How to fix error 0x80004005 starting VirtualBox VM on Windows 10

If cannot start a VM in VirtualBox, it's likely a problem with Hyper-V, and you can use these steps to fix the problem.

VirtualBox error 0x80004005
VirtualBox error 0x80004005

If you are using VirtualBox to create and run virtual machines on Windows 10, it is likely that at one point or another, you may end up with an “E_FAIL (0x80004005)” error code that will prevent the virtual machine from starting.

Usually, the failure will occur after upgrading to a new version (build) of Windows 10 or after you made changes to the Microsoft Hyper-V feature.

Whatever the reason, if you see the error 0x80004005, you can quickly fix the issue by disabling the feature on Windows 10.

In this guide, you will learn the steps to resolve the error preventing a virtual machine from starting on VirtualBox

Fix error 0x80004005 starting virtual machine on Windows 10

To fix VirtualBox error starting a virtual machine, use these steps:

  1. Open Start.

  2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.

  3. Type the following command and press Enter:

    bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype off

    Disable Hyper-V to fix VirtualBox

Once you complete the steps, the command will disable Hyper-V, and VirtualBox should now be able to start a virtual machine normally without errors.

Typically, the error will look like this:

Result Code: E_FAIL (0x80004005)
Component: ConsoleWrap
Interface: IConsole {872da645-4a9b-1727-bee2-5585105b9eed}
About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].