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How To Fix “VT-x is disabled in the BIOS for all CPU modes (VERR_VMX_MSR_ALL_VMX_DISABLED).” Error

“VT-x is disabled in the BIOS for all CPU modes (VERR_VMX_MSR_ALL_VMX_DISABLED)” is an error message that may appear when you try to start a virtual machine in a program like Oracle VirtualBox. This error indicates that the hardware virtualization feature (known as VT-x on Intel processors and AMD-V on AMD processors) is not enabled in the BIOS or UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) settings of your computer.

To fix this error, you will need to enter the BIOS or UEFI settings of your computer and enable the hardware virtualization feature. The steps to do this will vary depending on the make and model of your computer and the version of the BIOS or UEFI firmware it is using. Here are the general steps to follow:

Restart your computer and press the key required to enter the BIOS or UEFI settings. This key is usually displayed on the boot screen and is usually one of the following: DEL, F1, F2, F10, or Esc.
Once you are in the BIOS or UEFI settings, navigate to the “Advanced” or “Configuration” tab.
Look for a setting named “Virtualization,” “Virtualization Technology,” “Intel Virtualization Technology,” “AMD-V,” or something similar.
Enable the setting by pressing Enter and selecting “Enabled” or “On.”
Save your changes and exit the BIOS or UEFI settings.
Restart your computer and try starting the virtual machine again.

Note: If you are unable to find the hardware virtualization setting in the BIOS or UEFI settings of your computer, it may be because your CPU does not support this feature or because it has been disabled in the BIOS or UEFI firmware by the manufacturer. In this case, you will not be able to fix the error by enabling the setting in the BIOS or UEFI.

Definition of VT-x and its role in virtualization

VT-x, also known as Intel Virtualization Technology, is a hardware feature that enables a computer’s central processing unit (CPU) to function as multiple virtual CPUs. This allows multiple operating systems and applications to run on a single physical machine, each in its own virtual environment. VT-x is often used in conjunction with virtualization software such as Oracle VirtualBox, VMware, and Hyper-V to create and run virtual machines.

Explanation of the error message “VT-x is disabled in the BIOS for all CPU modes (VERR_VMX_MSR_ALL_VMX_DISABLED)”

The error message “VT-x is disabled in the BIOS for all CPU modes (VERR_VMX_MSR_ALL_VMX_DISABLED)” appears when attempting to start a virtual machine in a program like VirtualBox. This error indicates that the hardware virtualization feature is not enabled in the BIOS or UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) settings of the computer, and as a result, the virtual machine cannot be created or run. This error can be frustrating for users who depend on virtualization for their work or personal projects, and it is important to understand how to fix it in order to use virtualization software effectively.

Causes of the error

There are several possible causes of the “VT-x is disabled in the BIOS for all CPU modes (VERR_VMX_MSR_ALL_VMX_DISABLED)” error. The most common cause is that the hardware virtualization feature is not enabled in the BIOS or UEFI settings of the computer. In order to use virtualization software, this feature must be enabled in the BIOS or UEFI settings. If it is not, the error message will appear when trying to start a virtual machine.

Another possible cause of the error is that the computer’s CPU does not support hardware virtualization. While most modern CPUs support this feature, some older or low-end models may not. If the CPU does not support hardware virtualization, the error message will appear even if the feature is enabled in the BIOS or UEFI settings.

Finally, the hardware virtualization feature may be disabled by the manufacturer in the BIOS or UEFI firmware of the computer. This is often done for security or compatibility reasons, and it means that the feature cannot be enabled by the user, even if they try to do so in the BIOS or UEFI settings. If the hardware virtualization feature has been disabled by the manufacturer, the error message will appear when attempting to start a virtual machine.

How to fix the error

Step-by-step instructions for entering BIOS or UEFI settings and enabling hardware virtualization feature

If the “VT-x is disabled in the BIOS for all CPU modes (VERR_VMX_MSR_ALL_VMX_DISABLED)” error is caused by the hardware virtualization feature being disabled in the BIOS or UEFI settings, you can fix the error by following these steps:

Restart your computer and press the key required to enter the BIOS or UEFI settings. This key is usually displayed on the boot screen and is usually one of the following: DEL, F1, F2, F10, or Esc.
Once you are in the BIOS or UEFI settings, navigate to the “Advanced” or “Configuration” tab.
Look for a setting named “Virtualization,” “Virtualization Technology,” “Intel Virtualization Technology,” “AMD-V,” or something similar.
Enable the setting by pressing Enter and selecting “Enabled” or “On.”
Save your changes and exit the BIOS or UEFI settings.
Restart your computer and try starting the virtual machine again.

