Unable to install 64-bit guests

[marcoc]

I'm running VirtualBox 4.1.12 on Windows 7 x64. My problem is that I'm unable to install any x64 guest. I've tried Windows Server 2003 64-bit, Windows 7 64-bit and Ubuntu 12.04 beta 1 64-bit. They all get stuck during install ("Setup is starting Windows", "Setup starting", you know the deal). I don't get any errors of any kind. I'm pretty sure my computer is able to run a 64-bit guests OS, because I was able to install an x64 guests OS when I had a 32-bit host OS installed. The virtual machine just seems to freeze and take up all my CPU. I've tried fiddling around with nested paging, disabling and enabling VT-x, disabling all other hardware, changing the number of processors, but all to no avail.

I've attached a log file. Any ideas?

[Perryg]

00:00:00.498 Host RAM: 3066MB RAM, available: 805MB
00:00:00.592 RamSize <integer> = 0x0000000040000000 (1,073,741,824)

You are assigning more RAM to the guest then you have available. Free up some memory and try again. You should have 1.5 times the memory available then assigned to be safe.

[marcoc]

Freed up some RAM, didn't help.

[Perryg]

Want to post a log file or look at it yourself to see if you freed up enough?

[marcoc]

Want to post a log file or look at it yourself to see if you freed up enough?

I have 1.5GB available and assigned 1GB, should be enough right?

00:00:00.492 Host RAM: 3066MB RAM, available: 1554MB
00:00:00.583 RamSize <integer> = 0x0000000040000000 (1073741824)

[Perryg]

Should be. How long are you waiting before you give up? All I got from the log file was you didn't have enough memory and at the last where you shut it down. Since the log didn't show an actual error you need to provide exact details of what is happening on your side including screen shots if that will show the problem.

[marcoc]

Should be. How long are you waiting before you give up? All I got from the log file was you didn't have enough memory and at the last where you shut it down. Since the log didn't show an actual error you need to provide exact details of what is happening on your side including screen shots if that will show the problem.

Nothing is happening.

I can stare at this screen all day long if I want to. I can post similar screenshots of the Ubuntu and Server 2003 installs that won't go through. The 32-bit versions work fine.

[michaln]

Using 2 VCPUs on a dual core host is a bad idea, and on a system that's already taxed just running Windows 7 it's even worse. Try dropping the guest down to 1.

There's nothing in the log pointing at any problem there's just nothing much happening in the guest.

[marcoc]

Using 2 VCPUs on a dual core host is a bad idea, and on a system that's already taxed just running Windows 7 it's even worse. Try dropping the guest down to 1.

There's nothing in the log pointing at any problem there's just nothing much happening in the guest.

Doesn't change a thing. Just nothing's happening somehow.

[mpack]

Post another log please, or update the previous one - and let us know you did it. No one can help you if you don't provide needed info.

[marcoc]

Oh, I checked the log, still no errors . There's just nothing going on.

[mpack]

I see you have reduced the VM RAM allocation to 512MB. According to Wikipedia, the minimum memory required for 64bit Win7 is 2GB. If you go substantially below the recommended amount, then taking an eternity to boot - or not booting at all - is one of the symptoms I would expect.

[marcoc]

I know, but that is not relevant. I'm not even able to boot the setup. I doubt it requires 2GB of RAM just to show a "Hi, welcome to the Windows setup" screen. Windows 32-bit works everytime, even with with 512MB. Ubuntu 64-bit doesn't work either. The RAM is not the problem I think. I'm not trying to boot Windows, I'm trying to start the installer.

I've tried assigning 2GB of RAM, doesn't change a thing.

[mpack]

I agree that the installer probably doesn't require 2GB (at least not until further down the road). It may however require more than 512MB. Since the WIn7 requirements are clearly stated it wouldn't be the first time some lazy programmer has assumed he'll have enough RAM to buffer up half the DVD.

Look: lots of people install 64bit guests on Win7 hosts, and they don't see your issues. So, it stands to reason there is something unusual about your system. The most noticeable unusual feature I see is that you have very little free memory. Ignoring that glaring fact will, I believe, get us nowhere.

[Drups]

I am trying to install Windows Small Business Server 2008 on Virtualbox but there is no options for any 64bit OS. where the OS i am using physycal machine with Windows 8 64bit, with Windows Server 2008 64bit Have about 3GB ram.

I have activated the hardware virtual option on Bios