

Hi @Steve Bungay,

Thanks for the installation methods that you have tested. So it seems that Rufus's GPT UEFI non CSM works with Legacy boot enable but you need to keep the USB attached. What if you change the boot list to UEFI back after installing on Legacy boot enable?

Are you able to try using FAT32 with GPT UEFI non CSM?

Found someone writing a guide to create USB media for installation: https://dell.to/3eM9r0t

Hi Joey,

See below:

What if you change the boot list to UEFI back after installing on Legacy boot enable? Does not boot and Goes to F1,F2, F5 Options screen

Are you able to try using FAT32 with GPT UEFI non CSM? Does not boot and Goes to F1,F2, F5 Options screen

I had screen the article you mention. Also tried option NTFS with MBR UEFI non CSM. It does not work.

Only FAT 32 is recognised when Legacy Boot is not selected.

Hi Joey,

When I remove USB, system does not boot and I get to the screen with F1, F2 and F5 options.

I created a disk with FAT32 and GPT, it was not recognised and I got to the screen with F1, F2 and F5 options.

Now, USB with FAT32, MBR and UEFI Non CSM is not recognised. See below the log for this USB creation. See if it helps. 

I am sure there is some small step that is missing.

Rufus x86 v3.11.1678
Windows version: Windows 10 64-bit (Build 18363.959)
Syslinux versions: 4.07/2013-07-25, 6.04/pre1
Grub versions: 0.4.6a, 2.04
System locale ID: 0x0409 (en-US)
Will use default UI locale 0x0409
SetLGP: Successfully set NoDriveTypeAutorun policy to 0x0000009E
Localization set to 'en-US'
Found USB 2.0 device 'Generic Flash Disk USB Device' (058F:6387)
1 device found
Disk type: Removable, Disk size: 8 GB, Sector size: 512 bytes
Cylinders: 1014, Tracks per cylinder: 255, Sectors per track: 63
Partition type: MBR, NB Partitions: 1
Disk ID: 0x00B62833
Drive has a Rufus Master Boot Record
Partition 1:
Type: NTFS (0x07)
Size: 7.8 GB (8341422080 bytes)
Start Sector: 2048, Boot: Yes

