No virtualization (VT-x) support on MacBook Pro?

Discussion in 'Parallels Desktop for Mac' started by aspa, Apr 10, 2006.

  1. aspa

    aspa Bit poster

    Messages:
    8
    i'm testing Parallels Workstation on a MacBook Pro. the Parallels Workstation installation guide says that if the CPU has Intel Virtualization Technology support, this should be visible by checking the 'About Parallels Workstation' screen.

    on my machine the additional information sections looks like this:

    Additional information:
    Virtualization mode: Software mode 0
    Remote client off
    session:

    does this mean that VT-x support is not available to Parallels on this machine?

    aren't the MacBook Pro CPUs supposed to have VT-x support?
     
  2. Scott Willsey

    Scott Willsey Hunter

    Messages:
    174
    There is a topic regarding the mac mini and VT-x in this forum. Check that out and see if it is helpful to you as well. Several people who initially showed VT-x disabled were able to get it working. Mine was enabled from the start. Good luck. :)

    Edit: Here's the topic:

    http://forum.parallels.com/thread85.html
     
  3. palter

    palter Hunter

    Messages:
    243
    About Parallels only accurately reports the virtualization mode when a VM is actually running.
     
  4. Scott Willsey

    Scott Willsey Hunter

    Messages:
    174
    He had to have it running or it would not have showed software mode 0, it would have shown it was not running.
     
  5. aspa

    aspa Bit poster

    Messages:
    8
    here's what the info looked like, when i just tried it with a guest os session running:

    Additional information:
    Virtualization mode: Intel VT-x
    Remote client off
    session:
     
  6. Scott Willsey

    Scott Willsey Hunter

    Messages:
    174
    That means VT-x is working.

    PS. The first time you did NOT have it running?! When I look at the about window with no session running, I see "Virtualization mode: off" instead of showing a software mode.

    Odd.
     
  7. Andrew @ Parallels

    Andrew @ Parallels Parallels Team

    Messages:
    1,507
    When VM is just starting and passing BIOS and guest bootloader it works in "Software mode 0". And only after 3-4 seconds it switches to "Intel VT-x".

    It happens because Intel doesn't support VT-x for real CPU mode and we are bound to pass real mode in software virtualization mode. Once guest OS is switches to protected CPU mode VM switches to "Intel VT-x" mode.

    Bottom line: during first 3-4 seconds after VM start you could see "Software mode 0" in About even if VT is enabled. In that case just wait a little and check About again.

    PS: For real mode OSes like MS-DOS VT-x won't switches at all.
     

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