virtualbox no bootable medium found windows xp

VirtualBox Error: No Bootable Medium Found - Windows XP Installation Fails

When attempting to install Windows XP as a guest operating system within VirtualBox, users may encounter an error message stating 'No bootable medium found.' This issue can be frustrating, especially when you have inserted the installation CD and configured your virtual machine settings correctly. In this article, we will explore the potential causes of this error and provide steps to resolve it.

Error Messages and Symptoms

During the installation process, you may see the following error messages in the VirtualBox log:

* 'BIOS: CDROM boot failure code : 0004'

* 'BIOS: Boot from CD-ROM failed'

* 'BIOS: Boot from Hard Disk 0 failed'

* 'BIOS: Boot from Floppy 0 failed'

* 'Could not read from the boot medium! System halted.'

If you encounter these errors, your virtual machine will restart and fail to install Windows XP. This can be a recurring issue if you select Reset and try to start the installation process again.

Common Causes of the Error

There are several reasons why you may encounter this error when attempting to install Windows XP as a guest operating system within VirtualBox:

1. Incorrect CD-ROM Configuration: Make sure that your virtual machine is configured to use the correct CD-ROM device. You can do this by selecting 'Devices' and then 'CD-ROM' in the VirtualBox settings.

2. Corrupted Installation Media: Ensure that your Windows XP installation CD is not damaged or corrupted. Try using a different CD or downloading a fresh copy of the installation media from Microsoft.

3. Insufficient RAM Allocation: Allocate sufficient RAM to your virtual machine. A minimum of 512 MB is recommended for a smooth installation process.

Resolving the Error

To resolve the 'No bootable medium found' error in VirtualBox, follow these steps:

1. Check CD-ROM Configuration: Ensure that your virtual machine is configured to use the correct CD-ROM device.

2. Verify Installation Media: Try using a different CD or downloading a fresh copy of the installation media from Microsoft.

3. Increase RAM Allocation: Allocate more RAM to your virtual machine, if necessary.

By following these steps and troubleshooting the common causes of this error, you should be able to successfully install Windows XP as a guest operating system within VirtualBox.

Virtualbox no bootable medium found windows xp