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PowerEdge: How to install Windows Server 2016 and Windows Server 2019 on Dell AMD Rome and Milan based Servers.

Summary: This document outlines symptoms customers may encounter when installing Windows Server 2016 or 2019 on Dell PowerEdge servers with AMD Rome and Milan CPUs. The steps to successfully install Windows Server are detailed and provided below. ...

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.
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Instructions

Windows Server 2016 Installation

Symptoms:     
During OS installation, systems at the windows logo appear hung or results in a blue screen.

Issue 1: WS2016 does not support x2APIC mode.
Issue 2: Older WS2016 OS builds (earlier than build version 14393.1378) do not support IOMMU.

Solution:      
  1. Boot to System BIOS (F2).
  2. Go to the Processor Settings section.
Perform Steps 3 and 4 only if the system has 2 CPUs, each with 64 or more cores, totaling 128 physical cores or more). With 128 physical cores and above, Logical Processor must be kept disabled. Enabling Logical Processor enables x2APIC by default and results in a blue screen even after Windows Update.
  1. In the System's BIOS, disable the Logical Processor settings and save the settings.  
Dell BIOS Disable Logical Processor
Figure 1: Dell BIOS Disable Logical Processor.
 
  1. Reboot the System, Boot to System BIOS (F2) again, and go to Processor Settings section.
  2. In the System's BIOS, disable the x2APIC Mode setting.
  3. In the System’s BIOS, disable the IOMMU support setting. (This step can be skipped if using OS builds later than version 14393.1378 which carries the IOMMU Support.)
Dell BIOS Disable IOMMU & x2APIC Support
Figure 2: Dell BIOS Disable IOMMU and x2APIC Support.
 
  1. Save the settings and Reboot the system.
  2. Install WS2016 OS.
  3. Update Windows to the latest available update or make sure at minimum SSU KB4509091 (External Link) and CU KB4512495  (External Link) August 17, 2019 build 14393.3181 is installed.
  4. Reboot the System.
  5. Enable IOMMU support and Leave the x2APIC Mode disabled.
Dell BIOS Enable IOMMU Support
Figure 3: Dell BIOS Enable IOMMU Support.
 
  1. See the BIOS settings table for correct BIOS settings with different CPUs.
 
One Socket Server
CPU Logical Processor x2APIC Mode IOMMU Support
64C x 1 Enabled Disabled Enabled
32C x 1 Enabled Disabled Enabled
24C x 1 Enabled Disabled Enabled
16C x 1 Enabled Disabled Enabled
8C x 1 Enabled Disabled Enabled
 
Two Socket Server
CPU Logical Processor x2APIC Mode IOMMU Support
64C x 2 Disabled Disabled Enabled
32C x 2 Enabled Disabled Enabled
24C x 2 Enabled Disabled Enabled
16C x 2 Enabled Disabled Enabled
8C x 2 Enabled Disabled Enabled
Figure 4: BIOS Settings Table 
 

Note 1: X2APIC always must be kept disabled, clicking it on results in a system hang even after installing Windows Update.
 
Note 2: To mitigate Issue 2, make sure to be at minimum CU Microsoft KB KB4022723This hyperlink is taking you to a website outside of Dell Technologies. June 27, 2017 (build v14393.1378) is installed during step 9 in the above solution. 

See the linkThis hyperlink is taking you to a website outside of Dell Technologies. from Microsoft for more details.
 

Windows Server 2019 Installation

Symptom:      
The below symptoms may be observed during the WS2019 OS installation.

Issue 1: The system might appear hung at the windows logo during installation.
Issue 2: The keyboard and mouse will be dysfunctional after OS installation.
Issue 3: The system may lose network connectivity.
Issue 4: Blue screen may be observed.

Solution:      
  1. Boot to System BIOS (F2).
  2. Go to the Processor Settings section.
Perform Steps 3 and 4 only if the system configuration consists of 2 CPUs and 64 cores and above on each (total 128 physical cores and above).
  1. In the System's BIOS, disable the Logical Processor settings and save the settings.
Dell BIOS Disable Logical Processor
Figure 5: Dell BIOS Disable Logical Processor.
       
  1. Reboot the System, Boot to System BIOS (F2) again, and go to Processor Settings section.
  2. In the System's BIOS, disable the x2APIC Mode setting.
  3. In the System’s BIOS, disable the IOMMU Support setting.
Dell BIOS Disable IOMMU & x2APIC Support
Figure 6: Dell BIOS Disable IOMMU and x2APIC Support.
 
  1. Save the settings and Reboot the System.
  2. Install WS2019 OS.
  3. Update Windows to latest available update or make sure at minimum SSU KB4512937This hyperlink is taking you to a website outside of Dell Technologies. and CU KB4512534This hyperlink is taking you to a website outside of Dell Technologies. August 17, 2019 build 17763.720 is installed.
  4. Reboot the System.
  5. Go to System BIOS, enable Logical Processor, X2APIC Mode, and IOMMU Support.
Dell BIOS Enable Logical Processor, IOMMU, and x2APIC
Figure 7: Dell BIOS Enable Logical Processor, IOMMU, and x2APIC.


See the linkThis hyperlink is taking you to a website outside of Dell Technologies. from Microsoft for more details.

See Dell KB article 130134: Windows Server support and installation instructions for the AMD EPYC 7xx2 series of processors For more details

Affected Products

Microsoft Windows Server 2016, Microsoft Windows Server 2019, PowerEdge C6525, PowerEdge R6515, PowerEdge R6525, PowerEdge R7515, PowerEdge R7525
Article Properties
Article Number: 000186136
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 16 Apr 2025
Version:  5
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