The machine is a brand new Dell Precision m6500, Core i5, 8GB RAM. Windows Server 2008 R2 (fully patched) with Hyper-V Role Enabled.
Virtualization options in the BIOS are ON, SpeedStep is OFF, couldn't find C1E option in the BIOS to turn it off (I also got the impression that SpeedStep is C1E, but the Intel Product site lists them as separate "features." shrug)
The server stops responding without any apparent reason. I've tried testing in multiple scenarios, all of which result in a crash at seemingly random times:
- With the Server sitting idle, no apps running.
- Server sitting idle with a Virtual Machine running.
- Using a BurnInTest application
There's no blue screen. It doesn't restart. The screen just sits there. The keyboard backlight still responds and comes on with input, but nothing on the screen changes. There are no errors in the error log. I have to hold down the power button to turn it off. Doing memory tests on bootup results in no errors with the memory.
I have a second identical system and the same thing happens there too. I've dual-booted into Windows 7 Profession x64 on this system with no problems. Further testing has shown that the issue is definitely related to Windows Server 2008 R2 and Hyper-V as it appears the crashing does not happen when the services are not running.
I've installed all hotfixes relating to this issue (that I could find): 975530, 979444, 979491, 976427
System is still crashing without response.
Bios, drivers, hardware check. Pretty much the only thing I can point to. I had problems with various on board network card at times. Bad RAM, all that. Hyper-V servers are STABLE if everything works properly to start with, so you definitely look at either a hardware or a driver level problem (well, plus BIOS).
Applying the work around described at the bottom of http://support.microsoft.com/kb/975530 seems to have worked and I can no longer reproduce the problem by a) copying large files across the network or b) leaving the laptop to run over night.
Just installed the hotfix and re-testing now with the aim of rolling back the workaround (as per KB recommendation).
Could still be a hardware problem or hardware incompatibility... but you could try installing the free Hyper-V Server R2 and see if it does the same just for kicks.
Updating BIOS to the latest version seems to have fixed several people's freezing Dells when running Hyper-V. NIC drivers and possibly firmware are also important to keep up-to-date on.
Have you left enough RAM for the Host Machine to run its processes? With Hyper-V you should reserve 2 gigs or more of RAM so the Host can run the processes which support not only it system but the applications (i.e. Hyper-V) running on top of it.
I have the machine (working on it now) with WS2K8R2.
All my BSOD issues (with HV) cleared when I reverted to the standard VGA video driver. I bought the ATI 4470 onboard video because I anticipated video issues and didn't want to drop the coin on NVidia.
The one and only thing I cannot do at this point is use the video out to hook up to a projector. This turns out to be a big fat hairy deal for me, though. I just ordered an external USB-video adapter to see if that will get me external video hookups.
Now that I am no longer experiencing BSOD due to the video driver, I love this thing. Would never part with it.
I had the same issue and was able to find a fix. The fix is to install SP1 for Windows 2008 R2. Currently it is in RC stage, which is about as good as RTM, so don't be afraid to use it.