Windows Server 2025 with a virtual NVME boot disk may fail to boot when other disks are on the same NVME controller

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0
• VMware vSphere ESXi 8.0

Issue/Introduction

• A virtual machine configured with a virtual NVME boot disk and running Windows Server 2025 may fail to boot if there are other disks on the same NVME controller.
  
  
• The virtual machine may appear to be stuck after powering on or rebooting.

Environment

Guest OS: Windows Server 2025

Resolution

• Microsoft has confirmed this is a known issue with Windows Server 2025.

Workaround: 

• Move non-boot disks to a separate NVME or SCSI controller.