VirtualBox error

General Help
1

Hi-ho. After upgrading to Zorin OS 17.1 core, VirtualBox doesn't work anymore. When I try to start any of the virtual machines I have, I get this juicy error message:

VirtualBox can't operate in VMX root mode. Please disable the KVM kernel extension, recompile your kernel and reboot (VERR_VMX_IN_VMX_ROOT_MODE).

Result Code:
NS_ERROR_FAILURE (0x80004005)
Component:
ConsoleWrap
Interface:
IConsole {872da645-4a9b-1727-bee2-5585105b9eed}

Help!!!

2

I'm not that familiar with VirtualBox so I'm going with the solutions proposed in these two threads (I recommend reading through the second one as it has some more interesting details about it).

On the terminal, disable the kernel module responsible for KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) as it seems to conflict with VirtualBox. This likely means that you cannot run both VirtualBox and KVM at the same time, unless until you re-enable the module:

# If you are using an Intel CPU
sudo modprobe -r kvm_intel

# If you are using an AMD CPU
sudo modprobe -r kvm_amd

Test if this works first, as this command will only last until your next reboot. If this works and want to make the change permanent, you can create a new entry in /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf:

blacklist kvm_intel

https://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?t=34880

And a follow up conversation with some more details:

https://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=15720

3

Thank you for your reply. Your suggestion sort of worked after I installed a different version of VirtualBox. A version that's not in Zorin Software. Only some of the VMs work, though. Weird. I've used VirtualBox for years and never had any problems with it. Also, disabling the KVM module causes Gnome Boxes, which I use occasionally, not to work. So, unfortunately, I can't use your suggestion. If you have a suggestion for another good VM software, I'm willing to try that.

4

Personally, I prefer to use KVM/QEMU along with Virt Manager:

Here's also an introduction tutorial:

As for the issue with Gnome Boxes, I'm guessing that it uses KVM under the hood as well which is why it breaks. I would suggest asking about this issue in the VirtualBox forums in order to get a better understanding of why it happens and how to solve it. If anything, it might help others with the same issue.

1 Like
5

I will give KVM/QEMU a try.

Thank you for your help :slight_smile:

6

I like Boxes :slight_smile:

1 Like
7

You can import .vhd from Virtual Box (not .vdi). virt-manager is the only thing missing from PCLinuxOS. I find that VMs in virt-manager actually feel more like a bare-metal install than VirtualBox, the graphics are much crisper than VirtualBox and USB 3.0 support is better too.

1 Like