11/25/21, 6:19 AM [SOLVED] GPT Parition / UEFI Boot Issues - Windows Server - Spiceworks

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GPT Parition / UEFI Boot Issues

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dashbarron

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Sep 17, 2019 at 10:18 PM

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I have a PowerEdge T440 that I'm trying to load Windows Server onto.

I can't get it to boot with UEFI so I can have GPT. If I format the drive with exFAT and try legacy or UEFI it won't recognize the
drive.

If I format it as NTFS and legacy it will boot. Except then my partition is limited to 2TB. I don't think I want to just extend the
partition after OS install via the disk manager...?

I feel like this is a really simple problem but can't seem to figure out how to get this to recognize the drive and get the partitions
I need.

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Best Answer

Serrano
michaelsteely2
Sep 18, 2019 at 8:41 PM
This is what it should look like in Rufus. You can't change some of the options until you have a USB device selected and an ISO
selected. You can boot using NTFS just fine as long as secure boot is disabled.

We encourage you to read our updated PRIVACY POLICY and COOKIE POLICY.
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11/25/21, 6:19 AM [SOLVED] GPT Parition / UEFI Boot Issues - Windows Server - Spiceworks

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11/25/21, 6:19 AM [SOLVED] GPT Parition / UEFI Boot Issues - Windows Server - Spiceworks

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Datil

EminentX

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Sep 17, 2019 at 10:33 PM
What error do you get?
Have you burned the ISO using Rufus? If yes, Did you choose "GPT partition scheme for UEFI computer" option?
Although Rufus selects the right options for the ISO and most of the times you don't need to change the options.

Serrano
michaelsteely2
Sep 17, 2019 at 10:34 PM

If you have the ISO downloaded, then download Rufus and set it to GPT, UEFI, and NTFS. Rufus work rather well for these kinds
of task. You may have to disable secure boot for this to work also.

We encourage you to read our updated PRIVACY POLICY and COOKIE POLICY.
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Thai Pepper

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11/25/21, 6:19 AM [SOLVED] GPT Parition / UEFI Boot Issues - Windows Server - Spiceworks

Tim_Myth

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Sep 17, 2019 at 10:42 PM

Is AHCI enabled in the BIOS?

Jalapeno

AlesKapl

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Sep 17, 2019 at 10:54 PM

At first... ExFAT is not bootable file system, this is the reason why you don't see it when you boot from installation media.

Second... If you only format partition to NTFS, you probably have your hard drive configured as Legacy with MBR, so your
partition can be max. 2TB.

You must run DISKPART, then select your disk and erase all his configuration with CLEAN command. Then you can configure
your disk as GPT and create new partitions.

When you enable UEFI and disable Legacy boot, then installation process automatically configure your hard drive as GPT. Only
one thing you must do is clean your hard drive configuration with DISKPART before you run installation wizard.

Good Luck

Jalapeno
dashbarron
Sep 17, 2019 at 11:00 PM

EminentX wrote:

What error do you get?

Have you burned the ISO using Rufus? If yes, Did you choose "GPT partition scheme for UEFI computer" option?
Although Rufus selects the right options for the ISO and most of the times you don't need to change the options.

I tried Rufus. After selecting the ISO, it auto selects NTFS and that's the only option it gives.

Jalapeno
dashbarron
Sep 17, 2019 at 11:02 PM

michaelsteely2
We encourage wrote:you to read our updated PRIVACY POLICY and COOKIE POLICY.

If you have the ISO downloaded, then download Rufus and set it to GPT, UEFI, and NTFS. Rufus work rather well for these
×
kinds of task. You may have to disable secure boot for this to work also.

Can't choose the option.

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11/25/21, 6:19 AM [SOLVED] GPT Parition / UEFI Boot Issues - Windows Server - Spiceworks

Jalapeno
dashbarron
Sep 17, 2019 at 11:05 PM

AlesKapl wrote:

At first... ExFAT is not bootable file system, this is the reason why you don't see it when you boot from installation media.

Second... If you only format partition to NTFS, you probably have your hard drive configured as Legacy with MBR, so your
partition can be max. 2TB.

You must run DISKPART, then select your disk and erase all his configuration with CLEAN command. Then you can configure
your disk as GPT and create new partitions.

