Question Choosing motherboard for Win 2022 Server Standard

[bussreports]

I contacted Gigabyte to learn if the B550M DS3H AC Motherboard supports a Windows 2022 Server deployment, but rep replied it only supports Win 11.

I'm trying to build a new box that runs Win 2022 Server.

Can you suggest/recommend a motherboard brand that would support a 2022 Server Standard deployment?

Thanks!

 

[COLGeek]

Aside from the motherboard, what other components do you have it?

Just because Gigabyte doesn't support the OS doesn't mean you can't install Winserver. Have you actually tried installing it?

What will this server be used for?

 

[bussreports]

I'd like to deploy the server on my home network to connect to two clients so that I can start learning Windows 2022 Server.

I recently built a box with an MSI motherboard, PRO Z690-A WIFI DDR4, and while it supported the 2022 Evaluation edition, it does not support the Standard Desktop Experience. I made changes to the Boot order in BIOS to launch from a USB drive, but each time the install, while indicating it was progressing, would then just revert back to the beginning.

So now I'm trying to figure out, if I'm going to build a new box, which motherboard supports the 2022 Server Standard.

 

[USAFRet]

Have you considered VMs for this?

Thats the way I used to do it.

A Server and a couple of clients, all virtualized. No need for the physical boxes.

 

[bussreports]

I see. I'm running one Linux Ubuntu server and two Windows PC clients. So, run the virtualization on Ubuntu?

 

[USAFRet]

I see. I'm running one Linux Ubuntu server and two Windows PC clients. So, run the virtualization on Ubuntu?

I did it on Windows, but Linux would work as well.

I still use VMs, but not to the same extent as before.


The VMs allow you to tweak and mess with it, with no worry about having to reinstall if you go too far.

 

[bussreports]

Got it. I'm leaning towards building a new box; would you have a suggestion for a motherboard supporting Win 2022 Server?

 

[COLGeek]

Got it. I'm leaning towards building a new box; would you have a suggestion for a motherboard supporting Win 2022 Server?

I am guessing that the Standard Desktop Experience issue was a video driver issue, vice the motherboard. What GPU were you trying to use?

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/w...uirements?tabs=cpu&pivots=windows-server-2022

 

[bussreports]

The biggest issue during the install was the BIOS. I changed the boot order to make the USB drive the priority, but each time I saved the settings, BIOS displayed HDD-->USB as the order. Hence, the install would start, seemed to be progressing and then it reverted to the Server 2022 Eval desktop.

Also, I tried to run the Server 2022 Standard ISO executable from within the Eval OS to install on top of it, but that didn't work either.

Thanks for the link. I'll review it.

 

[COLGeek]

The biggest issue during the install was the BIOS. I changed the boot order to make the USB drive the priority, but each time I saved the settings, BIOS displayed HDD-->USB as the order. Hence, the install would start, seemed to be progressing and then it reverted to the Server 2022 Eval desktop.

Also, I tried to run the Server 2022 Standard ISO executable from within the Eval OS to install on top of it, but that didn't work either.

Thanks for the link. I'll review it.

Sounds like you may have missed a couple steps. Did you use something like Rufus to write the installation ISO to a USB drive?

 

[bussreports]

Yep, I used Rufus.

 

[COLGeek]

Yep, I used Rufus.

Did you download the ISO directly from MS?

Also, did you manually select the USB drive as the boot device, or just rely on the boot order to do so?

 

[bussreports]

I purchased the license through a MS solutions partner, Trusted Tech Team and downloaded the ISO link they provided.

I relied on the boot order.

 

[COLGeek]

I purchased the license through a MS solutions partner, Trusted Tech Team and downloaded the ISO link they provided.

I relied on the boot order.

Try manually selecting the USB drive and try again.

This will also verify that you created the ISO properly, if it works once selected.

Was the link they provided to a MS site, or elsewhere?

 

[bussreports]

The link took me to MS: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/download-windows-server-2022

I have to ask: how do I manually select the USB drive?

 

[COLGeek]

The link took me to MS: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/download-windows-server-2022

I have to ask: how do I manually select the USB drive?

For your motherboard, I believe you press F12 after powering one to bring up the boot device selection window.

 

[bussreports]

ok, I'll try it!

 

[bussreports]

Hey, so I installed Linux Ubuntu on the MSI box, and then installed Win 2022 Server as a VM, and all is working!!