[vbox-dev] Hardware Assisted Virtualization Requirement for Windows 8/8.1

[Alexey Eromenko]

+1

Will be nice-to-have also Android 4.3 work without VT.

Guest: Android 4.3 (link:
https://android-x86.googlecode.com/files/android-x86-4.3-20130725.iso)

-Technologov

On Thu, Oct 24, 2013 at 8:47 PM, Arend Dittmer <arend at mypocketxp.com> wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I tried to install 32-bit Windows 8.1 on my laptop running VirtualBox 4.3.0.
> The installation aborted early on with the message:
>
> Your PC needs to restart. Please hold down the power button.
> Error code: 0x0000000A
> Parameters:
> 0xFFFFFFE6
> 0x0000001F
> 0x00000000
> 0x8138AFAB
>
> According to https://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=56465 this
> message indicates that hardware assisted virtualization needs to be enabled
> to run Windows 8 (32-bit and 64-bit)  in VirtualBox. My system does not
> support HAV so it all makes sense.
>
> Having said this ... Is there a possibility that VirtualBox will be enhanced
> to support the execution of at least 32-bit versions of Windows 8/8.1 on
> systems without hardware virtualization support?
>
> 1.  While all current AMD processors support AMD-V there is a number of
> current (and older) Intel processors that don't. Right now Intel's Pentium
> Processors B940, B950, 957, 967, B970, 977, 987, B980 do not support VT-X. A
> quick google search showed that these processors are used in a variety of
> laptops from mainstream vendors like Acer, ASUS, Toshiba, Sony.
>
> 2. Even if the processor supports HAV the system's BIOS has to support this
> feature as well. I assume that most BIOS' do but I am not 100% sure.
>
> 3. Even though I lack the detailed knowledge about runtime code patching I
> think the problem can be solved in software. With VMware Player 6 Windows
> 8.1 32-bit installs just fine on my system that lacks HAV support (Using
> Player though is not an option).
>
> I have to admit that I am particuarly interested in this feature as I am
> working on a VirtualBox based 'consumer friendly' product that 'just works'
> on a broad range of hardware platforms. IMHO though one of the most
> interesting features of VirtualBox is the support for a wide variety of host
> platforms and the HAV requirement for 8/8.1runs counter to the VirtualBox
> philosophy.
>
> What are your thoughts?
>
> Arend
>
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-- 
-Alexey Eromenko "Technologov"