Solutions for Resolving VirtualBox Product Key Reading Issues

Step 1: Eliminate the Unattended Configuration File

Start by removing the configuration file tied to your virtual machine, as it might be corrupted. Rest assured, this will not affect your personal data but solely your VM’s settings. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Power off your VM: Right-click it and select Stop.
2. Right-click the machine again and select Settings.
3. Switch to Expert mode.
4. Go to the Advanced tab and copy the path from the Snapshot Folder.
5. Open File Explorer, paste the path into the address bar, and hit Enter.
6. Delete all unattended configuration files found in this folder.
7. Navigate to System > Motherboard, select Floppy in the Boot Order section and uncheck it.
8. Finally, click OK to save your changes.

Pro Tip: Always ensure that you back up your VM settings before making changes.

After you’ve completed these steps, restart your VM to see if the problem resolves. If the issue persists, repeat the deletion of the unattended files and move on to the next solution.

Step 2: Modify the Virtual Machine Settings

The issue could stem from misconfigured VM settings. To potentially resolve this, adjust the VM’s configurations as follows:

1. In VirtualBox, right-click your virtual machine and select Settings.
2. Navigate to System > Processor, ensuring the CPU count is a minimum of 2, and the Execution cap is set to 100%.Make sure Enable PAE/NX is checked.
3. Proceed to Display > Screen, verify that Enable 3D Acceleration is active, and increase the Video Memory to 256 MB.
4. Go to **Storage**, select the unattended storage device, and press the Remove icon. In the Attributes section, ensure Live CD/DVD is selected.

After these adjustments, test to see if the problem is resolved.

Step 3: Get a New ISO File and Launch a New VM

A corrupt ISO file might be the culprit. It is best to delete the existing ISO file and download a new one from the official Microsoft site. After obtaining the new ISO file, create a new virtual machine with these steps:

1. Open VirtualBox, click on New, and start configuring your VM.
2. When prompted to select the ISO file, skip this step and proceed.
3. After the VM setup is complete, right-click on it and select Settings.
4. Go to Storage > Attributes, and select the disk icon.
5. Choose Choose a disk file, locate your newly downloaded ISO file, and attach it.
6. Finally, start your VM and try to install the operating system.

This approach should handle any installation hurdles you encounter.

Step 4: Disable the Windows Native Hypervisor

Ensure that the Windows native hypervisor (Hyper-V) is disabled, as it can conflict with VirtualBox and produce unexpected issues. To turn it off, follow these steps:

1. Open the Control Panel.
2. Set the View by option to Large icons.
3. Go to Programs and Features > Turn Windows features on or off.
4. Uncheck Hyper-V and click OK ; wait for the uninstallation to finalize.
5. Reboot your computer.

After restarting, check to see if the problem is resolved.

Pro Tip: Disabling Hyper-V may require administrative permissions.

How to Resolve Windows Product Key Errors in VirtualBox?

Why is the Product Key Failing?