Tips for finding the hardware virtualization setting on different computer models and BIOS/UEFI versions

It is important to note that the steps and terminology for entering the BIOS or UEFI settings and enabling the hardware virtualization feature will vary depending on the make and model of your computer and the version of the BIOS or UEFI firmware it is using. If you are having trouble finding the hardware virtualization setting, you can try searching online for specific instructions for your computer model and BIOS/UEFI version.

In some cases, the hardware virtualization feature may be disabled by the manufacturer in the BIOS or UEFI firmware of the computer, and it may not be possible to enable it. If this is the case, you will not be able to fix the “VT-x is disabled in the BIOS for all CPU modes (VERR_VMX_MSR_ALL_VMX_DISABLED)” error by following the steps above. If your CPU does not support hardware virtualization, you will also not be able to fix the error. In these situations, you will need to consider alternative solutions, such as using a different virtualization software or upgrading to a newer computer with a CPU that supports hardware virtualization.

Alternative solutions

If the “VT-x is disabled in the BIOS for all CPU modes (VERR_VMX_MSR_ALL_VMX_DISABLED)” error is not caused by the hardware virtualization feature being disabled in the BIOS or UEFI settings, or if the feature has been disabled by the manufacturer and cannot be enabled, there are still a few alternative solutions you can try:

Changing boot order of devices
Creating bootable ESXi installer on a USB drive
Running diagnostic tests for hardware errors

Changing boot order of devices

Changing the boot order of devices: If you are trying to install VMware ESXi on a system that does not have the option for booting from CD, you can create a bootable ESXi installer on a USB drive and use it to install the software. To do this, you will need to change the boot order of your devices in the BIOS or UEFI settings so that the USB drive is first in the list of bootable devices. This should allow the installer to boot from the USB drive and install ESXi on the local disk.

Creating bootable ESXi installer on a USB drive

Creating a bootable ESXi installer on a USB drive: If you are using ESXi on a system that does not have the option for booting from CD, you can create a bootable ESXi installer on a USB drive and use it to install the software. To do this, you will need to insert a USB drive into one of your computer’s ports and follow the instructions for creating a bootable ESXi installer.

Running diagnostic tests for hardware errors

Running diagnostic tests for hardware errors: If you are experiencing the “VT-x is disabled in the BIOS for all CPU modes (VERR_VMX_MSR_ALL_VMX_DISABLED)” error and none of the above solutions have worked, it is possible that the error is being caused by hardware errors such as corruption of data in memory or storage media failures. In this case, you can try running diagnostic tests such as memtest86+ or SeaTools for Windows to check for hardware errors.

It is worth noting that these alternative solutions may not work in all cases, and they may not be applicable to all types of computer systems and virtualization software. If you are unable to fix the “VT-x is disabled in the BIOS for all CPU modes (VERR_VMX_MSR_ALL_VMX_DISABLED)” error using these solutions, you may need to consider using a different virtualization software or upgrading to a newer computer with a CPU that supports hardware virtualization.

Conclusion

In this blog post, we have discussed the “VT-x is disabled in the BIOS for all CPU modes (VERR_VMX_MSR_ALL_VMX_DISABLED)” error and how to fix it. We have explained that this error occurs when the hardware virtualization feature is not enabled in the BIOS or UEFI settings of a computer, and we have provided step-by-step instructions for entering the BIOS or UEFI settings and enabling the feature. We have also discussed alternative solutions for fixing the error, such as changing the boot order of devices, creating a bootable ESXi installer on a USB drive, and running diagnostic tests for hardware errors.

To summarize, the “VT-x is disabled in the BIOS for all CPU modes (VERR_VMX_MSR_ALL_VMX_DISABLED)” error can be caused by the hardware virtualization feature being disabled in the BIOS or UEFI settings, the CPU not supporting hardware virtualization, or the hardware virtualization feature being disabled by the manufacturer in the BIOS or UEFI firmware. To fix the error, you will need to enter the BIOS or UEFI settings of your computer and enable the hardware virtualization feature, or try one of the alternative solutions outlined in this blog post.

We encourage readers who are experiencing the “VT-x is disabled in the BIOS for all CPU modes (VERR_VMX_MSR_ALL_VMX_DISABLED)” error to try the steps outlined in this blog post and see if they are able to fix the error. If the steps outlined in the blog post do not work, or if you are unsure how to proceed, it is always a good idea to consult with a computer technician or seek assistance from the manufacturer or the virtualization software vendor. With the right knowledge and tools, it is often possible to fix the “VT-x is disabled in the BIOS for all CPU modes (VERR_VMX_MSR_ALL_VMX_DISABLED)” error and get your virtualization software up and running again.

VT-x is disabled in the BIOS for all CPU modes (VERR_VMX_MSR_ALL_VMX_DISABLED).