VirtualBox error indicating VT-X not enabled in BIOS

Creating a 64 bit Ubuntu VM on Virtual Box results in the following error:

VT-x/AMD-V hardware acceleration has 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.

To fix this problem, first verify that the host machine processor supports VT-x. You can do this with securable.

In my case, the host machine is using Intel I7 2600, which comes with VT-x (hardware virtualization support).

Alternately, to confirm what VirtualBox sees, select the machine, then click the “Machine” menu, select “Show Log.” Save the log and search for “VT”.

00:00:00.762 HWACCM: No VT-x or AMD-V CPU extension found. Reason VERR_VMX_MSR_LOCKED_OR_DISABLED

If it virtualization support is available, but turned off in the BIOS, you will need to reboot and enable it in the BIOS settings. Once it is on, you need to fully power off the machine and restart. More information is available here. The VT-X setting is only available through the “Advanced” section of EFI.

One Reply to “VirtualBox error indicating VT-X not enabled in BIOS”

  1. Hey Tom great site. I have been a Linux user on and off since 2000. I used to wipe out my installation on my older couetmpr every other month tying to find one that worked well with my hardware. Then came Ubuntu and I tried it out in 2005 (I think it was the third release 5.10) and since then have been avid user. I had Ubuntu loaded fully and used it as a server (web, MySQL database) and also as a programming machine. Then I got my laptop 2 years ago where I whipped out Win XP Home and but Ubuntu on it fully and now I can say I am Windows free as my new and old desktop and my laptop all run Ubuntu. Thanks and keep up the excellent work.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *