Windows wont start in Virtual Box

TonyFlury · Post by **TonyFlury** » 12. Jul 2008, 01:05

I have a windows XP VM defined hosted under Ubuntu 8.0.4.

I created the disk vdmk file using :

VBoxManage internalcommands createrawvmdk -filename /share/MsWinXP.vmdk -rawdisk /dev/sda -relative -register

so the vdmk file contains an entire virtualisation of my HD (including both windows and linux partitions).

When i start the VM - i get the expected GRUB menu (with both linux and WIndows listed), just as i get when i boot the PC.

When i select Windows the screen goes blank and then nothing happens - windows does not start at all.

my VM.log (at the point it hangs) from this virtual machine is as follows :
(yes i do have CD-ROM disabled - just to make sure it wasn't that causing the problems).

Code: Select all

00:00:05.460 Guest Log: BIOS: Boot from CD-ROM failed
00:00:05.461 Guest Log: BIOS: Booting from Hard Disk...
00:00:05.464 Display::handleDisplayResize(): uScreenId = 0, pvVRAM=0000000000000000 w=720 h=400 bpp=0 cbLine=0x0
00:00:05.466 PIIX3 ATA: Ctl#0: RESET, DevSel=0 AIOIf=0 CmdIf0=0x20 (-1 usec ago) CmdIf1=0x00 (-1 usec ago)
00:00:05.466 PIIX3 ATA: Ctl#0: finished processing RESET
00:00:05.638 PIIX3 ATA: Ctl#0: RESET, DevSel=0 AIOIf=0 CmdIf0=0x20 (-1 usec ago) CmdIf1=0x00 (-1 usec ago)
00:00:05.638 PIIX3 ATA: Ctl#0: finished processing RESET
00:00:05.653 Guest Log: BIOS: int13_harddisk: function 41, unmapped device for ELDL=81
00:00:05.653 Guest Log: BIOS: int13_harddisk: function 08, unmapped device for ELDL=81
00:00:08.845 Guest Log: BIOS: int13_harddisk: function 15, unmapped device for ELDL=81

Post by **Sasquatch** » 12. Jul 2008, 01:14

If it's your normal hardware install of XP you try to boot in your VM now, you might have severe hardware issues. Boot into Windows normally, create a second hardware profile and when you boot Windows in the VM, select the new profile. If it asks for anything, create a new, empty profile.

TonyFlury · Post by **TonyFlury** » 12. Jul 2008, 02:19

Brilliant - thanks - it was hardware profiles

Windows now seems to be starting - albeit slowly - although i only have 1Mb of RAM in total.

Thanks again for your help