Learn how to fix the “AMD-V is disabled in the BIOS” error in VirtualBox. Our Virtualizor Support team is here to assist you with any questions or concerns you may have.
How to Fix the “AMD-V is Disabled in the BIOS” Error in VirtualBox
Having trouble with the “AMD-V is disabled in the BIOS (or by the host OS) (VERR_SVM_DISABLED)” error when trying to run a virtual machine using VirtualBox, don’t worry.
Our Experts have your back. This common issue pops up when the AMD processor supports virtualization, but the feature is either disabled in the BIOS or blocked by the operating system. Without AMD-V, VirtualBox cannot run virtual machines efficiently, particularly those that require multiple CPU cores.
Today, we’ll walk through the causes of the error and how to fix it.
This error typically appears when VirtualBox attempts to start a virtual machine but is unable to access the processor’s virtualization capabilities. Here is the full syntax of the error is:
AMD-V is disabled in the BIOS (or by the host OS) (VERR_SVM_DISABLED)
An Overview:
Key Impacts of the Error
- Virtual machines fail to start or experience crashes.
- Limited performance, as VMs may be restricted to using a single CPU core.
- Overall instability or malfunction of virtualization-based applications.
These problems are not unique to VirtualBox. If you’re working with platforms like Virtualizor or Proxmox, you might also encounter errors such as “Failed to start” or API-related issues like “API call failed in Proxmox Virtualizor”.
Common Causes & How to Fix Them
1. AMD-V is Disabled in BIOS
The most common cause is that AMD-V is disabled in the BIOS settings.
Click here for the Solution.
- First, reboot the computer and enter the BIOS/UEFI setup.
- Then, locate the virtualization setting, often labeled as “SVM Mode”, “Secure Virtual Machine”, or “AMD-V”.
For example:- Gigabyte motherboards: Advanced Frequency Settings > MIT tab > Advanced CPU Settings.
- AORUS x570 boards: Tweak tab > Advanced CPU Settings.
- Also, enable the setting, save the changes, and exit BIOS.
- Finally, perform a complete shutdown and unplug the system for 10 seconds to ensure the change takes effect.
2. Hyper-V is Enabled in Windows
Microsoft’s Hyper-V can block VirtualBox from accessing virtualization features.
Click here for the Solution.
- First, go to Control Panel >Programs > Turn Windows features on or off (run `appwiz.cpl`).
- Then, uncheck the following:
- Hyper-V
- Virtual Machine Platform
- Windows Hypervisor Platform
- Click OK and restart your computer.
- Alternatively, we can disable it via Command Prompt (admin):
dism.exe /Online /Disable-Feature:Microsoft-Hyper-V-AllCopy Code
3. Too Many CPU Cores Assigned to VM
When AMD-V is disabled, assigning more than one core can trigger the error.
Click here for the Solution.
- Open VirtualBox.
- Then, go to Settings > System > Processor.
- Set the Number of Processors to 1.
- Finally, save and restart the virtual machine.
4. Outdated BIOS
An old BIOS version may not fully support or expose AMD-V features.
Click here for the Solution.
Visit the motherboard manufacturer’s website and download the latest BIOS update. Then, follow the official instructions to flash the update safely.
5. Conflicting Software
Other virtualization tools, like VMware or certain security software, can interfere with VirtualBox.
Click here for the Solution.
- Uninstall other virtualization platforms.
- Also, temporarily disable or remove any security software that might include sandbox or virtualization components.
If you’re using Virtualizor as your virtualization platform, you may also run into issues like server password validation failures, which often relate to host-level misconfigurations or conflicts.
6. Incorrect Virtual Machine Version
Selecting the wrong guest OS version in VirtualBox can sometimes cause this issue.
Click here for the Solution.
- Open VM Settings > General > Basic.
- Change the guest OS to another version, e.g., from Windows XP (32-bit) to Windows 2003 (32-bit).
- Then, try starting the VM again.
Prevention Tips
To avoid running into this issue again:
- Keep the BIOS up to date for the latest virtualization support.
- Avoid enabling Hyper-V unless required for specific tasks.
- Additionally, periodically check your BIOS settings, especially after updating the BIOS or performing a system reset.
- Also, be cautious with new software that might include virtualization or sandbox features.
- Furthermore, fully shut down the system after BIOS changes to ensure settings apply correctly.
And if you’re working with other platforms like Virtualizor, make sure you follow best practices when adding ISOs or managing templates to avoid similar VM deployment issues.
[Need assistance with a different issue? Our team is available 24/7.]
Conclusion
The “AMD-V is disabled” error can be easily resolved by making a few changes to the BIOS and Windows settings.
In brief, our Support Experts demonstrated how to fix the “AMD-V is disabled in the BIOS” error in VirtualBox.
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