Windows hypervisor must be running

In the following sections, italics indicates UI text that appears in the Best Practices Analyzer tool for this issue.

Windows hypervisor is not running.

Virtual machines cannot be started until Windows hypervisor is running.

Check the Windows Server catalog to see if this server is qualified to run Hyper-V. Next, make sure the BIOS is enabled for hardware-assisted virtualization and hardware-enforced data execution prevention. Then, check the Hyper-V-Hypervisor event log.

To check the catalog, see Windows Server catalog (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=111228).

1. Restart the computer and access the BIOS or UEFI through the configuration tool. Access to this tool usually is available when the computer goes through a boot process. Immediately after you turn on most computers, a message appears for a few seconds that lists the key or combination of keys to press to open the configuration tool.

2. Find the settings for virtualization and hardware-enforced Data Execution Prevention (DEP) and verify that they are on. Following are common menu locations for these settings in the configuration tool, and examples of what they might be named:

   • Virtualization support:

     • Usually available under the settings for the main processor or performance. Sometimes it's under the security settings.

     • Look for parameter names that include "virtualization" or "virtualization technology".

   • Hardware-enforced DEP:

     • Usually available under the security or memory settings.

     • Look for parameter names that include "execution", "execute", or "prevention".

3. If necessary, turn on the settings by following the instructions in the configuration tool. Save the changes and exit.

4. If you made any changes, turn the power off and then back on to finish.

   Important

   We recommend that you turn the power off and then back on (sometimes called a power cycle) because the changes aren't applied on some computers until this happens.

Next, check the Hyper-V-Hypervisor event log. If there are problems, you'll also check the System log.

1. Open Event Viewer. Click Start, click Administrative Tools, and then click Event Viewer.

2. Open the Hyper-V-Hypervisor event log. In the navigation pane, expand Applications and Services Logs >> Microsoft >> Windows >> Hyper-V-Hypervisor, and then click Operational.

3. If Windows hypervisor is running, no further action is needed. If Windows hypervisor isn't running, do this:

4. Open the System log. (In the navigation pane, expand Windows Logs and then select System.)

5. Use a filter to find Hyper-V-Hypervisor events:

   1. In the Actions pane, click Filter Current Log. For Event sources, specify "Hyper-V-Hypervisor".
   2. Look for events that report problems. For example, event ID 41 indicates a problem with the BIOS configuration: "Hyper-V launch failed; Either VMX not present or not enabled in BIOS."

For details about using Hyper-V on Windows 10, including how to check that your computer can run Hyper-V, see Windows 10 Hyper-V System Requirements.