Can not install Windows Server 2008 in VirtualBox

Hello,

I have MacBook Air and am using VirtualBox 3.1.4. For work, I need to install Windows Server 2008 on VirtualBox. I was able to create an ISO, and when I boot up 2008 from MacBook Air it shows the screen "Windows Is Loading Files", then another screen "Microsoft Corporation", and finally the blue screen of death that says, "The verification of a KnownDLL failed. system process terminated unexpectedly with a status oF 0xc000012f (0x0016f950 0x00000000). The system has been shut down"

I have tried to google and bing a solution, but it pertains to installing Windows Server 2008 on ACTUAL machines, not VIRTUAL machines.

Kindly point me in the right direction.

I hope my question was posted in the correct forum

First off, how did you create the ISO? Any difference if you install from a DVD?

Hello,

I created the .ISO from a data DVD given at work. Used Roxio Creator DE, selected "Save Image to Hard Drive". The .ISO file is about 2.5 GB.

Just now, I installed a trial version of VM Fusion 3 for Macs, and I get the exact type of error. Only difference is, in VM Fusion, they asked for the Windows Server 2008 serial number.

Please advise.

By the way, the MacBook Air does NOT come with a CD/DVD drive.

Sounds like something didn't get into the ISO correctly or is maybe corrupt. May take longer, but you might try sharing a CDROM with another Mac and using it if you have one available to see if it will install that way.

I'd say the copy-protection on the DVD is causing problems when converting it to a ISO file...

Try and get hold of a USB DVD drive and try that out.

I'd say the copy-protection on the DVD is causing problems when converting it to a ISO file...

Click to expand...

Right on. You can not install the server edition from a simple ISO. You need to check with your IT folks first. Windows server (any version) needs to be deployed properly especially when using a multiple license as you are obviously trying to do.

Regards.

Note: This thread moved to appropriate forum.

Hmmm.... I've done it so I am not sure why he is having problems. As far as I know there is no copy protection on Windows DVD/CDs. There is a multitude of ways to use the media and I have used ISO files to deploy virtual farms before including Server 2008.

Copying the media should work as long as the user has a valid legal key.

Copying the media should work as long as the user has a valid legal key.

Click to expand...

I initially didn't pick up on the VirtualBox install. I just read through the MS EULA on installing server editions. He can legally install it on his MacBook Air if he has a separate license, IOW if he has a valid PID for it, it should be OK.

However, trying to find out whether or not Windows server 2008 can even be installed to a VM is not very easy to find.

You say you've installed Windows server 2008 to a VM on your Mac or was that a PC running a virtual server?

Regards.

No, I am a VMWare ESXi Server admin (or I used to be) and have installed 2008 on VX Server virtual machines that are *nix based. I do know that some Virtual Machines can't support server versions and this could be the case as well. I have not played with VirtualBox so I can't say.

All of my MS disks simply state not to make "illegal" copies. I often make copies to use on different machines but all will have a valid license or a corporate volume license with them.

Wow, I appreciate all these responses. I will follow-up with the IT folks and get back to you either today, or Monday.

Thanks!

Hello,

The DVD given to me was a copy of the Windows Server 2008, and it has legal key. As a matter of fact, it is from the IT department.

I have tried installing the .ISO with in the following three environments:
1. On MacBook Air using Virtual Box, I get KnownDLL error.
2. On MacBook Air using VMWare Fusion, I get error about how CPU cannot support 64-bit ISO
3. On Windows XP workstation using VMPlayer, I get error about how CPU cannot support 64-bit ISO

Please point me in the right direction.

Bump!

Any replies? By the way, one of my co-workers suggested changing the BIOS settings, but I am unsure how to do this in Mac, or whether this is feasible. Any advice?

Sorry, a bit late getting back to you......

Mac computers do not use a BIOS per se. They use what is known as EFI, so that solution is out.

The errors you're getting now suggest to me that the version of VMWare Fusion you're using needs to be upgraded to the latest 3.X which does support a 64 Bit Kernel installation. You might want to give that a try.

See the following VMWare LINK.

Regards.

Hello,
I will try out this link. Please note, I may take some time getting back to this thread.
Thank you all for your assistance

You cannot use Windows 2008 R2 with Virtual Box as its 64 bit only. You need the 32 bit version of the original Windows 2008 to install on VBox.

Not true. Windows Server 2008 R2 will run just fine in VirtualBox. You can install 64-bit OSes in VBox no problem.

EDIT: See here for instance. It states that Windows Server 2008 R2, "Works, with Additions."

Hi,

It seems that I will have to install the Windows Server 2008 - 64 bit on Virtual Box.

I went to the link and it says "Work, with Additions." I presume they mean go to toolbar, click on "Devices", click on "Install Guest Additions". At what point do I do this during the installation? Because in the middle of installation, I get those errors.

Install the guest additions to VB before you begin the Windows install. Not during.

Cheers