I was installing Windows Server 2008 Enterprise x64 on Monday, and the installation kept bombing out with the following error message after I entered my volume license product key:
Windows installation has encountered an error and needs to be restarted
I tried re-burning the .iso image, thinking I had a bad burn or defective media, but the install kept failing. I even went back and re-downloaded the same .iso image, but the results were the same.
I was finally able to get the install to succeed by choosing not to enter a Windows product key. Windows balks at not providing the key, but will allow you to continue the install.
After doing some research I found this post that mentions this installation problem is related to using a Technet/volume license key with a trial version of the OS.
{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
Hmmm… sounds exactly like my problem. I’m not sure which version of Win2K8Web server I got, I think the trial version. Got the key from eOpen.Microsoft.com.
The problem is, does leaving off entering the key until after the install mean you just postpone the problem?
I’m re-downloading the ISO from eOpen. Since it’s the palce that gives me the key, it should be the correct version of the software?
After the install was complete we were able to activate Windows over the telephone, so you should be okay. Internet activation never did work.
-Julie
Julie,
We are trying to download Win Server 2008 (64-bit) from last 10 days from Microsoft website but the site is giving some error. please let me know from where u downloaded?
I had a similar problem and I found out the 5 gig of memory was too much for the installation. When I installed it on Vmware I allocated 1 gig and it loaded fine.
thanks a lot, it helped me.
Same issue with my key, did exactly the same as you, regarding re-writing and downloading, how annoying
thanks!
Whew! I thought I was going mad. Thanks OP for posting this information – I was having the exact same issue.
-DC
Super post julie.
Thanks.
Very nice.
A quick Google search led me here and confirmed that I was not alone.
Thanks!
You would think Microsoft would get something like there product keys right wouldn’t you.
And another one with this issue………….
I guess telephone activation is the way forward………..
Ditto on the MS Key comment! Who would have thought that MS could not get thier own installations to work seemlessly. Hey ho………..
I too, had this problem and was able to get WinServ 2008 up after having the same problem.
in my situation i had the vm booting/installing from an iso of 2008 x64. after choosing “Install Now” the first thing i was being asked for was the product key- which entailed the aforementioned error and inability to install. was attempting to use a MKS volume key.
i re-copied my iso and was then able to proceed. most notably was that instead of first getting asked for a product key i was instead given a list of 2008 versions to install (std/ent, core, etc), then i was asked where to install (vhd) and then install began… no prompting for product key.
in my case it appeared my iso was in fact bad.
in my situation i had the VM booting/installing from an iso of 2008 x86. after choosing “Install Now” and it’s stop there with the following error message after I entered my volume license product key:
Windows installation has encountered an error and needs to be restarted
Of course, I thought it was my media but I copied the iso with Veam fast FCP from my laptop to the datastore vmimages folder on my vsphere 4 server and from there I deployed the VM windows 2008.
Now it works well
Same problem with 32bit Server 2008 – I got mine from Technet and used the key provided – which would make sense – but same results as above.
Hey, thanx for the info…I’m not crazy afterall…very much appreciated Julie
I was installing Windows Server 2008 Enterprise x64 on Monday, and the installation kept bombing out with the following error message after I skipped entering my volume license product key: “windows cannot open the required file D:\ sources\ install.wim. that file may be corrupt or missing. make sure all file required for installation are available; and restart the installation. error code 0×80070570”
I tried re-burning the .iso image, thinking I had a bad burn or defective media, but the install kept failing. I even went back and re-downloaded the same .iso image, but the results were the same.
Can some body help me?
Hi all,
same problem like Charles, does anybody know the issue?
Burned three CDs, have re-downloaded the iso nothing works.
My failure code: 0x800706F8
I had the same installation issue after the installation asks for the key and I tried to continue it said windows had encountered the error and I need to restart. I was confused but found your post and proceeded without the key, and IT WORKED!
Thank you!
Hello,
The reason why it fails initially when you type the key is because it attempts to go online and validate the key. If you dont have the computer connected to network it will fail.
Now, most people will think how the hell would it work. Well it uses universal drivers for the Nic.
Thank you
Thanks for a very helpful info.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you…….