intel vt-x not supported on boot camp windows 7 (virtualbox and microsoft detection tool)

Question

Franck CA Author

Level 1

6 points

intel vt-x not supported on boot camp windows 7 (virtualbox and microsoft detection tool)

Hello,

I've a MBP mid-2010 that is running a Windows 7 Pro as boot camp partition (business needs).

I've installed virtualbox on the Windows 7 OS, but I can't access the "accelration" tab under the system settings.

When running an imported OVA system (that uses Intel VT-x) I get an error message saying :

"VT-x/AMD-V hardware acceleration is not available on your system. Your 64-bit guest will fail to detect a 64-bit CPU and will not be able to boot."

Using the Microsoft® Hardware-Assisted Virtualization Detection Tool, I get the confirmation that it is not available on my computer.

Which is really strange because it is working perfectly under Mac Os X Mavericks (and previous).

Anyone has an idea ?

Regards,

Franck.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on Nov 14, 2013 9:10 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

362,199 points

Nov 14, 2013 9:12 AM in response to Franck CA

Ask the VirtualBox tech support since it's their software, not Apple's.

Reply

Answer 2

Franck CA Author

Level 1

6 points

Nov 14, 2013 9:15 AM in response to Kappy

Hi,

Please, read the full post.

(...)

Using the Microsoft® Hardware-Assisted Virtualization Detection Tool, I get the confirmation that it is not available on my computer.

(...)

It's definitely something on the boot camp side.

Rgds,

Franck.

Reply

Answer 3

Kappy

Level 10

362,199 points

Nov 14, 2013 9:34 AM in response to Franck CA

If you are using Virtual Box, then it has nothing to do with Boot Camp.

Reply

Answer 4

Nov 14, 2013 9:43 AM in response to Franck CA

VirtualBox and Boot Camp are independent and separate capabilities and functionality. You can't use a Boot Camp installed Windows as the guest operating system in VirtualBox. You can do this using Parallels or Fusion. So if you are having VirtualBox issues you should take those up with VirtualBox. Apple has nothing to do with VirtualBox.

Reply

Answer 5

Rudegar

Level 10

183,264 points

Nov 14, 2013 10:04 AM in response to Franck CA

just tested it on osx maverick and I can't even click on the acceleration tab in system on my virtual machines in windows 8.1 (it's disabled ) so if I were you I would ask in the virtualbox forum

Reply

Answer 6

Franck CA Author

Level 1

6 points

Nov 14, 2013 10:20 AM in response to Rudegar

Hi,

There's a misunderstanding I think.

I have a MBP with 2 partitions : One Mavericks, one Boot Camp with Windows 7 Pro.

I boot the MBP on Windows 7 Pro boot camp partition, so MBP is running Boot Camp directly (not under virtualbox, and not from Mavericks).

Once Windows is booted, I downloaded VirtualBox and Microsoft HA Detection tools and ran both of them. Both says that Intel VT-x is disabled (not only VirtualBox).

I never said that I ran Windows 7 Pro BOOT CAMP in a VirtualBox from Mavericks.

I could start any other program needing virtualization (parallels or VmWare), I'm sure I would get the same result. Booting my MBP in the BOOT CAMP is disabling Intel VT-x. That is my problem.

If I boot my MBP in Mavericks and start VirtualBox (MAC edittion), Intel virtualization is working perfectly.

So, sorry to insist, but I'm still thinks it is related to Boot Camp or way Boot camp partition boots on my MBP.

Rgds,

Franck.

Reply

Answer 7

Jan 30, 2014 3:19 AM in response to Franck CA

Hey guys, I am trying to install HAXM to accelerate my android emulator, but I am having problems. I have a Win 7 bootcamp partition in my Macbook Pro, and when I am finishing the installation a message pops up saying that my VT-x is not enabled, the problem is that I can't access the BIOS to turn on the virtualization easily like a PC user, How to enable the VT-x for Win 7 boot camp partition?

The VT-x is running beautiful in my macintosh partition, but I can't understand why in my boot camp partition the VT-x remains disabled.

is there any solution for this problem?

My processor is a Intel Core I5-2435M , I downloaded the intel processor identification utility, and my processor supports the virtualization tech and hyper-threading tech.

Reply

Answer 8

Feb 5, 2014 5:15 AM in response to Franck CA

I have this exact same issue, except I'm trying to use Hyper-V in Windows 8.1. Windows is running via Bootcamp 5, I have a late 2013 Macbook pro model.

I get the error message Hyper-V cannot be installed: Virtualization support is disabled in the firmware.

After poking around online, most information points to the Mac EFI firmware. It might be an update is available there that will help with VT-X

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1237

However, there's no update for my particular Macbook. I've only found one workaround that I don't really know how/why it works.

1. Power off my macbook, completely shut down.

2. Hold the option key to boot into OSX Mavericks instead of Windows.

3. Restart from OSX and let Windows boot by default.

For some odd reason, VT-X is now enabled. This may be specific to my Mac. It's a Macbook Pro 2013, 15'' - '11,3' model.

Reply

Answer 9

Feb 8, 2014 11:04 AM in response to JohnnyTables

Thank you Johnny!

VT-x is now Enabled and working with my android emulator!

I just updated the SMC firmware on OSX, restarted the computer, entered in Win 7 and the VT-x was enabled.

Reply