Forum Discussion
Windows Server 2025 Desktop Experience: Hyper-V cannot be installed
I have a lab with various Servers running Windows Server 2025. Some of them are installed without Desktop Experience, some with. Aside from Desktop Experience, the VMs and the operating are configured the same way using automated setup scripts.
I exposed the VirtualizationExtensions for all VMs on the host using Set-VMProcessor -ExposeVirtualizationExtensions $true. Moreover, I configured all VMs to use static memory assignment.
However, when I try to install Hyper-V on Windows Servers 2025 with Desktop Experience, I receive the error Hyper-V cannot be installed because virtualization support is not enabled in the BIOS.
The issue occurs without any updates installed as well as with KB5050009 (2025-01 Cumulative Update for Microsoft server operating system 24H2 for x64 based Systems) installed. On machines without Desktop Experience, Hyper-V can be installed without any issues. As a side note, on VMs using Windows 11 24H2 on the same host, I can install Hyper-V without any issues.
It sounds like you need to enable virtualization support in your BIOS settings. Here are the general steps to do that:
- Restart your computer and enter the BIOS setup. This is usually done by pressing a key like F2, F10, Delete, or Esc during the initial boot screen. The exact key depends on your computer's manufacturer.
- Navigate to the CPU or Processor settings. This might be under a menu like Advanced, Advanced BIOS Features, or CPU Configuration.
- Enable virtualization. Look for options like Intel VT-x, Intel Virtualization Technology, AMD-V, or SVM Mode and set them to Enabled.
- Save your changes and exit the BIOS. This is usually done by pressing F10 and confirming the changes. Issues when starting VM or installing Hyper-V - Windows Server | Microsoft Learn
After enabling virtualization in the BIOS, try installing Hyper-V again. If you still encounter issues, make sure your BIOS is up to date, as some older versions might not support the necessary features
The servers are freshly installed. The BIOS/UEFI settings are the same for all VMs. The only difference is the Desktop Experience. If I install the servers without Desktop experience, Hyper-V is available.
Hey Rokory,
One thing you can try is to ensure that the "Hyper-V" role is enabled before installing Desktop Experience. You could also check the feature dependencies that come with Desktop Experience to see if any of them might be causing the issue.
If this doesn't work, another thing that comes to my mind is testing with different builds or reinstalling the Desktop Experience might help pinpoint the exact conflict.
Regards!
It sounds like the issue might be related to the Desktop Experience installation on Windows Server 2025. Even though you've exposed virtualization extensions and configured the VMs correctly, some system configurations with Desktop Experience could be interfering with Hyper-V installation. I’ve seen similar issues where certain features of Desktop Experience can conflict with virtualization settings, causing this error. One potential solution is to double-check the BIOS/UEFI settings for virtualization support, as well as verify that the server’s hardware is fully compatible with Hyper-V. You might also want to try uninstalling and reinstalling the Desktop Experience feature to see if that resolves the issue.
Hope it helps!
