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Cannot boot the System to USB Device to install Windows* Server 2016

Content Type: Install & Setup   |   Article ID: 000028940   |   Last Reviewed: 07/19/2021

Environment

Operating System

WindowsServer2016

Description

Server will not boot from any Universal Serial Bus (USB) flash drive with Windows* Server 2016 installer. It just halts with a blinking cursor in the upper-left corner. Specific BIOS settings are configured. 

Resolution

Ensure BIOS/Firmware of the board is version R0038 at least.

On previous firmware versions, the workaround is to make sure that the Quiet Boot option in BIOS is enabled:

  1. Press F2 when system POST to enter the system BIOS.
  2. Go to Main menu.
  3. Enable Quiet Boot.
  4. Save and exit.

Additional information

Quiet Boot is disabled in the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS).
Boot Mode is EFI Optimized.
NIC PXE 1GbE Option ROM is Disabled.
AHCI Capable SATA Controller is set to RAID ESRT2 Mode.

There's a conflict between PXE 1GbE Option ROM and Quiet Boot. Once they are both disabled, the system can't boot properly when it has a USB flashdrive installed.