I can be termed as novice for the desktop virtualization arena, however I am willing to learn and gain insight by getting help from your collective wisdom.
I have the following Host Operating System
Windows XP SP3 Professional 32-bit
4 GB System RAM
Intel 965 Board (Dell Optiplex Desktop 755)
Intel Core2Duo E4500 Processor http://processorfinder.intel.com/detail ... Spec=SLA95 and http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=30781
I have installed a clean VirtualBox version 3.0.12. I am trying to install Windows 2003 Server 64-Bit as a Guest OS inside the Virtual Machine. Please help me with the following queries:
1. Does VirtualBox supports installation of 64-Bit Operating System
2. Does VirtualBox needs the HOST to be 64-Bit as well if I am trying to install a 64-Bit GUEST operating system. Or either ways can work i.e, I can install a 64-bit guest os on a 32-bit host os and vice-versa.
3. Does VirtualBox needs as mandatory the Hardware Virtualization enabled CPUs to install any 32-bit or 64-bit Guest OS. Or can it work with the processors without the Hardware Virtualization enabled (apparently mine is one without).
4. Does VirtualBox needs the 64-bit Enabled CPU processor to install any 64-Bit guest operating system.
Answer to the above would help me troubleshoot my own situation. As far as I understand my CPU does not have the hardware virtualization enabled, however it has the IA-64 bit technology present (which I guess means it is 64-bit enabled) . However when I create a new virtual machine in virtualbox and try to boot it from ISO image of Windows 2003 Server 64-Bit, I get the error message that it is a 64-Bit Operating System and hence needs a 64-Bit CPU. Why is it coming, according to the Intel Processor Information Utility my processor is already Intel 64 Architecture enabled, so it should be no problem.
Even more surprising was the fact that If I did boot directly from the boot CD of Windows 2003 64-bit on the very same PC, it boot up pretty fine and leads to standard windows installation menu, without putting a false alarm that the hardware is not 64-Bit enabled. It also denies the fact this CPU is shown in the BIOS configuration screen as 64-Bit enabled.
It must be something to do with the Virtual Box itself then, according to my preliminary diagnostics.
I have attached the screen shot of the messages from the VirtualBox and the Intel Processor Information Utility, to clearly explain the problem encountered.
If anyone is able to provide any help or guidance about how to proceed, then it would be really appreciated.
Thanks and Regards.