Virtual XP Won't Start
- I have successfully completed the installations of Windows Virtual PC and Virtual Windows XP. However, on startup on XP it goes into a loop of "initializing the virtual machine" and "starting operating system." Once it hits the "starting operating system" it jumps back to the beginning of the initialization process. I watched it do this for about 30 mins and then I went to lunch and just let it run. When I returned, there was a message saying something like "could not enable integration features." I clicked through to continue without them but XP will not start. It just keeps coming back to the operating system list where I can choose to start normally or use last known configuration, etc.
I did run the Intel Processor Identification Utility and my processor supports IVT. What else should I try?
Please let me know if you need more information. Thanks!
Answers
- Hi Joe,
We have come across various names for DEP setting in BIOS. It can be called as Execute Disable, XD, NX etc. Check for these and please enable it if this is disabled. Let us know if you could boot a VM after turning this setting on.
Also you can run some tools like securable and check if the DEP is ON or OFF. Let us know your DEP setting.
Thanks,
Vikas- Marked As Answer byNitin.GargMSFT, ModeratorWednesday, May 13, 2009 4:03 PM
All Replies
- Joe,
Regarding Virtual Windows XP I assume you went through the setup wizard asking you to make a password, WU settings etc. and after that you saw the behavior described.
- Can try starting Virtual Windows XP again and after it fails share the logs at %temp%, the files starting with VPC_UI_TRACe*.txt.
- In Windows Event Viewer, navigate to Applications and Service Logs->Microsoft->Windows->Virtual PC->Admin and around the time of failure see if any error/warning is logged.
Regards,
Gaurav - As log states VM is getting into triple fault and resetting. We need to find what is causing this.
1. Open settings and clear "Enable at startup" for "Integration features"
2. Start the VM
See at which stage machine is resetting, may be it will give us some idea.
Thanks,
-Vinod
Thanks, -Vinod -- "This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights. You assume all risk for your use." - I probably sound like an idiot here but I am unable to clear the "Enable at startup" checkbox. It is always disabled.
- What's your virtual machine's state? Stopped or something else?
- Hi Joe,
In the settings page -> Integration Features -> right pane->bottom , do you see the message that Virtual PC integration features should be installed to enable these settings.
Thanks
Vrijesh
Cheers - The virtual machine is either running or hibernating because of the loop that it gets in. When I close the window it goes into hibernating. If I open it back up it just starts the loop again and there is no way to power it down.
Yes, there is a message at the bottom of the pane about integration features needing to be installed. Can you please press Shift+Esc when you see starting up dialog? This should take you to integration-feature disabled mode and you can see the VM desktop.
Thanks, -Vinod -- "This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights. You assume all risk for your use."- I had a similar situation with a Windows 2000 VM.
I ensured that the VM was Turned Off
I deleted the .vcmx file for the Windows 2000 VM (Click on Start....All Programs...Windows Virtual PC...Virtual Machines)
I clicked on the Create A Virtual Machine link (just above the Name column)
And created a new VM, pointing it at the .vhd file when it asked for it.
The Win2K VM now works perfectly.
Had similar issues with a Vista VM, but terminated it before I could get all the error messages.
Used the procedure above and it works fine - but it can't install a VPCBus (a device in Device Manager).
Windows Server 2003 R2 VM works well this way also and also cannot find the VPCBus.
All the VM's were copied from my Win7 Beta1 system where they worked fine.
- John - Vinod, I tried pressing Shift + Esc and that allowed me to see the VM desktop as it was trying to start up. I would see the Windows logo and then it would reboot.
Usasma, I tried what you said which allowed me view the settings of the virtual machine while it was powered down but I still had no luck starting it up or even disabling the integration features.
One thing that did work for me was creating a virtual machine from scratch and installing XP from the CD. I was able to complete the installation and it seems to run fine. Although, I'm not entirely convinced everything is right because none of the integration features seem to work. I installed the integration components from inside the VM but I can't view any host folders or share the clipboard, etc.
- Did you install XP SP3 Pro as a guest? IC only supported on XP with SP3.
- I'm having issues with the integration components in my Vista SP2 VM.
It won't install because these 2 processes are running:
vmusrvc.exe
explorer.exe (interestingly explorer.exe doesn't respawn on it's own)
I killed them both, then ran setup.exe from the CD drive and get the message that setup was interrupted.
Can't locate any events that seem to relate to it in Event Viewer.
