Error message after you install Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 or Service Pack 2 on a Dell PowerEdge server: "Stop 0x00000051"

You install Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1) or Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (SP2) on a Dell PowerEdge server that is running Windows Server 2003. After you restart the computer, you may receive the following error message:

This problem occurs if one of the following conditions is true:

• The BIOS of the computer is old.
• You try to install Windows Server 2003 SP1 or Windows Server 2003 SP2 over a network share or in the virtual machine.
• You try to install Windows Server 2003 SP1 or Windows Server 2003 SP2 by using a Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) session.

To resolve this problem, visit the following Dell Web site: Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, about the performance or reliability of these products.