VirtualBox can't operate in VMX root mode.

Discussions related to using VirtualBox on Windows hosts.
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RizzyRong
Posts: 1
Joined: 23. Oct 2009, 16:56
Primary OS: MS Windows 7
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Server08, 03, XP Pro

VirtualBox can't operate in VMX root mode.

Post by RizzyRong »

Host = Win 7 32bit Core Duo Intel box.

I got an error last night when I had XP Mode running and I tried to open one of my VirtualBox machines

VirtualBox can't operate in VMX root mode.
VBox status code: -4011 (VERR_VMX_IN_VMX_ROOT_MODE).

Result Code:
E_FAIL (0x80004005)
Component:
Console
Interface:
IConsole {d5a1cbda-f5d7-4824-9afe-d640c94c7dcf}

I know the problem was from XP Mode running first, by some research I did on the Linux forum. But does anyone know how to fix this on a windows box?
Perryg
Site Moderator
Posts: 34369
Joined: 6. Sep 2008, 22:55
Primary OS: Linux other
VBox Version: OSE self-compiled
Guest OSses: *NIX

Re: VirtualBox can't operate in VMX root mode.

Post by Perryg »

The way I understand it is you can not run both at the same time.
See section 1.2. Software vs. hardware virtualization (VT-x and AMD-V) of the VBox Users Guide.
You need to run them one at a time.
So you need to find a way to turn off the XP mode when you want to run other OSes.
Sorry I don't know how, I do not have an actual working copy of Win 7 with XP mode at the moment.
BillG
Volunteer
Posts: 5106
Joined: 19. Sep 2009, 04:44
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Windows 10,7 and earlier
Location: Sydney, Australia

Re: VirtualBox can't operate in VMX root mode.

Post by BillG »

I agree with Perry. The reason is hardware virtualization. You can have both WVPC and Vbox installed in Win 7, but you cannot run them together because only one can link to hardware virtualization.

If all else fails you can always kill one or the other from task manager. I needed to kill WVPC that way to start VBox the other day.

If you are running an XP Mode application from the host (seamless mode) the XP vm stays active for about five minutes (in case you want to run this or some other "virtual" app). It doesn't hibernate until the timer runs down.
Bill
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