Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-11

How to Fix: VirtualBox command line error

VirtualBox command line error fix

Quick Answer: Check if the VirtualBox COM server is running, and try restarting it or reinstalling VirtualBox.

The error 'Failed to create the VirtualBox object!' with code CO_E_SERVER_EXEC_FAILURE (0x80080005) indicates that the VirtualBox COM server is not running or failed to start. This issue affects users who are trying to run VirtualBox commands from the command line, such as starting a virtual machine in headless mode.

This error can be frustrating because it prevents users from performing various tasks with VirtualBox, making it difficult to manage their virtual environments. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to resolve this issue and get back to using VirtualBox without any problems.

🛑 Root Causes of the Error

  • The primary reason for this error is that the VirtualBox COM server is not running or has failed to start. This can happen due to various reasons such as a corrupted registry, a missing or outdated version of the VirtualBox software, or an issue with the system's services.
  • Another possible cause is that the VirtualBox COM server is not properly configured or is set to run under a different user account than the one running the command line.

✅ Best Solutions to Fix It

Starting VirtualBox Services Manually

  1. Step 1: Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box, type 'services.msc' and press Enter.
  2. Step 2: In the Services window, locate the 'VirtualBox Service' under the 'Microsoft' section and click on it to select it.
  3. Step 3: Click on the 'Start' button in the right-hand Actions panel to start the VirtualBox service.

Checking System Configuration and Registry

  1. Step 1: Open the Command Prompt as an administrator by pressing Shift + F10 while right-clicking on the Start menu.
  2. Step 2: Type 'vboxcfg' and press Enter to check if the VirtualBox configuration is correct. If not, you can use the 'vboxcfg' command to update it.

💡 Conclusion

To resolve the 'Failed to create the VirtualBox object!' error, try starting the VirtualBox services manually or checking your system configuration and registry for any issues. If you are still experiencing problems after trying these steps, consider reinstalling VirtualBox or seeking further assistance from a qualified IT professional.

Did this fix your problem?

If not, try searching for specific error codes.

🔍 Search Error Database

❓ Frequently Asked Questions