Gonna have to try a fresh VM w/Vista SP1 to see if that's the issue.
- John - John,
Are you installing integration components on top of the VM which has no previous integration components or VM additions from VPC 2007?
After the setup failure for integration components there will be an install log called VPCICInstallLog.txt that would have got created under %temp% in the VM. Can you share that with us?
Gaurav - FlowMaN, I only had an XP disc with SP2 on it. After I set that up, I downloaded and installed SP3 before installing the integration components.
Thanks Gaurav! I'm not trying to detract from the original poster's efforts here. Just trying to add additional information that may help them get their VM running. FYI - I copied my VHD's from VPC07 and am using them in the new Virtual PC in Win7, so the problems may not be the same. FWIW - my VM's work fine for my purposes - and the XP VM that came with the install works without problems.
I can't upload the logfile, it's too big. If you don't think it's relevant to Joe Kanner's issues I won't post it.
- John- I am having the same exact problem as mentioned in the thread. I installed the new Virtual PC on Windows 7 Ultimate RC and downloaded the exe for Windows XP Mode. I tried to create the VM but had the same exact looping problem. It would never get to a VM (and I let it go for like 8 hours!!!). Then I tried to create a custom VM with Windows XP Pro with SP3. The install was perfect until I installed the Integrated Components. It then gets to the Windows XP boot screen and goes into a constant loop. It never has a chance to enable the components because the OS never loads. Safe Mode works ok though.
I did find an update patch on MSDN (KB961742-v3) I reinstalled XP and put this patch on first before the integrated components. After I installed the components, it took a little longer to boot, but still looped before ever getting to ths OS. My event log on the host machine also talks about a fatal processor error. I have been at this for a few days now and haven't got any farther than that. Any help would be appreciated. I am running an Intel i7 920, 6GB DDR3 RAM, Windows 7 Ultimate x64 RC. Thanks!! - I'm also running an i7 processor. Here are my specs:
i7 CPU 965 @ 3.20GHz
12.0 GB RAM
Windows 7 Ultimate x64 RC- Proposed As Answer byNitin.GargMSFT, ModeratorWednesday, May 06, 2009 6:48 AM
- Unproposed As Answer byNitin.GargMSFT, ModeratorWednesday, May 06, 2009 6:48 AM
- I'm having the same looping problem with the installation of Virtual Windows XP. I'm also running a i7 processor and win7 x64 RC.
- It seems to me that Windows VPC has compatibility issues with i7 processors, I'll try to escalate.
- someone want to explain to me virtual windows xp please? i went to the web site but i am still confused
I downloaded and installed windows 7 1so on virtual pc 2007 sp1. Vista home preimium is the host and windows 7 is the guest (i had windows 7 beta this way and had no problems)
Since i am on virtual pc 2007 sp1 is it possible inside windows 7 rc to install the virtual xp ? is this a full copy of xp pro sp3? or do you have to go get a copy of xp pro sp3?
Do you need to install virtual pc beta first then download and install virtual xp mode?
I also thought that in the rc it would be included because it says in final it will be so i am totally lost.
robin
- Thanks FlowMaN. I appreciate your time on this.
- Hi Joe
We have recieved this feedback; and are looking into it. Thanks for your time.
Nitin - Hi Joe
Can you help us with the logs ?
Please set the traces on (as below), repro this issue, and send us %temp%\VPC_* files from the host machine .
Run the following from elevated CMD
setx VPC_OUTPUT_LEVEL 15 /Msetx VPC_TRACE_LEVEL 15 /M
Repro the issue again and send the %temp%\VPC_* files from the host machine
Thanks
Nitin - CPU: Intel İ920
Same problem here too, virtual xp wont start :( - We have logged this feedback and are looking into it.
Thanks
Nitin- Unmarked As Answer byNitin.GargMSFT, ModeratorTuesday, May 12, 2009 7:30 AM
- Marked As Answer byNitin.GargMSFT, ModeratorFriday, May 08, 2009 6:12 PM
- Is there any progress on this?
i7 920
6GB DDR3
W7 Ultimate x64
Looping setup. Initializing virtual machine, starting virtual machine - reboot.
Shift-ESC shows the VM starting and the XP logo for 2 seconds before a reboot. Rather annoying. - As a workaround, try disabling Intergration Features at startup; To do that open %user profile%\Virtual Machines\. Locate the Virtual Windows XP VM, right click Settings and uncheck the "Enable at Startup" dev box.
