Windows Server hardware requirements

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Microsoft's edit · 2 Jul 2025 18:42 UTC

update

Microsoft's commit message in MicrosoftDocs/windowsserverdocs · commit cbced96 · +22 ~~−22~~ lines · also on GitHub

11 ---

2 −title: Hardware requirements for Windows Server

2 +title: Hardware Requirements for Windows Server

33 description: Review the minimum hardware requirements for CPU, memory (RAM), storage, and network needed to install and run Windows Server.

4 −ms.topic: article

4 +ms.topic: concept-article

55 author: xelu86

66 ms.author: alalve

7 −ms.date: 06/12/2025

7 +ms.date: 07/02/2025

88 ms.assetid: 4a8b42d7-9fe5-4efe-9ea1-ace2131fe068

99 zone_pivot_groups: windows-os-version

1010 ---

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2626

2727 **Minimum**:

2828

29 −- 1.4 GHz 64-bit processor

29 +- 1.4-GHz 64-bit processor

3030

3131 - Compatible with x64 instruction set

3232

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6161 - ECC (Error Correcting Code) type or similar technology for physical host deployments

6262

6363 > [!IMPORTANT]

64 −> Attempting to install Windows Server in a virtual machine configured with the minimum supported hardware parameters (1 processor core and 1024 MB RAM) results in a failed installation.

64 +> Attempting to install Windows Server on a virtual machine configured with the minimum supported hardware parameters (1 processor core and 1,024 MB RAM) results in a failed installation.

6565 >

6666 > To prevent this issue, perform one of the following actions:

6767 >

68 −> - Allocate 1280 MB RAM or more to the virtual machine on which you intend to install this release. Once setup is complete, you can change the allocation as little as 1024 MB RAM, depending on the actual server configuration. If you've modified the boot image for the setup with addition languages and updates, you might need to allocate more than 1280 MB RAM in order to complete the installation.

68 +> - Allocate 1,280 MB RAM or more to the virtual machine on which you intend to install this release. After setup is complete, you can change the allocation to as little as 1,024 MB RAM, depending on the actual server configuration. If you've modified the boot image for the setup with additional languages and updates, you might need to allocate more than 1,280 MB RAM in order to complete the installation.

6969 >

7070 > - Interrupt the boot process of this release on the virtual machine with the keyboard combination `SHIFT+F10`. In the command prompt that opens, use `diskpart.exe` to create and format an installation partition. Run `wpeutil createpagefile /path=C:\pf.sys` (assuming the installation partition you created was C:\\). Then close the command prompt and proceed with the installation.

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8080 - ECC (Error Correcting Code) type or similar technology for physical host deployments

8181

8282 > [!IMPORTANT]

83 −> Attempting to install Windows Server in a virtual machine configured with the minimum supported hardware parameters (1 processor core and 512 MB RAM) results in a failed installation.

83 +> Attempting to install Windows Server on a virtual machine configured with the minimum supported hardware parameters (1 processor core and 512 MB RAM) results in a failed installation.

8484 >

8585 > To prevent this issue, perform one of the following actions:

8686 >

87 −> - Allocate 800 MB RAM or more to the virtual machine on which you intend to install this release. Once setup is complete, you can change the allocation as little as 800 MB RAM, depending on the actual server configuration. If you've modified the boot image for the setup with addition languages and updates, you might need to allocate more than 800 MB RAM in order to complete the installation.

87 +> - Allocate 800 MB RAM or more to the virtual machine on which you intend to install this release. After setup is complete, you can change the allocation to as little as 800 MB RAM, depending on the actual server configuration. If you've modified the boot image for the setup with additional languages and updates, you might need to allocate more than 800 MB RAM in order to complete the installation.

8888 >

8989 > - Interrupt the boot process of this release on the virtual machine with the keyboard combination `SHIFT+F10`. In the command prompt that opens, use `diskpart.exe` to create and format an installation partition. Run `wpeutil createpagefile /path=C:\pf.sys` (assuming the installation partition you created was C:\\). Then close the command prompt and proceed with the installation.

