Hardware virtualization enabled but not working in HP Pavilion p6

[dplanella]

I've got an HP Pavilion p6 series (Model no. p6-2003es), with an up-to-date v7.15 BIOS, and I'm unable to use hardware virtualization.

I've enabled Virtualization in the BIOS under System Security, pressed F10 and saved the changes as per the usual procedure when modifying BIOS settings. However, when trying to run virtualization software (Virtualbox in this case), I get a warning notice stating that processor supports virtualization, but it's not enabled.

This seems to be the case: the feature is supported, but the BIOS does not seem to change the setting and enable it. I've tested it under 2 different OSs, with the same result:

• Under the original Windows 7 64-bit, I've ran the Microsoft HAV Detection Tool, which tells me that hardware virtualization is not enabled.
• Under Ubuntu 12.04, I've ran the rdmsr tool, which allowed me to read the AMD MSR (Model Specific Register) bits concerned with virtualization, and confirmed that they are not enabled.

I suspect that this is a BIOS issue (i.e. it's not setting the bits required to enable virtualization), but after a search on the forums it strikes me that no one has reported it yet, so any help, comments or workaround for this issue will be really welcome.

Thanks!

[illiniengineer]

Same problem with a new p7-1258.  Enabled yet not functional.

Bios 7.16 dated 12/2012. 

Seems a common complaint that HP does not have a response for.

[Big_Dave]

Hi dplanella,

Boot into the bios and change the VT setting to enable.  Save the change when you exit.

[illiniengineer]

Hi Big_dave - Please re-read the problem that dplanella presented.  It's the same problem that I am having with my new p7-1258.

After enabling virtualization in the BIOS, as your screenshot explains, and booting Windows, the virtualization is STILL NOT enabled, preventing the use of VMware or VirtualBox or Virtual PC/Windows XP mode.

Here is the screen shot from the Microsoft Hardware Assisted Virtualization Detection Tool as mentioned by dplanella.  Again, I have the same problem.

[Big_Dave]

Hi illinengineer,

Did you even look to see if the motherboard in your PC is the same as the OP's?

Did you even try VirtualBox or Virtual PC/Windows XP mode?

I see you were already given advice on another thread on what to do.  Did you follow that advice?

Lastly, try a 32 bit guest.

[Blogger01]

I too am experiencing this issue on the Pavilion P7-1210. I contacted HP Support and they advised me that it's an issue with the operating system. So the Windows 7 x64 that they shipped with it appears to be defective as well as the reinstallation of Windows 7 x64 and ubuntu 11.10, xubuntu 11.10 and xubuntu 12.04. Amazing all of them forgot to add the code to allow VT capability pass to a software based hypervisor.

There is a reason HP is losing it's home computing share... failure to provide support for bad product...

[illiniengineer]

Yes, HP has completely fallen down on this issue.  They apparently are not monitoring these forums except by their low-level people who can only re-state and re-question what we have already told them.  Apparently this issue has not risen to the level of the person that goes "oops, sorry about that, here's a new bios update" and be done with it.

Next time it is a Dell.