7 Home Premium ubuntu 12.04 lts install failing

[pgtips]

Hello,

Windows 7 Home Premium SP 1
AMD A8-4500M APU 1.9GHz
RAM 8GB
64-bit operating system

Trying to install Ubuntu 12.04 lts. Tried ubuntu-12.04.1-desktop-amd64.iso. Didn't like - "This kernel requires an x86-64 CPU but only detected an i686 CPU" so switched to ubuntu-12.04.1-desktop-i386.iso.

Cannot get through the install program. I have attached the log file. The image is too large - it is at the 'Stay Connected' screen and Copying files.
I did not check download updates as you install or the proprietary codecs.

Laptop is Toshiba Satellite L855D (first time trying to install on this machine).

First time I have had problems with virtualbox.

Any help - much appreciated. Thanks

[Perryg]

First you need to enable hardware virtualization in the bios for 64-bit guests.
Then you need to select to install a 64-bit guest in the pull down window.

[pgtips]

Thanks Perryg for your quick answer - when I chose 'New' it auto selected Type and Version based on the name I entered - never thought to check.
Secondly ran the process again and caught a pop up message by choosing 'ignore' when it crashed - showed low memory warning. I have 8GB and assigned 3GB to image thinking everybody happy (mostly use linux) - not so. Reduced the image to 2GB and now install almost complete. Will install the 64bit version now.

Issue resolved.

[Perryg]

64 bit is not going to work until you do what I said earlier.
The 3GB failure is because of the VT-x/AMD-v (VMX) missing.

[pgtips]

Checked my bios settings and have no option to enable hardware virtualization so 64-bit no go. Thanks

[DonGuinn]

I'm having the same problem. I have turned on Enable VT-x/AMD/V but get error message
"VT-x/AMD-V hardware acceleration had been enabled, but is not operational. Your 64-bit guest will fail to detect a 64-bit CPU and will not be able to boot.

Please ensure that you have enabled VT-x/AMD-V properly in the BIOS of your host computer."

Sure enough the UBUNTU 64 bit issues a message that it can't install.

I really couldn't believe that I must go into the BIOS of my real computer and set that? Seems unreasonable as the documentation says that almost anything can be used for a host computer. Also, I have no problem running 64 bit Windows 7 host computer. If it runs then why doesn't the virtual computer run also?

But I went into my BIOS and enabled a virtual option. Son-of-a-gun, I was able to install UBUNTU 64 bit. According to WIKIPEDIA VT-x is an Intel option to support virtual machines. It is unnecessary when running in native mode.

I think that VirtualBox needs to state that it is necessary to enable this feature for their software to work. I can't find anywhere in their documentation about this.

[Perryg]

http://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch10.html#hwvirt

[DonGuinn]

Thank you for pointing out that section. I do recall reading it before I installed VirtualBox, but I'm afraid I was a little overwhelmed by that time and it blurred out of my mind. Perhaps adding a section in the first chapter or so covering host system requirements to support various client systems, in particular for 64 bit clients as 64 bit systems are now quite common. Then a link to this section for more information.