"Binary Translation incompatible with long mode..." error

[jinxpenguin]

Hi,

In brief, what I am attempting to accomplish is to take VMs (windows server 2008 r2) created via vSphere (v 4.1), copy them to a local machine, and work on them using VM Player (v 5.0.1). I'm able to create VMs without issue and move them over to my machine. When I try to run them in player I get the following errors:

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/339/error1ac.png/

clicking ok gives me the following error:

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/809/error2n.png/

If I change my vmware player so that the virtualization engine in the processor for the vm runs with Intel VT-x/EPT then I get the second error message but not the first. Troubleshooting the second message told me that I should make sure Intel Virtualization is enabled, which it is:

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/600/pic3vo.png/

I also ran the vmware compatibility check, which came back clean:

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/32/pic4wy.png/

Has anyone else encountered this error? I've tried creating a new Windows Server 2008 R2 VM on the player and I get the same error message from it. If I pick Windows Server 2008, then everything is fine.

Suggestions would be appreciated.

[a_p_ · Accepted solution]

Welcome to the Community,

sounds as if VT-x is not enabled in the BIOS of the physical system!? Once you are in the BIOS, you may also want to enable the "Execute Disable Bit". After editing any of these settings you may need to power cycle the host (power off/power on).

André

[admin]

Please post the vmware.log file.

[jinxpenguin]

Thanks, a.p., that did the trick.

[Stubbie]

The Player 5 installation instructions contain a paragraph that says in order to install 64-bit guests, you need to be using a CPU+motherboard that support Intel trusted execution (TXT).  Of course, the error dialog text doesn't mention anything about TXT, so perhaps the Player developers could change the text in that dialog to at least mention TXT as a possible cause of the problem.

[admin]

Stubbie wrote:

The Player 5 installation instructions contain a paragraph that says in order to install 64-bit guests, you need to be using a CPU+motherboard that support Intel trusted execution (TXT).

Can you point me to that text?  It is entirely incorrect.

Of course, the error dialog text doesn't mention anything about TXT, so perhaps the Player developers could change the text in that dialog to at least mention TXT as a possible cause of the problem.

The second error dialog in the original post does mention 'trusted execution.'  Are you suggesting that it should say 'trusted execution (TXT)'?

[Stubbie]

For the motherboard I'm using (Intel DQ67SW), in order to turn on VT-x in the bios, I must first enable the TPM (i.e. must enable trusted execution).  Perhaps the linkage between VT-x and TXT is unique to that particular motherboard (?)

I found the it in the Player 5 installation documentation at:

http://www.vmware.com/pdf/desktop/vmware_player50.pdf

Paragraph 1.2, bottom of page 7 and top of page 8 says:

Processor Requirements for 64-Bit Guest Operating Systems
The operating system that runs inside a virtual machine is called the guest operating system. To run 64-bit
guest operating systems, the host system must have one of the following processors.
An AMD CPU that has segment-limit support in long mode
An Intel CPU that has VT-x support

If you have an Intel CPU that has VT-x support, you must verify that VT-x support is enabled in the host system
BIOS. The BIOS settings that must be enabled for VT-x support vary depending on the system vendor. See the
VMware knowledge base article at http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1003944 for information about how to determine
if VT-x support is enabled.

When you install a 64-bit operating system, Player performs checks to make sure the host system has a
supported processor. You cannot install a 64-bit operating system if the host system does not meet the processor
requirements.

[admin]

Stubbie wrote:

For the motherboard I'm using (Intel DQ67SW), in order to turn on VT-x in the bios, I must first enable the TPM (i.e. must enable trusted execution).  Perhaps the linkage between VT-x and TXT is unique to that particular motherboard (?)

VT-x and TXT are essentially independent technologies.  However, there are two bits in the feature control MSR for enabling VT-x: one enables VT-x outside of trusted execution and the other enables VT-x within trusted execution.  Some BIOSes set both bits when you enable "Virtualization Technology."  Some BIOSes will set only one bit: the one that enables VT-x within trusted execution if you have enabled "Trusted Execution" and the one that enabled VT-x outside of trusted execution if you have disabled "Trusted Execution."

Yours is the first BIOS I've heard of that won't allow you to enable VT-x unless you have also enabled trusted execution.

I found the it in the Player 5 installation documentation at:

http://www.vmware.com/pdf/desktop/vmware_player50.pdf

Paragraph 1.2, bottom of page 7 and top of page 8 says:

Processor Requirements for 64-Bit Guest Operating Systems
The operating system that runs inside a virtual machine is called the guest operating system. To run 64-bit
guest operating systems, the host system must have one of the following processors.
An AMD CPU that has segment-limit support in long mode
An Intel CPU that has VT-x support

If you have an Intel CPU that has VT-x support, you must verify that VT-x support is enabled in the host system
BIOS. The BIOS settings that must be enabled for VT-x support vary depending on the system vendor. See the
VMware knowledge base article at http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1003944 for information about how to determine
if VT-x support is enabled.

When you install a 64-bit operating system, Player performs checks to make sure the host system has a
supported processor. You cannot install a 64-bit operating system if the host system does not meet the processor
requirements.

Okay.  The Player documentation seems fine.

[WoodyZ]

Stubbie wrote: For the motherboard I'm using (Intel DQ67SW), in order to turn on VT-x in the bios, I must first enable the TPM (i.e. must enable trusted execution).

You are saying "TPM" and then "(i.e. must enable trusted execution)" and these are not the same and you should not need to enable the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) as I do not have it enable on mine and I have no problem utilizing virtualization!   (I'm mentioning this because I don't take "TPM" as a typo for "TXT" since the letters aren't even close to each other and the m and p are on the opposite side of the keyboard.")

[Stubbie]

WoodyZ:

It is true that for this particular Intel motherboard, you must enable TXT in order to enable VT-x.  I have the lates bios updated in it, and that is just the way it is, as strange as that may seem.  And, enabling TXT means having to enable the TPM.