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.
May 14, 2008 at 5:56 pm
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?
May 15, 2008 at 6:42 am
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
May 16, 2008 at 2:49 am
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?
July 25, 2008 at 10:07 am
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.
August 18, 2008 at 9:01 am
thanks a lot, it helped me.
September 17, 2008 at 10:43 am
Same issue with my key, did exactly the same as you, regarding re-writing and downloading, how annoying
thanks!
November 7, 2008 at 4:30 am
Whew! I thought I was going mad. Thanks OP for posting this information – I was having the exact same issue.
-DC
December 9, 2008 at 8:06 am
Super post julie.
Thanks.
January 15, 2009 at 3:00 pm
Very nice.
A quick Google search led me here and confirmed that I was not alone.
Thanks!
June 13, 2009 at 9:28 am
You would think Microsoft would get something like there product keys right wouldn’t you.
July 1, 2009 at 3:20 pm
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………..