Virtualbox 7.04: Windows 11 guest hangs with hyper-V paravirtualization enabled

[sercallegar]

Running Virtualbox 7.04 on a linux host (ubuntu 22.04). Machine is a laptop with an Intel Core i7-10510U CPU and Intel integrated graphics.

I am trying to use a Windows 11 guest.

If I set the paravirtualization interface to "default" or Hyper-V (which I guess is the default when windows 11 guest type is selected), then the Windows 11 guest hangs quite frequently. In fact, trying to start word is enough to systematically hang the guest OS. If I set the paravirtualization interface to KVM (which I guess is something that Win11 cannot talk to), then I have no hangs.

I do not know if this is relevant, but I have the latest Virtio drivers for paravirtualized SCSI and network interface installed in Windows.

Any clue?

[aeichner]

Pleas upload a log of the affected VM when the hang occured.

[hamelg2]

when freezes occur for a few seconds randomly

[hamelg2]

Sorry, ignore my comment. It's not relevant to this issue.

[Justinh]

I'm seeing the same thing after a new install (unattended). The install finished, I start working in the guest, then suddenly locked up. Windows host.

[aeichner]

Please attach a VBox.log of the affected VM.

[schoeto]

There seems to be a problem with Windows 11 guests (Only Linux hosts? Only Intel graphics?). The error frequently seen (by myself and from others on the internet) is

00:26:01.165144 VMMDev: vmmDevHeartbeatFlatlinedTimer: Guest seems to be unresponsive. Last heartbeat received 4 seconds ago

There are no previous error indicators in the log.

Problem often seems to be the graphics. Me and others solved the problem by switching from VBoxSVGA to VBoxVGA. Some solved it by uninstalling or ​downgrading the Guest Additions.

[tekstryder]

Replying to schoeto:

There seems to be a problem with Windows 11 guests (Only Linux hosts? Only Intel graphics?). The error frequently seen (by myself and from others on the internet) is

00:26:01.165144 VMMDev: vmmDevHeartbeatFlatlinedTimer: Guest seems to be unresponsive. Last heartbeat received 4 seconds ago

There are no previous error indicators in the log.

Problem often seems to be the graphics. Me and others solved the problem by switching from VBoxSVGA to VBoxVGA. Some solved it by uninstalling or ​downgrading the Guest Additions.

Running Virtualbox 7.0.6 with Guest Additions 6.1.42 is the only workaround I've been able to employ without completely reverting to the Virtualbox 6.1.4x series.

Same freezes here with VBoxSVGA (default), Hyper-V (default), and the workaround to try the other virtual video driver modes is not viable in my case, as I need full 4k resolution fullscreen support.

I can reproduce this Win11 VM freeze 100% reliably by simply launching Windows Explorer.

Hopefully they're working quietly behind the scenes to resolve this. There are many similar tickets regarding this failure currently reported and none have any developer responses.

See also:

https://www.virtualbox.org/ticket/21431

https://www.virtualbox.org/ticket/21448

https://www.virtualbox.org/ticket/21492

[tekstryder]

Forum discussion on this topic:

​https://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=108440

[tekstryder]

This issue is still present and easily reproduced on Virtualbox 7.0.8 with Guest Additions 7.0.8.

Guest freezes with the same log/error but nothing else informative:

00:02:52.712472 VMMDev: vmmDevHeartbeatFlatlinedTimer: Guest seems to be unresponsive. Last heartbeat received 4 seconds ago

Once again I've installed GA 6.1.44 in VB 7.0.8 Win11 guest as a temporary workaround until a proper fix is eventually released.

Attaching an updated log for 7.0.8 freeze.

[tekstryder]

Also, see new Virtualbox Forum thread:

​https://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=109147

[Dmitrii Grigorev]

Hello all.

On my side the freeze of a Windows11 guest VM reproduces quite rarely. Could you please perform this steps to collect more information for analysis:

1. Download and install on your Windows 11 VM the Guest Additions from "Development snapshots" section at
   

https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Testbuilds

2. Add the environment variable VBOX_RELEASE_LOG=-dev_vmm_backdoor.restrict
3. Reproduce the freeze and attach your VBox.log here

The VBox.log you'll finally get should contain lots of traces from VGPU driver.
Thank you!

[tekstryder]

Replying to DmitrG:

1. Download and install on your Windows 11 VM the Guest Additions from "Development snapshots"

Wow, thank you so much!

Using GA r157444 I can no longer reproduce the freeze after a couple quick boots and short testing.

Formerly, I had a 100% reproducer by simply launching Windows Explorer.

I'll keep testing with this new GA version until next release, but all good so far!

[Dmitrii Grigorev]

Hello all. Please download and install on your Windows 11 VM a recent Development snapshots version of Guest Additions from https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Testbuilds. The issue has been fixed. Please check it!

[tekstryder]

For me, the following combinations of VB 7.0.8 and GA yield....

Freezes: Any official 7.0.x GA versions and "Latest 7.0.x test builds":

VBoxGuestAdditions_7.0.8

VBoxGuestAdditions_7.0.9-157702

Fixed: Win11 guest no longer freezes, and fully operational for ~week each with "Development snapshots":

VBoxGuestAdditions_7.0.97-157444

VBoxGuestAdditions_7.0.97-157540

VBoxGuestAdditions_7.0.97-157700

What's likely happening is the "test builds" branch still hasn't gotten the fixes merged from the "Dev snapshots" builds yet.

[tekstryder]

Adding a couple more data points with new Test Build and Developer versions available.

For my install, the following combinations of VB 7.0.8 and GA yield....

Freezes:

VBoxGuestAdditions_7.0.8

VBoxGuestAdditions_7.0.9-157702

Fixed (Win11 guest no longer freezes, and fully operational):

VBoxGuestAdditions_7.0.97-157444

VBoxGuestAdditions_7.0.97-157540

VBoxGuestAdditions_7.0.97-157700

VBoxGuestAdditions_7.0.9-157775

VBoxGuestAdditions_7.0.97-157801

[tekstryder]

Replying to Dmitrii Grigorev:

Hello all. Please download and install on your Windows 11 VM a recent Development snapshots version of Guest Additions from https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Testbuilds. The issue has been fixed. Please check it!

This issue is Resolved / Fixed for me with VB 7.0.10.

Thank you!