Format operation started
Requesting disk access...
Will use 'G:' as volume mountpoint
Deleting partitions (This may take a while)...
Deleting ALL partition(s) from disk '\\?\PhysicalDrive3':
● Partition 1 (offset: 1048576, size: 7.8 GB)
Opened \\.\PhysicalDrive3 for exclusive write access
Analyzing existing boot records...
Drive has a Rufus Master Boot Record
Clearing MBR/PBR/GPT structures...
Erasing 128 sectors
Initializing disk...
Partitioning (MBR)...
● Creating Main Data Partition (offset: 1048576, size: 7.8 GB)
Closing existing volume...
Waiting for logical drive to reappear...
Formatting (FAT32)...
Using cluster size: 65536 bytes
Slow format was selected
Creating file system...
Format completed.
Writing Master Boot Record...
Partition is already FAT32 LBA...
Set bootable USB partition as 0x80
Using Windows 7 MBR
Found volume \\?\Volume{1427817e-c967-11ea-814f-3417ebdc8b2e}\
Waiting for access on \\?\Volume{1427817e-c967-11ea-814f-3417ebdc8b2e} [\Device\HarddiskVolume20]...
Opened \\?\Volume{1427817e-c967-11ea-814f-3417ebdc8b2e} for exclusive write access
Writing Partition Boot Record...
Using FreeDOS FAT32 partition boot record
Confirmed new volume has a primary FAT32 boot sector
Setting primary FAT32 boot sector for boot...
Confirmed new volume has a secondary FAT32 boot sector
Setting secondary FAT32 boot sector for boot...
Successfully remounted \\?\Volume{1427817e-c967-11ea-814f-3417ebdc8b2e}\ as G:
Copying DOS files...
Successfully wrote 'G:\COMMAND.COM' (66945 bytes)
Successfully wrote 'G:\KERNEL.SYS' (46685 bytes)
Successfully wrote 'G:\LOCALE\DISPLAY.EXE' (3651 bytes)
Successfully wrote 'G:\LOCALE\KEYB.EXE' (11446 bytes)
Successfully wrote 'G:\LOCALE\MODE.COM' (16244 bytes)
Successfully wrote 'G:\LOCALE\KEYBOARD.SYS' (40360 bytes)
Successfully wrote 'G:\LOCALE\KEYBRD2.SYS' (29750 bytes)
Successfully wrote 'G:\LOCALE\KEYBRD3.SYS' (32178 bytes)
Successfully wrote 'G:\LOCALE\KEYBRD4.SYS' (13105 bytes)
Successfully wrote 'G:\LOCALE\EGA.CPX' (6464 bytes)
Successfully wrote 'G:\LOCALE\EGA2.CPX' (7059 bytes)
Successfully wrote 'G:\LOCALE\EGA3.CPX' (5469 bytes)
Successfully wrote 'G:\LOCALE\EGA4.CPX' (4431 bytes)
Successfully wrote 'G:\LOCALE\EGA5.CPX' (7217 bytes)
Successfully wrote 'G:\LOCALE\EGA6.CPX' (7409 bytes)
Successfully wrote 'G:\LOCALE\EGA7.CPX' (5387 bytes)
Successfully wrote 'G:\LOCALE\EGA8.CPX' (6973 bytes)
Successfully wrote 'G:\LOCALE\EGA9.CPX' (5785 bytes)
Successfully wrote 'G:\LOCALE\EGA10.CPX' (5543 bytes)
Successfully wrote 'G:\LOCALE\EGA11.CPX' (7228 bytes)
Successfully wrote 'G:\LOCALE\EGA12.CPX' (8119 bytes)
Successfully wrote 'G:\LOCALE\EGA13.CPX' (6281 bytes)
Successfully wrote 'G:\LOCALE\EGA14.CPX' (7758 bytes)
Successfully wrote 'G:\LOCALE\EGA15.CPX' (6458 bytes)
Successfully wrote 'G:\LOCALE\EGA16.CPX' (7793 bytes)
Successfully wrote 'G:\LOCALE\EGA17.CPX' (8929 bytes)
Successfully wrote 'G:\LOCALE\EGA18.CPX' (5158 bytes)
Windows KBID 0x00000409
Will use DOS keyboard 'us' [US-English]
Will use codepage 437 [US-English]
Successfully wrote 'AUTOEXEC.BAT'
Finalizing, please wait...
Created: G:\autorun.inf
Created: G:\autorun.ico
Successfully remounted \\?\Volume{1427817e-c967-11ea-814f-3417ebdc8b2e}\ as G:

Found USB 2.0 device 'Generic Flash Disk USB Device' (058F:6387)
Using autorun.inf label for drive G: 'FAT32'
1 device found
Disk type: Removable, Disk size: 8 GB, Sector size: 512 bytes
Cylinders: 1014, Tracks per cylinder: 255, Sectors per track: 63
Partition type: MBR, NB Partitions: 1
Disk ID: 0x00DB982F
Drive has a Windows 7 Master Boot Record
Partition 1:
Type: FAT32 LBA (0x0c)
Size: 7.8 GB (8341422080 bytes)
Start Sector: 2048, Boot: Yes
Found USB 2.0 device 'Generic Flash Disk USB Device' (058F:6387)
Using autorun.inf label for drive G: 'FAT32'
1 device found
Disk type: Removable, Disk size: 8 GB, Sector size: 512 bytes
Cylinders: 1014, Tracks per cylinder: 255, Sectors per track: 63
Partition type: MBR, NB Partitions: 1
Disk ID: 0x00DB982F
Drive has a Windows 7 Master Boot Record
Partition 1:
Type: FAT32 LBA (0x0c)
Size: 7.8 GB (8341422080 bytes)
Start Sector: 2048, Boot: Yes
Found USB 2.0 device 'Generic Flash Disk USB Device' (058F:6387)
Using autorun.inf label for drive G: 'FAT32'
1 device found
Disk type: Removable, Disk size: 8 GB, Sector size: 512 bytes
Cylinders: 1014, Tracks per cylinder: 255, Sectors per track: 63
Partition type: MBR, NB Partitions: 1
Disk ID: 0x00DB982F
Drive has a Windows 7 Master Boot Record
Partition 1:
Type: FAT32 LBA (0x0c)
Size: 7.8 GB (8341422080 bytes)
Start Sector: 2048, Boot: Yes
Scanning image...
ISO analysis:
Image is an UDF image
Disk image analysis:
Image does not have an x86 Master Boot Record
ISO label: 'SSS_X64FREV_EN-US_DV9'
Size: 4.7 GB (Projected)
Has a >4GB file
Uses: EFI
Uses: Bootmgr (BIOS and UEFI)
Uses: Install.wim (version 0.13.1)
Using image: SW_DVD9_Win_Server_STD_CORE_2019_1809.1_64Bit_English_DC_STD_MLF_X22-02970.ISO (4.7 GB)

