virtualbox.org

In setting up a Windows 8.1 guest on a Mavericks iMac (16 GB of memory, 250 GB SSD, and 1 TB HD), the install fails with the message: A critical error has occurred while running the virtual machine and the machine execution has stopped. The machine was deleted along with its files and a second attempt to set up the machine failed in the same way.

Details: The empty virtual machine was made with 4096 MB of memory and a 25 GB virtual hard drive. Before running the new machine, under Settings/System "Enable I/O APIC" on the Motherboard tab, "Enable PAE/NX" on the Processor tab, and "Enable VT-x/AMD-V" and "Enable Nested Paging" on the Accelerator tab were all checked. Under Settings/Storage the Controller: IDE was set to [CD/DVD] was set to Host Drive 'HL-DT-ST DVDRW GA32N'. With a Windows 8.1 install disk from Microsoft in the iMac CD/DVD drive the virtual machine was started, the disk was read, the installation process began only to stop within a minute with the critical error message. The message indicated that I could contact the Community with the VBox.log and the VBox.png along with a description of the circumstances in order to receive help. The .png file is attached; the .log file (175 KB) was refused as too large. I have no idea how to proceed and would appreciate any help or guidance you could provide.

Did you select "Windows 8.1" or "Windows 8.1 (64bit) as operating system version in the VM settings?

AlanH wrote:... the .log file (175 KB) was refused as too large.

Perhaps if you zipped it and included it as an attachment to your post?

Thank you for the responses; I was away for the weekend and received them just this morning. Windows 8.1 (64 bit) was selected as the operating system in the VM settings and was the one I was installing (not Windows 8 to then be updated to 8.1). Zipping the log file had unfortunately not occurred to me. Zipping reduced the file from 205 KB to 40 KB and is attached. Again, I appreciate any help you can provide.

VBox.log wrote:Guru Meditation 1155 (VINF_EM_TRIPLE_FAULT)

That's an error condition that only the developers can understand. I suggest that you search the Bugtracker to see if there is already a tracker and you can add your voice and logs, or to create a new one.

VBox.log wrote: 00:00:00.479450 Guest OS type: 'Windows8_64'

This should say "Windows81_64".

mpack you nailed it. Under Settings/General the Operating System was selected (incorrectly) from the drop-down menu as Windows 8 (64 bit) while the install disk was for Windows 8.1. Choosing the correct Windows 8.1 (64 bit) for the Operating System, the installation proceeds without failure. Thank you both for your help that solved the problem and saved me from bothering the developers with what turned out to be "operator error".