Doing IT Virtual

This post is content adapted from Chapter 11 of the Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 Resource Kit.

Virtual Machine in Saved State Fails to Restart After a Change in Hardware-Assisted Virtualization State

If you enable hardware-assisted virtualization in your computer BIOS and try to start a virtual machine that was previously in a saved state, the virtual machine will not start up.

When hardware-assisted virtualization is enabled, Virtual Server internal data structures differ. Therefore, saved state files that are created when hardware-assisted virtualization is disabled cannot be used to restore a virtual machine after hardware-assisted virtualization is enabled.

Resolution

In this case, the only solution is to ensure that you shut down all virtual machines prior to switching the hardware-assisted virtualization setting in your computer BIOS.

Virtual Machine in Saved State Fails During Start Up on a Different Virtual Server Host

If you move a virtual machine that is in a saved state to another Virtual Server host, your virtual machine might fail at startup. Saved state files are not compatible when moving between different processor brands (Intel, AMD) or processor steppings (Intel Northwood, Intel Prescott).

Resolution

If you need to move a virtual machine to a Virtual Server host whose motherboard contains a different processor manufacturer or processor stepping than the originating Virtual Server host, you must completely shut down the virtual machine prior to moving the files.