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9292

9393 # [Storage](#tab/storage)

9494

95 −Computers that run Windows Server must include a storage adapter that is compliant with the PCI Express architecture specification. Servers classified as hard disk drives must not use Parallel Advanced Technology Attachment (PATA) for persistent storage devices. Windows Server also doesn't allow PATA, Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA), Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE), and Enhanced Integrated Drive Electronic (EIDE) for boot, page, or data drives.

95 +Computers that run Windows Server must include a storage adapter that's compliant with the PCI Express architecture specification. Servers classified as hard disk drives must not use Parallel Advanced Technology Attachment (PATA) for persistent storage devices. Windows Server also doesn't allow PATA, Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA), Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE), and Enhanced Integrated Drive Electronic (EIDE) for boot, page, or data drives.

9696

9797 The following are the estimated **minimum** disk space requirements for the system partition.

9898

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106106 > The system partition needs extra space for any of the following circumstances:

107107 >

108108 > - If you install the system over a network

109 −> - Computers with more than 16 GB of RAM requires more disk space for paging, hibernation, and dump files

109 +> - Computers with more than 16 GB of RAM require more disk space for paging, hibernation, and dump files

110110

111111 # [Network](#tab/network)

112112

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114114

115115 **Minimum**:

116116

117 −- An Ethernet adapter that can achieve a throughput of at least 1 gigabit per second

117 +- An Ethernet adapter that can achieve a throughput of at least 1 gigabit per second.

118118

119 −- Compliant with the PCI Express architecture specification

119 +- Compliant with the PCI Express architecture specification.

120120

121121 A network adapter that supports network debugging (KDNet) is useful, but not a minimum requirement.

122122

123 −A network adapter that supports the Pre-boot Execution Environment (PXE) is useful, but not a minimum requirement.

123 +A network adapter that supports the Preboot Execution Environment (PXE) is useful, but not a minimum requirement.

124124

125125 ---

126126

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145145

146146 ## Other requirements

147147

148 −There are other hardware requirements to consider depending on your scenario:

148 +There are other hardware requirements to consider, depending on your scenario:

149149

150150 - DVD drive (if you intend to install the OS from DVD media)

151151

152 −The following items are only required for certain features:

152 +The following items are required only for certain features:

153153

154 −- UEFI 2.3.1c-based system and firmware that supports secure boot

154 +- UEFI 2.3.1c-based system and firmware that supports secure boot.

155155

156 −- Trusted Platform Module (TPM)

156 +- Trusted Platform Module (TPM).

157157

158 −- Integrated or dedicated graphics and monitor capable of Super VGA (1024 x 768) or higher-resolution

158 +- Integrated or dedicated graphics and monitor capable of Super VGA (1024 x 768) or higher-resolution.

159159

160 −- Keyboard and mouse (or other compatible pointing device)

160 +- Keyboard and mouse (or other compatible pointing device).

161161

162 −- Internet access (fees might apply)

162 +- Internet access. (Fees might apply.)

163163

164164 > [!NOTE]

165 −> A TPM chip is required in order to use certain features such as **BitLocker Drive Encryption**. If your computer has a TPM, it must meet these requirements:

165 +> A TPM chip is required in order to use certain features, such as **BitLocker Drive Encryption**. If your computer has a TPM, it must meet these requirements:

166166 >

167167 > - Hardware-based TPMs must implement version 2.0 of the TPM specification.

168 −> - TPMs that implement version 2.0 must have an EK certificate that is either pre-provisioned to the TPM by the hardware vendor, or be capable of being retrieved by the device during the first boot.

168 +> - TPMs that implement version 2.0 must have an EK certificate that's either pre-provisioned to the TPM by the hardware vendor or capable of being retrieved by the device during the first boot.

169169 > - TPMs that implement version 2.0 must ship with SHA-256 PCR banks and implement PCRs 0 through 23 for SHA-256. It's acceptable to ship TPMs with a single switchable PCR bank that can be used for both SHA-1 and SHA-256 measurements.

Microsoft's Markdown source from MicrosoftDocs/windowsserverdocs, © Microsoft Corporation, under CC BY 4.0. Changed lines with up to 3 unchanged lines around each; ChangeIntel kept this copy 10 Oct 01:29 UTC. The commit date is when the source changed, which can be hours or days before Learn published it.