Virtual Machines

Ubuntu Version: 24.04.3 LTS

Desktop Environment: Gnome Flashback

System Description:
Intel Core I7 CPU
32 GB RAM
2 TB HD

Problem Description:
Running Windows11 as guest on Oracle Virtualbox

Windows 11 is running extremely slow. It takes about 4 minutes to boot to the login screen and then an additional 3 minutes to stabilize where the Windows Start Button and other icons appear on the task bar. I have allocated 16GB for the Win 11 guest.

I also have Window XP running as a guest on the same platform and it responds instantly so the problem is related to the Windows 11 guest installation.

Attempts to fix problem:

Blacklisting kvm and kvm-intel
Disabling hardware virtualization
Turned off Windows hypervisor platform in Windows features

I’ve allocated 5 GB RAM to my Windows 11, also on VirtualBox, and it boots to stable in 25 seconds.

My 5-year-old computer has 16 GB RAM and an SSD. You don’t say whether you are using an SSD or a spinning drive; that might make quite a difference.

You also haven’t said which version of VirtualBox you’re using. I’m using 7.2.2.

Let’s compare settings in VirtualBox.

System

  • Base memory: 5,120 MB
  • Chipset: PIIX3
  • TMP version: 2.0
  • UEFI & Secure Boot: both enabled
  • Number of CPUs: 6
  • Processing cap: 100%
  • Features enabled: I/O APIC, PAE/NX, Nested VT-x/AMD-V, Nested Paging

Display

  • Video memory: 256 MB
  • Graphics Controller: VBoxSVGA
  • 3D Acceleration: turned off

Storage

  • Hard disk: SATA port 0, marked as solid-state drive

Network

  • NAT with default settings

I have installed Guest Extensions in the Windows 11 guest.

1 Like

I’m using a winchester (spinning) drive, but that shouldn’t make that much difference. Also, I’m using VB 7.2.2.

More info: I copied the Win 11 virtual machine to another computer running Ubuntu 24.04.3 and VB 7.1.2 (also with a winchester HD) and it booted stable in 30 seconds.

I am going to uninstall VB 7.2.2 on this computer and install 7.1.2 in this machine and see what happens. It’s possible this version was somehow corrupted at or before installation.