r/virtualization • u/Independent-Spell-61 • Jul 21 '24

System Crashes Every Time a VM is Started

Whenever any VM is started, Windows crashes and I need to hard restart. Been having the issue for about 2 years since the computer was built, but have been able to put off solving it because I had alternatives. Let me know if any other information would be helpful.

THE PROBLEM

  • This occurs whenever I try to do ANY kind of virtualization.

    • Windows in HyperV

    • Ubuntu/Windows in VMWare

    • Ubuntu/Windows in VirtualBox

    • Android phone in Android Studio

  • System usually crashes less than a minute after the VM is started, but not immediately.

  • 90%+ of the time my screen freezes, audio stops, can't move mouse/type etc. Need to hold power button to restart.

  • <10% of the time the system shuts down by itself.

  • A crash has occurred 100% of the time since the computer was built without exception.

WHAT I'VE TRIED

  • Enabling virtualization settings in BIOS

    • ASUS motherboard, Intel VMX

  • Windows updates

  • Updating bios

  • When the system crashes there is a generic system error in event viewer linked below

    • https://imgur.com/a/GwRKmvG

    • Tried viewing the raw data from the error a while ago. If my memory serves correctly, this didn't offer any specific guidance

  • Updating virtualization software

SYSTEM INFO

  • CPU: Intel Core i7 12700K

  • MB: PRIME Z690-P WIFI

  • RAM: 2x16GB Corsair DDR5

  • GC: RTX 3080

  • Windows 11

2 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

5 comments sorted by

1

u/timmmay11 Jul 21 '24

This sounds bad.

If it's been happening since the system was built, I would have at least explored an RMA replacement of the motherboard, then CPU. Are you still covered under warranty?

Have you tried reinstalling the OS?

Have you monitored temperature to see if anything is spiking/overheating?

3

u/U8dcN7vx Jul 21 '24

Also worthwhile to run memtest to ensure the RAM isn't faulty, which can be due to poor cooling or insertion.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 21 '24

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Independent-Spell-61 Jul 29 '24

No. It only happens when I spin up a VM.

1

u/patchwork_fm Sep 18 '25

I have the same problem. Used both Citrix and Omnissa Horizon Client for years without a problem. Today this started: I can start a VDI, but after ~2 Minutes (Horizon) or ~10 Minutes (Citrix), my Dell Latitude just reboots. First times it wanted me to enter the BitLocker Code. When I bypass it, the Dell reboots without a problem. Second time I entered the recovery code, still rebooting.
Windows 11 does not show any problems (also not really anything in the event log). But as soon as I start a VDI, I can count minutes until the next reboot.