Windows 11 is no longer compatible with the immensely popular Oracle VirtualBox virtualization platform after Microsoft changed its hardware requirement policies for virtual machines.
When Microsoft first announced Windows 11, they stated that computers needed new system requirements to install the operating system, including a TPM 2.0 security processor and Secure Boot.
Even though many people were angry with these new hardware requirements, Microsoft has not wavered as these components are used to power numerous security features in Windows 11.
However, as the enterprise and software developers commonly use virtual machines to test new operating systems, Microsoft said that Windows 11 would not check for compatible hardware when installed or upgraded.
"Microsoft recognizes that the user experience when running the Windows 11 in virtualized environments may vary from the experience when running non-virtualized. So, while Microsoft recommends that all virtualized instances of the Windows 11 follow the same minimum hardware requirements as described in Section 1.2, the Windows 11 does not apply the hardware-compliance check for virtualized instances either during setup or upgrade," explains Microsoft in their Windows 11 minimum hardware requirements document.
Microsoft this week suddenly did an about-face without ample warning and is now enforcing the Windows 11 system requirements on virtual machines (VMs).
"This build includes a change that aligns the enforcement of the Windows 11 system requirements on Virtual Machines (VMs) to be the same as it is for physical PCs. Previously created VMs running Insider Preview builds may not update to the latest preview builds.
In Hyper-V, VMs need to be created as a Generation 2 VM. Running Windows 11 in VMs in other virtualization products from vendors such as VMware and Oracle will continue to work as long as the hardware requirements are met." - Microsoft.
Now when Windows Insiders attempt to update their Windows 11 builds running on virtual machines that do not have TPM support or use a small system disk, they will see a message stating, "This PC doesn't currently meet Windows 11 system requirements," as shown below.
For VMWare Workstation, Hyper-V, Parallels, and QEMU users, this is not a problem as they support TPM passthrough and Secure Boot.
However, Oracle VirtualBox does not currently support these features, causing Microsoft's new policy change to effectively make it so you cannot use Windows 11 on VirtualBox.
In response to our question about VirtualBox no longer supporting Windows 11 due to these changes, he replied that the OS will still run on other platforms.
VirtualBox devs are working on a fix
With Oracle VirtualBox devs dropping the ball on TPM support, they are now working on a passthrough driver that will allow a host's TPM to pass through to the Windows 11 guest.
Once this is completed, a Windows 11 device will see a host's TPM and should allow Windows 11 upgrades and installs to continue.
Unlike VMware, which creates a virtual TPM, VirtualBox's new driver will require a host to have a TPM 2.0 processor for this feature to work.
However, as the driver is still in its early stages, it is unclear if it will be available when Windows 11 is officially released on October 5th.
With VirtualBox being a very popular virtualization platform due to it being free and easy to use, this lack of support will affect many people who wish to continue testing or get stated with the operating system.
BleepingComputer has contacted Oracle about this TPM passthrough driver and when it's expected to be ready but has not heard back at this time.
Comments
Mallissin - 2 years ago
Virtualbox has been working on Hyper-V support for nearly a year. I'm sure they'll have a version that will work on Windows 11 even with these requirements.
Lawrence Abrams - 2 years ago
This has nothing to do with Hyper-v. It's the lack of TPM and Secure Boot support that is the issue.
SuperSapien64 - 2 years ago
Regardless this Microsoft making life more difficult for people.
d-reaper - 2 years ago
Wasn't the point of technology to make life easier? Not harder? Seems MS forgot that.
Linux is way easier than this rigmarole MS came up with. Like as is 10 wasn't suck enough.
ardsur - 2 years ago
I have problems startign W11 in VB because of Secure boot. My PC, 2yrs old, has TPM2.0 and while secure boot is available, I had it dis-engaged.
VB was working fine with the ISO of W11 about a month ago. Then I engaged Secure boot and suddenly VB does not start W11, but informs that a lot of additional moduls have to be installed. This is on Ubuntu 21.04 O.S.
I hope this TPM solution will also solve my problem.
d-reaper - 2 years ago
Windows 11 is the biggest pile of crap ever. Should I ever see a USB laying around that said "Windows 11" on it, I will promptly throw it in the garbage where it rightfully belongs.
Should I ever need this monstrosity, I know where I'm going to get my images; Team-OS.
Thankfully however, I am enjoying my happily ever after with Linux. ;)
No1gr8 - 2 years ago
I used to like VirtualBox, but not anymore. They were threatening to sue someone I know because they "thought" they were using the product commercially when they weren't. It was a big mess. Unfortunately, VirtualBox is a typical Oracle company now.
DrkKnight - 2 years ago
It is going to be nice to see this POS take a dump .
Cant sell PC's if you can't get semi conductors to build them with ..... morons
NoneRain - 2 years ago
They're finally implementing secure boot and TPM, after a decade, when every other solution already have.... good job Oracle?
Yaliyada - 2 years ago
Check out https://youtu.be/1u2j6idxsv4. I install Windows 11 on the current VB!
tkalfaoglu - 2 years ago
Fortunately, Windows is no longer required for most mission-critical applications, or for playing games. With the advent of tools like "gamemode" and "Lutris" most games play at the same speed under Linux - if not faster.
In fact, mission-critical and Windows are oxymorons, and should not be pronounced together.
d-reaper - 2 years ago
True. But most trolls love to bring up the Adobe argument. Like really... There are many other options aside from Adobe. Adobe is a rip off and a bloated mess.
Lancelhoff - 1 year ago
I've done a writeup on How to Install Windows 11 on VirtualBox for testing which bypasses TPM, RAM, and Secure Boot requirements.
https://lancelhoff.com/install-windows-11-on-virtualbox-without-tpm/
d-reaper - 1 year ago
Nice walk though. But I have an easier solution; PhoenixLiteOS. A mod of Windows 11 with all the BS removed. It's just a google search away. This is the only way I'll ever use Windows in a VM. But other than that, 11 will never touch any physical hardware when it comes to any of my household computers; everyone in my household is on Linux now.