Format operation started
Requesting disk access...
Will use 'G:' as volume mountpoint
Deleting partitions (This may take a while)...
Deleting ALL partition(s) from disk '\\?\PhysicalDrive3':
● Partition 1 (offset: 1048576, size: 7.8 GB)
Opened \\.\PhysicalDrive3 for exclusive write access
Analyzing existing boot records...
Drive has a Windows 7 Master Boot Record
Clearing MBR/PBR/GPT structures...
Erasing 128 sectors
Initializing disk...
Partitioning (MBR)...
● Creating Main Data Partition (offset: 1048576, size: 7.8 GB)
Closing existing volume...
Waiting for logical drive to reappear...
Formatting (NTFS)...
Using cluster size: 4096 bytes
Quick format was selected
Creating file system...
Format completed.
Writing Master Boot Record...
Set bootable USB partition as 0x80
Using Rufus MBR
Found volume \\?\Volume{1427817e-c967-11ea-814f-3417ebdc8b2e}\
Disabling file indexing...
Opened \\?\Volume{1427817e-c967-11ea-814f-3417ebdc8b2e} for exclusive write access
Writing Partition Boot Record...
Using Standard NTFS partition boot record
Confirmed new volume has an NTFS boot sector
Successfully remounted \\?\Volume{1427817e-c967-11ea-814f-3417ebdc8b2e}\ as G:
Extracting files...
Image is an UDF image
Extracting: G:\autorun.inf (128 bytes)
Extracting: G:\boot\bcd (16 KB)
Extracting: G:\boot\boot.sdi (3 MB)
Extracting: G:\boot\bootfix.bin (1 KB)
Extracting: G:\boot\bootsect.exe (105.5 KB)
Extracting: G:\boot\en-us\bootsect.exe.mui (16 KB)
Extracting: G:\boot\etfsboot.com (4 KB)
Extracting: G:\boot\fonts\chs_boot.ttf (3.5 MB)
Extracting: G:\boot\fonts\cht_boot.ttf (3.7 MB)
Extracting: G:\boot\fonts\jpn_boot.ttf (1.9 MB)
Extracting: G:\boot\fonts\kor_boot.ttf (2.3 MB)
Extracting: G:\boot\fonts\malgun_boot.ttf (173.9 KB)
Extracting: G:\boot\fonts\malgun_console.ttf (80.6 KB)
Extracting: G:\boot\fonts\malgunn_boot.ttf (171.0 KB)
Extracting: G:\boot\fonts\meiryo_boot.ttf (142.5 KB)
Extracting: G:\boot\fonts\meiryo_console.ttf (89.6 KB)
Extracting: G:\boot\fonts\meiryon_boot.ttf (140.5 KB)
Extracting: G:\boot\fonts\msjh_boot.ttf (161.8 KB)
Extracting: G:\boot\fonts\msjh_console.ttf (199.2 KB)
Extracting: G:\boot\fonts\msjhn_boot.ttf (158.6 KB)
Extracting: G:\boot\fonts\msyh_boot.ttf (153.6 KB)
Extracting: G:\boot\fonts\msyh_console.ttf (95.3 KB)
Extracting: G:\boot\fonts\msyhn_boot.ttf (150.9 KB)
Extracting: G:\boot\fonts\segmono_boot.ttf (43.9 KB)
Extracting: G:\boot\fonts\segoe_slboot.ttf (84.3 KB)
Extracting: G:\boot\fonts\segoen_slboot.ttf (84.0 KB)
Extracting: G:\boot\fonts\wgl4_boot.ttf (48 KB)
Extracting: G:\boot\memtest.exe (968.3 KB)
Extracting: G:\boot\resources\bootres.dll (90.5 KB)
Extracting: G:\bootmgr (398.5 KB)
Extracting: G:\bootmgr.efi (1.4 MB)
Extracting: G:\efi\boot\bootx64.efi (1.4 MB)
Extracting: G:\efi\microsoft\boot\bcd (16 KB)
Extracting: G:\efi\microsoft\boot\cdboot.efi (1.1 MB)
Extracting: G:\efi\microsoft\boot\cdboot_noprompt.efi (1.1 MB)
Extracting: G:\efi\microsoft\boot\efisys.bin (1.4 MB)
Extracting: G:\efi\microsoft\boot\efisys_noprompt.bin (1.4 MB)
Write error [0x00000015] The device is not ready.
Retrying in 5 seconds...
Write error [0x00000015] The device is not ready.
Retrying in 5 seconds...
Write error [0x00000015] The device is not ready.
Retrying in 5 seconds...
Write error [0x00000015] The device is not ready.
Error writing file: [0x00000015] The device is not ready.

