I'm trying to set up Windows 11 on a Dell Poweredge server and am encountering a problem. After I attach the ISO through the virtual media and select the boot option for the virtual CD-ROM, I receive a message prompting me to "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD." However, right after that, it displays a "Boot failed: Virtual optical drive" error. Interestingly, when I tested with a Linux ISO (Rocky Linux 9.6), it booted without any issues. I even attempted to re-download the Windows 11 ISO, but the problem persists. Just to note, I'm using iDrac 9 with a Poweredge R6615 for this setup.
5 Answers
Honestly, I'm curious why you're installing Windows 11 on that server. Is this a home lab project you're working on? Just makes me wonder if there's a more suitable OS for that hardware.
I second the EFI mode check! And yes, make sure the ISO is the right version for your hardware, as some versions of Windows 11 are geared toward specific platforms.
Have you checked if your server's boot mode is set to UEFI? That can often cause issues with Windows 11 ISOs not booting correctly. Also, ensure that the ISO file is not corrupted—sometimes re-downloading doesn’t solve the issue if there was a problem with the original file.
You should definitely be booting in UEFI mode for Windows 11. If that's set and you're still having issues, double-check that Secure Boot is disabled, as that can also interfere with the installation.
By the way, did you actually press any key when prompted? Sometimes the simplest things can be overlooked, so just double-check that.
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