When you enable UEFI and disable Legacy boot, then installation process automatically configure your hard drive as GPT. Only
one thing you must do is clean your hard drive configuration with DISKPART before you run installation wizard.

Good Luck

Trying to figure out what you mean. Maybe I'm confusing my USB media type with what I need for my hard drive space? This is a
brand new install. I've never touched it before, but when loading my USB with the server ISO on it for the first time, it
automatically partitioned out the drive space. I guess I'm confused about the chicken/egg scenario here....?

Understand that the exFAT isn't bootable, but I thought the NTFS is what is limiting me?

Datil

MCEStaff

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Sep 18, 2019 at 12:14 AM

McMurray Computer Experts is an IT service provider.

dashbarron wrote:

Trying to figure out what you mean. Maybe I'm confusing my USB media type with what I need for my hard drive space? This
is a brand new install. I've never touched it before, but when loading my USB with the server ISO on it for the first time, it
automatically partitioned out the drive space. I guess I'm confused about the chicken/egg scenario here....?

Understand that the exFAT isn't bootable, but I thought the NTFS is what is limiting me?

It's a little hard to follow where you're having difficulty.

You have bootable media made? You're able to boot from it in Legacy mode but not in UEFI mode. Is that what it boils down to?

With the BIOS set for UEFI, secure boot turned off, if the system doesn't boot from your installation media, try pressing F12 so
that you can manually select the installation media (labelled something like: UEFI USB HDD).

UEFI We encourage
firmware
partition.

you
will not boot fromtoNTFS
read or our
exFATupdated PRIVACY
partitions (or POLICY
EFS or either and COOKIE
for that matter). It will onlyPOLICY.
boot from a FAT32 ×
Said FAT32 partition will just contain boot code that boots an actual OS from another partition.

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Datil

MCEStaff

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Sep 18, 2019 at 12:20 AM

McMurray Computer Experts is an IT service provider.

If I format the drive with exFAT and try legacy or UEFI it won't recognize the drive.

This is where the confusion starts. Which drive are you talking about formatting? A USB install media or the Windows C: drive?

If I format it as NTFS and legacy it will boot. Except then my partition is limited to 2TB.

Do you get the Windows installer to boot? Why are you manually formatting the drive? The installer should do that for you.

Mace

adrian_ych

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Sep 18, 2019 at 4:49 AM
Windows Server expert
55 Best Answers
320 Helpful Votes

Which OS are you installing that will need a 3TB or larger partition ?

Then you need to probably understand why people usually create a 100GB or 150GB boot partition instead of a 3TB or larger boot
partition and store data in the same partition as the OS.

- Usually split into c:\ (OS) and d:\ (Data)

- Usually when we have a need to re-install OS, the OS partition will need to be formatted away....that will wipe off all data in that
partition.

Tabasco
Chris (Dell)
Sep 18, 2019 at 3:38 PM

Brand Representative for Dell

Dashbarron,
We encourage you to read our updated PRIVACY POLICY and COOKIE POLICY. ×
If you follow this link it will provide a video walkthrough of installing Windows Server 2016 with UEFI mode, as well as this link
for 2019 with UEFI mode.

Let me know how it goes.. 

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11/25/21, 6:19 AM [SOLVED] GPT Parition / UEFI Boot Issues - Windows Server - Spiceworks

Serrano
Best Answer
michaelsteely2
Sep 18, 2019 at 8:41 PM
This is what it should look like in Rufus. You can't change some of the options until you have a USB device selected and an ISO
selected. You can boot using NTFS just fine as long as secure boot is disabled.

Jalapeno
dashbarron
Sep 19, 2019 at 5:11 PM

I did NOT make this clear, I'm sorry and apologies to everyone.

I took a little bit of everyone's advice. I looked at the manual (THANKS Chris!)and saw it didn't have generic boot checked. So I
unchecked that, and remade the disk as a NTFS with Rufus (I had before). It kicked through and the drive booted Windows this
time. Not 100% if it was the generic boot, or I had clicked the wrong thing with Rufus before...?
We encourage you to read our updated PRIVACY POLICY and COOKIE POLICY. ×
My confusion was based around the server not booting from the installation media while in UEFI mode. I thought it had something
to do with how the flash drive was formatted. Or I had that erroneous server setting checked.

Thanks for all the feedback. Spice saves me again.

Edited Sep 19, 2019 at 5:30 PM

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