Install Windows Server 2008 on VirtualBox Error

[Devpriyo]

Hi All,

I just downloaded VirtualBox-4.2.12-84980-Win setup file and want to explore it. Following are the details of my environment:

My Host OS: Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise Edition (64 bit)
Processor: Intel Xenon CPU E5-2430
Virtual Machine 1 i.e. VM1 OS: Same as Host OS. (This VM1 has been created on the Host OS which is Dell Power Edge R520 server using Hyper-V)

Now, in order to test the VirtualBox, I installed it on VM1. Installation was successful.

Now, when I create a VM inside VirtualBox, it completes successfully. But, when I try to power ON the virtual machine and start installing the Win 2008 Server OS (same as Host and VM1), it goes past the black window of "Windows is Loading files" BUT then immediately after that gives the following error:
File: \windows\system32\boot\winload.exe
Status: 0xc000035a
Info: Attempting to load 64-bit application, however this cpu is not compatible with 64-bit mode

Its strange, because, the CPU is indeed 64-bit.

On the other hand, I just now successfully created a Virtual Machine using VirtualBox installed on my Win 7 32-bit desktop. It gave no errors.

Any advice/suggestions will be highly appreciated.

Thanks n Regards
Devpriyo

[noteirak]

Nested Virtualization is not supported. Also, the Virtualization feature of the CPU is not available from a guest, so Virtualbox cannot install 64 bits OS, since it is a prerequisite for it.
This is as-expected behaviour.

[Devpriyo]

Hi noteirak,

Thanks for the prompt reply. As per your comments, I have now installed VirtualBox on the physical server itself and am getting the following error while installing the OS on the newly created virtual machine:

VirtualBox Error:

Failed to open a session for the virtual machine Database.

VT-x is not available. (VERR_VMX_NO_VMX)

Does this relate to an outdated BIOS or is it a CPU compatibility issue ? Because, BIOS can be updated but if its the CPU then I have nowhere to to

Suggestions/advice will be appreciated.

Thanks n Regards
Dev

[mpack]

You can look up the capabilities of your CPU online, e.g. Google brought me here. It says that your CPU supports VT-x, which should mean that you only need to boot into the host BIOS and enable it.

[Devpriyo]

Oops ! I think I have figured out what the problem is. Actually my physical server is running Hyper-V and that's why VirtualBox is not able use the H/w virtualization feature.

To be 100% sure, I installed and ran the Intel processor Identification Utility and it says YES for Intel(R) Virtualization Technology. So, its confirmed that I will have to let go off Hyper-V.

Well, in that case I will need more time, as I can't do that right now.

Thanks for your support and quick responses, noteirak and mpack.

Regards
Devpriyo

[BillG]

Yes, if Hyper-V is enabled the hypervisor will lock on to VT-x at boot time (even before the Windows OS boots).