Found USB 2.0 device 'Generic Flash Disk USB Device' (058F:6387)
1 device found
Disk type: Removable, Disk size: 8 GB, Sector size: 512 bytes
Cylinders: 1014, Tracks per cylinder: 255, Sectors per track: 63
Partition type: MBR, NB Partitions: 1
Disk ID: 0x00F3DA16
Drive has a Rufus Master Boot Record
Partition 1:
Type: NTFS (0x07)
Size: 7.8 GB (8341422080 bytes)
Start Sector: 2048, Boot: Yes

Format operation started
Requesting disk access...
Will use 'G:' as volume mountpoint
Deleting partitions (This may take a while)...
Deleting ALL partition(s) from disk '\\?\PhysicalDrive3':
● Partition 1 (offset: 1048576, size: 7.8 GB)
Opened \\.\PhysicalDrive3 for exclusive write access
Analyzing existing boot records...
Drive has a Rufus Master Boot Record
Clearing MBR/PBR/GPT structures...
Erasing 128 sectors
Initializing disk...
Partitioning (MBR)...

I had seen the article and tried an option from there as well. This issue seems to be something peculiar to firmware. I have tried both Windows Server 2016 and 2019. By now, I would have spent more than 30 hours trying different things. Only once I could make the server recognise USB with Legacy Boot not selected i.e. FAT32, MBR and UEFi Non CSm but it threw error bootx64.efi not found, which actually was there. I have tried three different disks and different ports.

Hi,

Thanks for the logs from Rufus. I would imagine the time taken for you to test all the configuration that is available and not getting to install the OS properly. I've spoken to Mohammed, the agent who is corresponding with you via email. Let him get on the call with you and check through what is the root cause and get it resolve soonest. 

Though, I saw in the logs that you posted from Rufus, it has some errors on writing. Is that the full logs from Rufus or just partial?

Hi Joey,

The record could be partial as there is a limit of 400000 characters. I have two full logs but not sure how to send it.

Regards

Hello @Steve Bungay,

Please, can you try upload the log to https://dell.to/3hlVEPJ
You can follow this instructions: Sending the Support Assist Collection and RAID Controller Log to SupportAssist File Upload Portal

Once the log is uploaded, please send a Private Message to Joey with the server Service Tag.

Regards.