VBox trying to use hardware virtualization for no reason?

This is for discussing general topics about how to use VirtualBox.
Post Reply
LB
Posts: 6
Joined: 25. Oct 2013, 23:19
Primary OS: MS Windows 7
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Linux Mint
Location: Richardson, Texas, North America
Contact:

VBox trying to use hardware virtualization for no reason?

Post by LB »

I'm trying to use VirtualBox on my Windows 7 64-bit Toshiba which, unfortunately, has Hardware Virtualization disabled and no BIOS option to enable it.

However, I have been told that as long as I don't need to run 64-bit OSes, I can use VirtualBox without a problem as has been done for years. This appears not to be the case for me, however, because no matter which OS I try, I always get the same VERR_SVM_DISABLED error. Searching the internet and forums for this error tells me it is because I need to have virtualization enabled, but why if I have been previously told I do not? I've tried several operating systems including Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X, none of which work. I have made sure they are 32-bit and single-core/single-processor. Preferably I want to run Linux Mint 32-bit.

Does anyone know why VirtualBox is trying to use Hardware Virtualization when it doesn't need it? My Acceleration tab in the System settings is disabled. I would post a screenshot but I'm not allowed to post images or URLs yet.
Using Oracle VM VirtualBox 4.3.2 r90405
Ramshankar
Oracle Corporation
Posts: 793
Joined: 7. Jan 2008, 16:17

Re: VBox trying to use hardware virtualization for no reason

Post by Ramshankar »

Attach VBox.log. There should be a line indicating why hardware virtualization gets forced.
Oracle Corp.
LB
Posts: 6
Joined: 25. Oct 2013, 23:19
Primary OS: MS Windows 7
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Linux Mint
Location: Richardson, Texas, North America
Contact:

Re: VBox trying to use hardware virtualization for no reason

Post by LB »

Sorry for the late response, I was away for the weekend. I've attached the log file to this post.

I tested the same VM on a 32-bit Vista w/o HV and everything worked perfectly, no idea why it isn't working on this 64-bit Windows 7.
Attachments
VBox.log
Log File
(1.34 KiB) Downloaded 37 times
Using Oracle VM VirtualBox 4.3.2 r90405
michaln
Oracle Corporation
Posts: 2973
Joined: 19. Dec 2007, 15:45
Primary OS: MS Windows 7
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Any and all
Contact:

Re: VBox trying to use hardware virtualization for no reason

Post by michaln »

This is indeed a bug. Hardware virtualization isn't required (presumably), but launching the VM fails early because you have hardware virtualization in your CPU but disabled. That's not supposed to happen.

You could try enabling hardware virtualization on your system, otherwise you can wait for the next VirtualBox update.
LB
Posts: 6
Joined: 25. Oct 2013, 23:19
Primary OS: MS Windows 7
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Linux Mint
Location: Richardson, Texas, North America
Contact:

Re: VBox trying to use hardware virtualization for no reason

Post by LB »

Do you know if/when this will be patched in the source? I should be able to build VirtualBox from source with the patch, right? Thanks for your time.
Using Oracle VM VirtualBox 4.3.2 r90405
michaln
Oracle Corporation
Posts: 2973
Joined: 19. Dec 2007, 15:45
Primary OS: MS Windows 7
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Any and all
Contact:

Re: VBox trying to use hardware virtualization for no reason

Post by michaln »

LB wrote:Do you know if/when this will be patched in the source? I should be able to build VirtualBox from source with the patch, right? Thanks for your time.
It already is, but unless you're already set up to build VirtualBox, it will be massively higher effort than enabling SVM on your system.
LB
Posts: 6
Joined: 25. Oct 2013, 23:19
Primary OS: MS Windows 7
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Linux Mint
Location: Richardson, Texas, North America
Contact:

Re: VBox trying to use hardware virtualization for no reason

Post by LB »

I've done some research and found that for my specific model of computer, Toshiba has intentionally disabled hardware-assisted virtualization and made it impossible to enable. So, building manually is my only option besides using a different computer.

I've got all the prerequisites but apparently I can't have VC++2008 installed at the same time as VC++2010 and VC++2012, since the configure script is only finding VC++2008. I don't know the right place to ask for help with building, but thanks for answering my queries so far. Wish me luck figuring this out!

EDIT: I'm making progress, I just had to comment out some code in configure.vbs so it would go straight to finding VC++2010 first. The configuration script finishes successfully for me, now I am just resolving errors when I run kmk after running env.bat
Using Oracle VM VirtualBox 4.3.2 r90405
michaln
Oracle Corporation
Posts: 2973
Joined: 19. Dec 2007, 15:45
Primary OS: MS Windows 7
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Any and all
Contact:

Re: VBox trying to use hardware virtualization for no reason

Post by michaln »

LB wrote:I've done some research and found that for my specific model of computer, Toshiba has intentionally disabled hardware-assisted virtualization and made it impossible to enable. So, building manually is my only option besides using a different computer.
Yay for Toshiba.

Could you please try 4.3.2? This particular problem should be fixed.
LB
Posts: 6
Joined: 25. Oct 2013, 23:19
Primary OS: MS Windows 7
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Linux Mint
Location: Richardson, Texas, North America
Contact:

Re: VBox trying to use hardware virtualization for no reason

Post by LB »

Yes! It is fixed and working for me just fine. Thank you very much :)
Using Oracle VM VirtualBox 4.3.2 r90405
hspatz
Posts: 1
Joined: 17. Dec 2013, 21:50

Work Around

Post by hspatz »

Reinstall the last version that worked, probably 4.2. Then uncheck the box that says something like, "Use vt-x if operating system supports." That is under one of the "systems" settings. Then uninstall 4.2 and reinstall latest version, 4.3.4. That worked for me.
Post Reply