Leer en inglés Editar

Compartir vía


Install Windows Server from installation media

Elija la versión del producto:

Learn how to create a bootable USB drive or DVD that can be used to install Windows Server on your devices. Creating a Windows Server installation media is a crucial step in setting up a new server or upgrade from an existing one. This article aims to guide you on how to create installation media and install Windows Server using either the Server Core or Desktop Experience install options.

Prerequisites

Setup media for the target version of Windows Server can be obtained from Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), Retail, Visual Studio subscription, and the Volume Licensing Service Center (VLSC) channels. Your device must also not be running in Azure. If you want to install Windows Server in Azure, see Quickstart: Create a Windows virtual machine in the Azure portal. The following are required before installing Windows Server:

  • Hardware

    • Your device must meet or exceed the minimum hardware requirements. To learn more, see Hardware requirements for Windows Server.
    • A minimum of an 8 GB USB flash drive.
    • An optical drive capable of burning a DVD+/-RW dual-layer disk.
    • A dual-layer 8.5 GB DVD.
  • Software

    • Determine which version of Windows Server is appropriate for your environment. To learn more, see Comparison of Windows Server editions.
    • Make sure you have a valid product key or subscription license for your product. Product keys and activation methods might vary depending on the distribution channel you received Windows Server media from, such as a Commercial Licensing program, Retail, or OEM.

Nota

For users who desire to install Windows Server in a virtual environment through Windows Hyper-V, the minimum RAM requirements differ. To learn more, see the Hardware requirements for Windows Server components tab.

Create a bootable USB flash drive

Generally, creating a bootable USB drive can be performed using the diskpart.exe utility. An alternative to manually preparing your USB drive, users can run the following PowerShell script to make the USB drive bootable. The Windows Server installation ISO file must be mounted before running this script. To mount the ISO file, perform the following steps:

  1. Locate your Windows Server installation ISO file.

  2. Right-click on your ISO file and select Mount.

Mounting the ISO file creates a virtual optical drive, with its own drive letter, where users can migrate the ISO contents to their USB drive.

Once you plug in your USB drive, it should provide you with a drive letter. Once you know the drive letter of both the USB drive and mounted ISO, run one of the following scripts. Each script accounts for three retries before skipping over to the next set of files.

This script makes your USB drive bootable in NTFS format.

PowerShell
# Select USB drive letter
$usbDriveLetter = Read-Host "Enter USB drive letter (Ex: E)"

# Format USB drive
Format-Volume -DriveLetter $usbDriveLetter -FileSystem NTFS -NewFileSystemLabel "WinServerUSB" -Confirm:$false | Out-Null

# Select ISO file mount point
$isoMountPointDriveLetter = Read-Host "Enter ISO mount point drive letter (Ex: F)"

# Copy ISO files to USB drive
$source = "$($isoMountPointDriveLetter):\"
$destination = "$($usbDriveLetter):\"
robocopy $source $destination /COPYALL /Z /E /SEC /R:3 /W:3

# Make USB drive bootable
$usbDriveNumber = (Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_DiskDrive | Where-Object {$_.InterfaceType -eq "USB" -and $_.DeviceID -like "*$usbDriveLetter"}).Index
bootsect /nt60 $usbDriveLetter | Out-Null

# Task completion notification
Write-Host "Copy operation complete"
Start-Sleep -Seconds 2

Create a bootable DVD

  1. Insert a dual-layer 8.5 GB DVD into your optical drive.
  2. Locate your Windows Server installation ISO file.
  3. Right-click on your ISO file and select Burn disc image.
  4. The Windows Disc Image Burner wizard prompts you to select which Disc burner drive you'd like to use.
  5. Select the appropriate drive and then select the Burn button.
  6. This step is optional, but recommended to ensure that data integrity is verified against any errors or discrepancies between the burned disk and the original ISO image. Select the Verify disc after burning checkbox to detect any differences.

Configure BIOS settings

Before you can install Windows Server via USB or DVD, the computer's boot order in the BIOS must be changed to ensure that the system boots from either the USB or DVD. Accessing the BIOS can vary depending on your hardware. In most cases, you can access the BIOS by pressing a specific key while your device boots. Typically, the key is either F2, F10, F12, or Delete. Refer to the user manual for your device. On certain hardware, once POST completes, there's a short window allowed for accessing the BIOS. You might need to repeatedly press one of the keys as soon as POST completes.

Once you're in the BIOS settings, navigate through the menus until you see the Boot Order or Boot Sequence option. Refer to the user manual for your device to locate this setting. Once you select the boot order setting, you can edit the boot order priority based in top-down order. Move booting from the USB or optical drive to the top of the list depending on which media installation method you're using. Once appropriate changes are made, save and exit from the BIOS. Your device reboots automatically in applying these changes.

Install Windows Server

Once modifications are made to the boot order and you select to boot from either the USB or DVD drive, follow these steps to install Windows Server.

  1. Plug in your USB drive or DVD into your optical drive, then reboot your device.

  2. Once your device boots, you're prompted to press any key to boot from your installation media.

  3. Under Select language settings, select your language, time and currency format, then select Next.

  4. Under Select keyboard settings, select your keyboard language, then select Next.

  5. Under Select setup option, select Install Windows Server, select I agree everything will be deleted including files, apps, and settings, then select Next.

  6. Under Choose a licensing method, select the option that best serves your environment, then select Next:

    1. Use a product key - This option is for users who have an OEM, Retail, or Volume License (VL) key. If this license type is selected, proceed with the next steps.

    2. Pay-as-you-go - This option is for users who desire to use their Azure subscription license. This option is only available for Windows Server 2025 and has its own set of prerequisites. If this license type is selected, see Set up Windows Server Pay-as-you-go to continue the installation process.

  7. Under Select image, select your Windows Server version, then select Next.

  8. Under Applicable notices and license terms, review the software terms, then select Accept.

  9. Under Select location to install Windows Server, select the disk which you want to install Windows Server, then select Next.

  10. Under Ready to install, select Install.

  11. Once your device reboots a few times, the License terms appear. Select Accept to proceed.

  12. Under Customize settings, provide a complex password for the Administrator account, then select Finish.

  13. Once you log into the Administrator account, review the Send diagnostic data to Microsoft information, then select Accept.

  1. Plug in your USB drive or DVD into your optical drive, then reboot your device.
  2. Once your device boots, you're prompted to press any key to boot from your installation media.
  3. Under Microsoft Server Operating System Setup, select your language, time and currency format, keyboard language, then select Next.
  4. On the next screen, select Install now.
  5. Under Activate Microsoft Server Operating System Setup, enter your product key, then select Next.
  6. Under Select the operating system you want to install, choose the appropriate version per your license, then select Next.
  7. Under Applicable notices and license terms, review the terms. Tick the checkbox to accept the terms, then select Next.
  8. Under Which type of installation do you want?, select Custom: Install Microsoft Server Operating System only (advanced).
  9. Under Where do you want to install Windows?, select an empty drive, then select Next.
  10. Once your device reboots, under Customize settings, provide a complex password for the Administrator account, then select Finish.

Nota

To manage and configure your Windows Server Core environment, you have the option of using the Server Configuration tool (SConfig). To learn more, see Administer a Server Core server and Configure a Server Core installation of Windows Server and Azure Local with the Server Configuration tool (SConfig).

See also