BSOD Virtual Box on Win10 Host

Discussions related to using VirtualBox on Windows hosts.
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seabird
Posts: 2
Joined: 28. Oct 2015, 12:22

BSOD Virtual Box on Win10 Host

Post by seabird »

Yes, I know BSODs are now BUGCHECKs, but whatever they are called, the system is rendered unusable!

I don't know if VirtualBox is the culprit - it is notoriously hard to figure out where issues in Windows lie.

Are there any known errors with VBOX that can cause BSOD on the host box?

But here's the background (tl;dr version).

I have a Windows 10 installation that I upgraded from Windows 8 in July.

I have (had) VirtualBox installed - along with piles of other stuff, of course. The version is VirtualBox-5.0.0-101573-Win installed on August 1st (as an upgrade to VirtualBox-4.3.28-100309-Win).

I have several guests (all 64 bit Ubuntu) running. Usually one at a time, but this doesn't appear to affect things.

The host Windows 10 machine BSODs rather unpredictably. Usually with one of the IRQ level bugs. I think it happens when trying to sleep, but I am not sure. I usually have left the VMs running so of course they are killed. That is (at least at this stage no big deal), I have saved everything anyway.

I have been unable to diagnose what is is causing the BSODs, so am stumped. I had turned Driver Verification on for a variety of non Microsoft drivers. That caused the system to notice a driver error, but then could never recover itself. So I had to reinstall Win 10. I chose the option that kept all of my files. So didn't lose anything. I have not (yet) reinstalled VBOX in case that was causing the issue. Is there anything that this community knows about that might implicate VBOX? I hope not, it has been invaluable.

Thanks - and sorry for the length.

Chris
mpack
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Posts: 39134
Joined: 4. Sep 2008, 17:09
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Mostly XP

Re: BSOD Virtual Box on Win10 Host

Post by mpack »

There is nothing that VirtualBox can possibly do - even via a bug - that should cause a BSOD. If one happens then you should take the matter up with Microsoft - it is their software that has crashed.
scottgus1
Site Moderator
Posts: 20945
Joined: 30. Dec 2009, 20:14
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Windows, Linux

Re: BSOD Virtual Box on Win10 Host

Post by scottgus1 »

Microsoft has ways to dig deep and tell what file caused a BSOD. Search on their website for how to diagnose a BSOD.

I would re-install Virtualbox myself if I did a supposed "reinstall & keep files" of my OS. (Personally I wouldn't trust that kind of OS reinstall any further than I would trust a politician.)
loukingjr
Volunteer
Posts: 8851
Joined: 30. Apr 2009, 09:45
Primary OS: Mac OS X other
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: just about all that run

Re: BSOD Virtual Box on Win10 Host

Post by loukingjr »

FWIW, I have been running a Windows 10 host since the day Windows 10 became available. Which was one day after I bought the Windows 8.1 box. I've also had every version of VirtualBox since installed on it up to VB 5.0.8 without any BSOD.

I suspect the "piles of other stuff" is the issue and is causing conflicts.
OSX, Linux and Windows Hosts & Guests
There are three groups of people. Those that can count and those that can't.
seabird
Posts: 2
Joined: 28. Oct 2015, 12:22

Re: BSOD Virtual Box on Win10 Host

Post by seabird »

Thanks all.

I agree the other "piles of stuff" may well be implicated. Some of it is gunk from the manufacturer.

I am very glad to hear that it is unlikely to be one of the VirtualBox drivers. I have been heavily reliant on VBOX for some time now.

Reinstall time!
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