If you’re setting up WSL 2, Docker Desktop, or virtual machine software like VMware or Android emulators, you might encounter issues such as:
- “WSL 2 requires an update to its kernel component”
- “This computer doesn’t have VT-x/AMD-V enabled”
- Docker reporting virtualization or Hyper-V compatibility problems
- Android emulators running slowly or failing to start
These issues often happen because Virtualization Technology (VT) is disabled in the BIOS—especially on Dell systems (Latitude, Inspiron, Precision, etc.), where VT is usually turned off by default for security and stability.
Check if Virtualization Is Enabled
Option 1: Using Task Manager
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. Go to Performance > CPU, and look at the Virtualization line in the bottom-right corner:
- Enabled: VT is active; your issue is likely caused by something else.
- Disabled: VT is off and must be enabled in the BIOS.
Option 2: Using Command Line
Open CMD or PowerShell and run:
systeminfo | findstr /i "Virtualization"
Look at the line:
- Virtualization Enabled In Firmware: No → VT needs to be enabled in BIOS.
- Yes → VT is already enabled.
Enable VT in BIOS on Dell Systems
Method 1: Press F2 During Startup
Shut down the PC completely (not restart). Turn it on and press F2 repeatedly until you see the BIOS setup screen. (Some Dell desktops may use the Delete key instead.)
Method 2: Access BIOS from Windows
Go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery. Under Advanced startup, click Restart now. Then select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware Settings > Restart.
Based on CPU Type
For Intel CPUs (Latitude, XPS, Inspiron, etc.)
In BIOS, go to Virtualization Support or System Configuration. Find Intel Virtualization Technology (or VT-x) and set it to Enabled. Press F10 to save and exit.
For AMD CPUs (Alienware, some Precision models)
Go to Advanced > CPU Configuration or Performance, then enable SVM Mode (Secure Virtual Machine). Press F10, save changes, and reboot.
Troubleshooting After Enabling VT
Enable Required Features in Windows
Go to Control Panel > Programs > Turn Windows features on or off. Ensure the following are checked:
- Virtual Machine Platform
- Windows Hypervisor Platform
- (For Docker or Hyper-V) Hyper-V
Restart your computer afterward.
Check Boot Mode
Press Win + R, type msinfo32, and look at BIOS Mode:
- If it shows Legacy, some virtualization features might not work. Switch to UEFI and enable Secure Boot if needed.
Update BIOS (if necessary)
Older Dell systems may require a BIOS update to expose VT settings. Visit dell.com/support, enter your Service Tag, and download the latest BIOS version for your model.
Additional Notes
Some game anti-cheat systems or debuggers may conflict with VT enabled, as they detect it as a virtualized environment. Also, enabling VT while BitLocker or Secure Boot is active may cause boot problems—temporarily suspend BitLocker before making BIOS changes if needed.
If you’re seeing virtualization-related errors on a Dell system, it’s likely that VT is disabled in BIOS. Enable it through BIOS settings, make sure Windows features are set correctly, and you should be up and running.