As the dust settles following the debut of Microsoft's latest server operating system, Windows Server 2025, users are finding themselves knee-deep in unexpected troubles. Officially released to the public on November 1, 2024, this iteration of Windows Server promised a bouquet of enhancements—more robust security, cloud integration, and AI capabilities—but has instead greeted many with a storm of installation malfunctions and system instability.
The company has publicly acknowledged these glitches in a Windows release health entry, offering a glimmer of reassurance by stating that a resolution will soon be rolled out in an upcoming monthly update. Until then, however, the recommendation is clear: tread lightly with deployments on high-core machines.
Despite these roadblocks, Windows Server 2025 boasts several advanced features aimed at enhancing security against cyber threats, improving cloud and hybrid performance, and bolstering support for AI workloads. It also promises significant upgrades to Active Directory and introduces hot patching capabilities to allow for smoother updates. The new addition of SMB over QUIC for secure remote file access is also noteworthy.
For IT administrators and businesses, the recent troubles painted a stark picture: an immediate need for a cautious approach when migrating to the new platform. It’s the kind of growing pain that, while unpleasant, is not entirely unfamiliar in the tech ecosystem. No doubt, it also brings into sharp focus the importance of strategic testing in production environments—after all, the only thing more terrifying than the BSOD is having to deal with it during critical business operations.
As Windows Server 2025 evolves, so too must the strategies for its deployment—armed with awareness of its limitations, users can navigate the rocky start, awaiting the promised updates that may eventually smooth out these initial disturbances. Until then, keep the thumbs up and the BSOD at bay!
Source: Greenbot Microsoft Advises Caution As Windows Server 2025 Hits With Installation Bugs
The Installation Woes
Reports flooding in from users detail a range of distressing issues, most notably frequent installation failures, prolonged system restarts of over three hours, and the infamous Blue Screen of Death (BSOD). These problems seem to particularly plague servers equipped with more than 256 logical processors, indicating that Microsoft may need to rethink its high-core machine compatibility.The company has publicly acknowledged these glitches in a Windows release health entry, offering a glimmer of reassurance by stating that a resolution will soon be rolled out in an upcoming monthly update. Until then, however, the recommendation is clear: tread lightly with deployments on high-core machines.
How to Spot Trouble
For those operating in an enterprise environment, Microsoft has provided guidance to diagnose whether their servers may be at risk. By opening the Task Manager (CTRL+SHIFT+ESC) and navigating to the Performance tab, administrators can quickly check the count of logical processors. If it surpasses 256, that's a red flag. Microsoft urges users to temporarily limit the number of active logical processors to 256 or fewer. This can be done via the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) settings by adjusting the number of active cores per socket—an important safeguard until a more permanent fix is released.Other Known Issues
In addition to the primary concerns, users are reporting some peripheral hiccups, including the random appearance of English text during installation, regardless of the chosen language, and some stumbling upon a “boot device inaccessible” error when attempting to install in iSCSI environments.Despite these roadblocks, Windows Server 2025 boasts several advanced features aimed at enhancing security against cyber threats, improving cloud and hybrid performance, and bolstering support for AI workloads. It also promises significant upgrades to Active Directory and introduces hot patching capabilities to allow for smoother updates. The new addition of SMB over QUIC for secure remote file access is also noteworthy.
A Cautionary Tale
The challenges emerging from the launch of Windows Server 2025 serve as a poignant reminder of the complexities inherent in software deployment. While the server is designed as Microsoft's latest Long-Term Servicing Channel release, aimed at building upon its predecessors, these initial difficulties emphasize the critical need for a careful rollout strategy.For IT administrators and businesses, the recent troubles painted a stark picture: an immediate need for a cautious approach when migrating to the new platform. It’s the kind of growing pain that, while unpleasant, is not entirely unfamiliar in the tech ecosystem. No doubt, it also brings into sharp focus the importance of strategic testing in production environments—after all, the only thing more terrifying than the BSOD is having to deal with it during critical business operations.
As Windows Server 2025 evolves, so too must the strategies for its deployment—armed with awareness of its limitations, users can navigate the rocky start, awaiting the promised updates that may eventually smooth out these initial disturbances. Until then, keep the thumbs up and the BSOD at bay!
Source: Greenbot Microsoft Advises Caution As Windows Server 2025 Hits With Installation Bugs