E_FAIL (0x80004005) when running Linux through Windows 8 Virtualbox

Solution 1:

Possible solution: The following registry key seems to cause trouble:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers] "C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox\VirtualBox.exe"="DISABLEUSERCALLBACKEXCEPTION"

See if this entry exists. If so, delete it and try again.

You may also need to disable your antivirus. If nothing works, try one of the following:

• Uninstall your antivirus (NOT RECOMMENDED)
• Replace your antivirus with Microsoft Security Essentials Pre-release (4.6)
• Give up on VBox and use Hyper-V

Also, as a side note, if you are using Windows 8.1 Pro or higher, try Microsoft's Client Hyper-V. I extremely prefer it over VBox.

Solution 2:

Although downgrading to VirtualBox 4.3.12 works, so does upgrading to 4.3.16.

I had the exact same problem as user135626 today, probably as a result of a Windows update and a Security configuration change.

When looking for newer versions from INSIDE VirtualBox 4.3.14, I was told that I was running the latest version. Which was incorrect.

Version 4.3.16 is available for download from https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads