Hi,
According to your description, my understanding is that it failed to install WHS 2011 on new purchased hardware.
>Just to test the hardware, Windows 8.1 installed without a hitch.
Windows 8.1 and WHS 2011, their core of system are different. Besides, hardware compatibility is different for different OS version.
Make sure that your WHS 2011 installation medium is working/complete. As far as I know, both hardware and hardware driver are provided/developed by hardware manufacturer/provider. Please contact the hardware supporter/provider to confirm the compatibility for
WHS 2011.
Best Regards,
Eve Wang
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