- "Enable at startup" is greyed out, when it is hibernated, running or powered down.
- "Enable at startup" will be enabled when vm is powered down. So you should be able to uncheck it.
Thanks, Rashmi U.R - Hey all,
I've tried installing the XP mode for Windows 7 RC on my computer and have not had any luck - it just keeps restarting over and over again and will not stay on.
I tried making a new one like was suggested in another thread, but no luck there either.
No bootable media is in there either.
Please help! Found someone else with the core i7 920 with similiar problems, so I don't know if it is a bios setting for that that I need to change?
Thanks
windows 7 RC
Intel Core I7 920
MSI x58- Merged byRahul RazdanMSFT, ModeratorTuesday, May 12, 2009 5:11 AMSame issue
- Hey All
Can you please send your machine details (msinfo32) to wcvdata@microsoft.com ?
Can you please try the below and see if the issue is going away -
1. Click on Start....All Programs...Windows Virtual PC...Virtual Machines
2. Select Virtual Windows XP, right-click -> go to Settings.
3. Go to Close (right pane - last option) -> Select "Prompt for Action" radio button.
4. Start Virtual Windows XP, and then close the window. A prompt pops up -> select Turn Off.
5. Repeat Steps 1 and 2.
6. In the settings page -> Integration Features (right pane->bottom) -> Clear the "Enable at StartUp" check box.
7. Start the VM.
If you still get the issue, please perform the following -
1. Start the Virtual XP in safe mode. You can do this by pressing F8 and selecting the Safe Mode option.
2. Go to Add/Remove Programs, and uninstall Virtual PC Integration Components.
3. Reboot the virtual machine in normal mode.
Please let us know your experience. This will help us in narrowing down the problem.
We really appreciate your time on this.
Thanks
Nitin - I am unable to start Virtual XP in safe mode. Message is:
"Windows XP Setup cannot run under Safemode. Setup will restart now." hi,
Did you by any chance change the BIOS settings on the machine where you are hitting this issue to disable DEP? If so, can you please enable the same in BIOS and reply if you are still able to see the issue while starting the VM [after installing Integration components]
thank you
Kiran [msft]
- I did not change the DEP setting. In fact, I rebooted my computer to check that setting and I couldn't even find it in the BIOS.
- Hi Joe,
We have come across various names for DEP setting in BIOS. It can be called as Execute Disable, XD, NX etc. Check for these and please enable it if this is disabled. Let us know if you could boot a VM after turning this setting on.
Also you can run some tools like securable and check if the DEP is ON or OFF. Let us know your DEP setting.
Thanks,
Vikas- Marked As Answer byNitin.GargMSFT, ModeratorWednesday, May 13, 2009 4:03 PM
- Vikas,
Thanks for the tip.
I am an i7 920 user, with the Win7 RC x64 ultimate, and was having the same problem as in this thread.
When I enabled DEP in my BIOS (I believe it was called XD, and was in the overclocking settings), my virtual machine managed to boot up fine.
I haven't attempted any of the integration features yet, but I thought the other i7 users should know.
Tiberias - Thanks Tiberias.
- This also worked for me!
Enabled XD or "Execute Disable Bit" in the BIOS and it booted right into the setup instead of looping.
i920
6GB DDR3 - Thanks for the additional direction. I found the setting in the BIOS and after enabling it the VM booted up just fine. Problem solved.
Thank you so much for your help. - This also worked for me. Setting in my BIOS is called Extreme Bit Support. By default, this is disabled. Enabling it allowed XP to boot in Virtual PC.
Thanks so much for working this out.
Bryan
Running Windows 7 Ultimate RC Build 7100
MSI X58 Pro
Intel i7 920
6 GB RAM
Thank you very much. The setting in my BIOS (MB MSI X58 Pro-E, i7-920 2,66GHz processor) is called Execute Bit Support and by default is disabled too.
- Enabling "execute bit support" in BIOS seemed to have worked for some people. However, for me this solution is not working, no matter if the virtual machine components installation were done with "execute bit support" turned on or off . Virtual machine gets stuck both on shutting down and start up/loading of integration features. Virtual machine start from hibernation takes forever and ends up with integration features loading failure. Continuing without them gives me only a black screen in virtual machine where I can't do anything except hibernate again. Reinstalled everything in home OS (Win 7 Ultimate x86) on numerous occasions. Downloaded the latest updates. Nothing seems to help.
The issues hasn't been resolved I think.