Solution VM VirtualBox usage after docker installation on Windows

Photo by Ian Taylor on Unsplash

Solution VM VirtualBox usage after docker installation on Windows

So you installed docker to check it out and than the real problems began on windows, here's the solution!

You started to use docker because everybody told you it would be better!

And after using it a bit… well you just want to go back to good old VM Virtualbox. But you can’t… because as soon as you spin it up…. windows crashes with a big blue screen of death.

Sounds familiair?

I had the same problem and this is how I solved it.

Docker

Docker is a virtualisation project on an operating- system-level. As it first was Unix only, docker now also comes bundled with Windows Server 2016 and it is available for Windows and Mac.

Docker allows users, like you and me, to install applications inside software containers. The application running in docker runs separated/isolated from the operating system on which the applications are running. Setup and removal of these applications is easy and has little to no effect on the operating system.

As you understand Docker is a very secure and fast way to build and test applications as your windows machine will not notice them running.

VM VirtualBox

VM VirtualBox (owned by Oracle) is a cross-platform virtualisation application. You install it on your existing Intel or AMD-based, Windows, Mac, Linux or Solaris.

VM VirtualBox allows you to run multiple operating systems (inside multiple virtual machines) at the same time. So on your Windows or Mac based PC you can run Ubuntu, CentOS, Windows 95 or a Windows 2008 server. You can install and run as many virtual machines as you like — the only practical limits are disk space and memory.

Hyper-V

Microsoft Hyper-V enables running virtualized computer systems on top of a physical host. These virtualized systems can be used and managed just as if they were physical computer systems, however they exist in virtualized and isolated environment.

Hyper-V must be enabled on your desktop system. Docker for Windows automatically enables it upon install.

Hyper-V is not compatible with Oracle VirtualBox. Therefore, you cannot run the two solutions simultaneously.

Even worse, if you try… windows crashes into a blue screen of death!

Solution running VM VirtualBox

So, like me, you want to get rid of docker (just uninstall it!) and want tonrun VM VirtualBox again… well guess what… you can’t!

Nope….. you screwed up your system with installing Docker that comes with Microsoft Hyper-V installed and no other then Microsoft can screw your system.

But there is a solution!

Uninstalling docker is not enough!

I would say, get rid of your windows machine and buy a Macbook, or a Chromebook but you just have to get rid of Hyper-V

Actually there are a few solutions… and as great as Windows is… one or more or none will work.

Solution 1

  • Press Windows key + X
  • Click Programs and Features
  • Click Turn Windows features on or off
  • Expand Hyper-V
  • Uncheck it.

Solution 2

Open een Powershell window and type in:

Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Hyper-V-All

Type Y and press Enter when prompted to restart the computer.

Solution 3

Open CMD (as an Administrator) and type in:

dism.exe /Online /Disable-Feature:Microsoft-Hyper-V-All

Type Y and press Enter when prompted to restart the computer.

If one of these solutions don’t work, there are two other solutions you mightnwant to try.

  1. Reinstall Windows 10 (well good luck with that!)
  2. Buy a real computer! Buy a MacBook!

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