[SOLVED] Installing Windows 8.1 64 preview in VirtualBox

[birdie]

In order to install and use Windows 8.1 preview/Windows Server 2012 R2 preview in VirtualBox, you have to run this command:

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"c:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox\VBoxManage.exe" setextradata "VM Name" VBoxInternal/CPUM/CMPXCHG16B 1

You can see your VM names using this command:

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"c:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox\VBoxManage.exe"  list vms

In Linux just type VBoxManage instead of "c:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox\VBoxManage.exe".

Windows Server 2012 R2 64 preview.png (17.69 KiB) Viewed 76208 times

[BillG]

Bingo! Thanks.

[brabus84]

It worked for me, thank you!!

[mpack]

Thanks for passing this tip along. I've made this topic a "sticky" for the time being, to make it easier to find.

[Martin]

You could also add "2012 R2" to the thread title?

[mduft]

works great for both 8.1 and 2012R2, thanks a LOT

[musashi77]

Is the command suppose to give some kind of confirmation?
Im entering the following
"c:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox\VBoxManage.exe" setextradata "Server2012 R2 Preview" VBoxInternal/CPUM/CMPXCHG16B 1

Nothing happens on the next line.. and nothing changes when I start the VM. I using the VHD file from TechNet.

[mpack]

You could also add "2012 R2" to the thread title?

Unfortunately the title is already about as long as the site allows. I also don't want to make a substantial change to the title of someone else's post, but if the OP can find a way to reword so as to squeeze 2012R2 into the title then that would certainly be useful (e.g. discard "Installing", and say "Win8.1").

[mpack]

Is the command suppose to give some kind of confirmation?

You can examine the .vbox file with a text editor if you want to check that the command did something.

[streetwolf]

Thanks, works like a charm with the ISO.

[musashi77]

Is the command suppose to give some kind of confirmation?

You can examine the .vbox file with a text editor if you want to check that the command did something.

There is no .vbox file only the .vhd file.
Guessing I might have to use the ISO instead.

[loukingjr]

I installed 8.1 from the .iso and that went okay. I installed the guest additions in compatibility mode and seem to have no aero or full acreen etc.

any thoughts?

[doomy]

I installed 8.1 from the .iso and that went okay. I installed the guest additions in compatibility mode and seem to have no aero or full acreen etc.

any thoughts?

The additions installed without error but I noticed problems with the screen also. I checked device manager and the "Virtualbox Device" has an error.

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Windows cannot initialize the device driver for this hardware. (Code 37)

{Unable to Load Device Driver}
%hs device driver could not be loaded.
Error Status was 0x%x

[mr_vpw]

Thanks to those who worked out the issue - even if some (see other threads) don't appreciate it, I do!

[Lenh51]

When I run the command suggested, I get this message:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.2.9200]
(c) 2012 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\windows\system32>"c:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox\VBoxManage.exe" setextra
data Win 8.1 VBoxInternal/CPUM/CMPXCHG16B 1
VBoxManage.exe: error: Failed to create the VirtualBox object!
VBoxManage.exe: error: Code CO_E_SERVER_EXEC_FAILURE (0x80080005) - Server execu
tion failed (extended info not available)
VBoxManage.exe: error: Most likely, the VirtualBox COM server is not running or
failed to start.

C:\windows\system32>