I'm trying to install ESXi on a Dell Optiplex 740... when I boot from the CD (the latest U2 release with the license patch included), I get the initial boot screen with the progress bar... then it ticks 2-3 times, then prints a bunch of junk and dumps me back to the boot menu.
Any ideas??
This page says the 740 works - but not for me? I'm missing something, right?
Reply1.Re: Install on a Dell Optiplex 740 for testing/evaluation Aug 16, 2008 8:26 PM
What sort of CPU do you have in the host? You might want to PM the guy that tested it and see if your hardware is similar. It may be a component that is causing the problem. Also take a look at this thread - http://communities.vmware.com/thread/163274?tstart=0 to see if the error is similar.
Reply2.Re: Install on a Dell Optiplex 740 for testing/evaluation Aug 17, 2008 6:20 AM
in response to: Dave.Mishchenko
System has an AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 3800+ CPU.
Also, I tried running ESXi from USB stick and I get the same thing at the "Loading VMware Hypervisor" screen: progress bar gets a few ticks, then junk characters, then a boot: prompt.
I'm running the latest BIOS (2.1.8) as well...
Reply4.Re: Install on a Dell Optiplex 740 for testing/evaluation Aug 17, 2008 5:33 PM
in response to: nick.couchman
How relevant is success with Optiplex 755 to the problems with Optiplex 740?
Could it be that despite both being Dell, they are actually distinct hardware designs?
Reply5.Re: Install on a Dell Optiplex 740 for testing/evaluation Aug 17, 2008 6:36 PM
in response to: Peter_vm
Well, interestingly enough... I have 2 optiplex 740's, and 2 optiplex 740 "enhanced" (from a more recent order) - ESXi will install and run fine on the "enhanced" ones, but not on the "regular ones" - so it must be some problem with a component.
Reply6.Re: Install on a Dell Optiplex 740 for testing/evaluation Aug 19, 2008 1:54 PM
It's related to the Bios version - I had it working fine on 1.1.8, but I thought I'd update to the latest 2.1.8, at which point it broke just like you... currently investigating rolling back the bios version (if possible).
