Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-11

How to Fix: VirtualBox kernal error in Windows 10 trying to run Vagrant

VirtualBox kernel error in Windows 10 with Vagrant

Quick Answer: Try updating VirtualBox and Vagrant to the latest versions, and ensure that the vboxdrv.inf file is correctly installed.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. ⚠️ Common Causes
  2. 🔧 Proven Troubleshooting Steps
  3. 🎯 Final Words

The error message 'The guest machine entered is an invalid state while waiting for it to boot. Valid states are 'starting, running'. The machine is in the 'poweroff' state.' indicates that Vagrant is unable to start a virtual machine and is displaying an invalid state. This issue affects users of VirtualBox 4.3.16 on Windows 10 64-bit who attempt to run Vagrant 1.6.5.

This error can be frustrating as it prevents the user from accessing the virtual machine, which may contain important data or applications. However, by following the steps outlined in this troubleshooting guide, users should be able to resolve the issue and get their virtual machine up and running.

⚠️ Common Causes

  • The primary cause of this error is a faulty VBoxDRV.inf file. This file is required for VirtualBox to function properly on Windows. When the VBoxDRV.inf file is corrupted or not installed correctly, it can lead to errors such as 'VERR_SUPDRV_HARDENING_EVIL_HANDLE(rc=-3738)

🔧 Proven Troubleshooting Steps

Updating VirtualBox Drivers

  1. Step 1: Open the VirtualBox settings by right-clicking on the virtual machine and selecting 'Settings'. Then, navigate to the 'Display' tab and click on the 'Driver' button. Select the latest version of the VBoxDRV.inf file from the list of available drivers.
  2. Step 2: Close the VirtualBox settings window and restart VirtualBox. This will update the drivers and potentially resolve the issue.
  3. Step 3: If the problem persists, try reinstalling the VBoxDRV.inf file manually by right-clicking on it and selecting 'Install'. Then, restart VirtualBox and attempt to start the virtual machine again.

Manually Installing .inf Files

  1. Step 1: Right-click on the VBoxUSBMon.inf file and select 'Install'. This will install the file and potentially resolve the issue.
  2. Step 2: Repeat the same process for the VBoxDRV.inf file. Right-click on it, select 'Install', and then restart VirtualBox.

🎯 Final Words

By following these steps, users should be able to resolve the Vagrant virtual machine error and get their system up and running. If the issue persists, consider seeking further assistance from a technical support specialist or updating VirtualBox to the latest version.

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