HP ProLiant DL380 Gen9 USB keyboard and mouse not working on Windows 2008 install

Question

I am trying to install Windows Server 2008 32bit on a HP ProLiant D380 G9 Server and after legacy boot, at the language select page I don't have mouse and keyboard available. Switched between several mice and keyboards, none of them working. Since I don't have keyboard available, I cannot continue the installation. I don't use a KVM and nothing else is attached to USB ports.

Solution

I'd suggest using the ILO if possible. I'm glad you don't have a KVM in the mix.

But are you CERTAIN that the keyboard doesn't work? I'm sure I've had situations where the mouse didn't work, but I could still navigate the installer interface using the keyboard (tab, space bar and Enter).

Another thing you could try is bootstrapping your Windows installation using the Intelligent Provisioning utility (hit F10). This may be important because you're installing an ancient 32-bit OS (why not 2008 R2?) on equipment that wasn't designed for it. Many of the requisite drivers would be missing if you didn't do an assisted installation.

Comments

[guii233]

Do you get numlock lights?

[Michael Hampton]

And why not 64-bit? Installing a 32-bit anything is just asking for trouble.

[ewwhite]

2008R2 is 64-bit only. So, there would need to be a very special reason for installing onto this platform. These systems are not meant to be used this way.

[Michael Hampton]

Right. If you really need an ancient OS, you install a modern hypervisor, and virtualize it.

[fcm]

The real reason: the USB driver on 2008 and 2008R2 doesn't work. You can temporary work using the ILO console but run away as soon as you can!!!