How to fix 'modprobe vboxdrv' error in virtualBox?

I install virtualBox on Ubuntu 16.04, but after install and create new virtual Host shows this error:

Kernel driver not installed (rc=-1908)

The VirtualBox Linux kernel driver (vboxdrv) is either not loaded or there is a permission problem with /dev/vboxdrv. Please install virtualbox-dkms package and load the kernel module by executing

modprobe vboxdrv

as root. If it is available in your distribution, you should install the DKMS package first. This package keeps track of Linux kernel changes and recompiles the vboxdrv kernel module if necessary.

where: suplibOsInit what: 3 VERR_VM_DRIVER_NOT_INSTALLED (-1908) - The support driver is not installed. On linux, open returned ENOENT. 

How to address this modprobe vboxdrv error?

Solution 1:

As the first step run this command:

sudo modprobe vboxdrv

If it's not helpful run these commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install --reinstall linux-headers-$(uname -r) virtualbox-dkms dkms

Then reboot your system and after reboot run this command:

sudo modprobe vboxdrv

And if it doesn't work you must disable Secure Boot in your BIOS/UEFI settings because Secure Boot prevents unsigned modules from being loaded.

Solution 2:

1. Uninstall virtualbox-dkms and its configurations by running the below commands:

   sudo apt-get remove virtualbox-dkms
   sudo apt-get remove --purge virtualbox-dkms
   

2. Install Linux headers and Linux image by running the below command:

   sudo apt-get install -y linux-headers-amd64 linux-image-amd64
   

3. Install virtualbox-dkms

   sudo apt-get install -y virtualbox-dkms
   

Solution 3:

In my case it has to do with UEFI being active. In that case, unsigned kernel modules like vboxdrv aren't loaded.

More info here: Could not load 'vboxdrv' after upgrade to Ubuntu 16.04 (and I want to keep secure boot)