VirtualBox error : kernel driver not installed(rc=-1908) [closed]

I tried to set up an virtual machine on Ubuntu 12.10.I installed Oracle Vm VirtualBox Manager. Then, i followed the steps and i choose .iso file from settings>storage.Then clicked live cd/dvd option.Then OK,when i clicked to start button i get such an error :

 Kernel driver not installed (rc=-1908) The VirtualBox Linux kernel driver (vboxdrv) is either not loaded or there is a permissionproblem with /dev/vboxdrv. Please reinstall the kernel module by executing '/etc/init.d/vboxdrv setup' 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.

I reinstalled program and rebooted pc, but not worked.Also, updated kernel driver but not worked.What can be done to solve it ?

18 Answers

Thought I'd give my 2 cents for those who use MACs

sudo /Library/Application\ Support/VirtualBox/LaunchDaemons/VirtualBoxStartup.sh restart

sudo apt-get remove virtualbox-dkms
sudo apt-get install virtualbox-dkms

source:

ps. I have this issue everytime I get a Linux kernel update in Ubuntu. The instructions that it gives do not work for me but these two commands work everytime. It would be nice if everytime I got a kernel update these two commands would automatically run afterwards...

I have a solution that works for MacOS users:

You have to restart your system and press Command (⌘) + R during the loading. It will start the Recovery mode.
Now that you're on the Recovery Mode, click on Utilities (top bar) and Terminal.
You have your terminal opened? Enter, it will add Oracle in the authorisation list to access the kernel.
spctl kext-consent add VB5E2TV963
Restart again.

You're welcome.

(I'm on a Mac with this solution) I tried the first few answers on this board (so you might need those as well first), but then finally I Allowed Oracle to "load software" under System Preferences -> Security & Privacy -> in the bottom right, click "Allow..." Then a dialog box with checkbox options might come up, search for Oracle and check the box next to it. Click OK out of everything. (I also updated the preference above the "Allow..." button to Allow apps downloaded from: to "App store and identified developers") After all of this I rebooted and I no longer see this -1908 error when running a VM. Again, I'm on a Mac, running Big Sur 11.2.1.

Personally, on my Mac installing the latest version of VirtualBox solved the problem

Goto BIOS setup and Make secure boot Disable It worked for me.

Had recently the same problem on Ubuntu 18.04. Apparently, virtual box 6.+ has some issues with gcc-7. These steps did the job for me:

Removing virtualbox

sudo apt-get purge virtualbox-*

installing gcc-8

sudo apt-get install gcc-8 g++-8

setting default gcc to gcc-8

sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/gcc gcc /usr/bin/gcc-8 800 --slave /usr/bin/g++ g++ /usr/bin/g++-8

and reinstalling virtualbox with the debian installer did it for me!

did you try the command /etc/init.d/vboxdrv setup What was the output ?

First you have to install dkms packages (but optional)

sudo apt-get install dkms

Then run this

sudo /etc/init.d/vboxdrv setup

But in my case I had to run only second one.

Follow the following steps for Linux:

cd /etc/yum.repos.d/
vim epel.repo
Make every "enabled=1"
yum install dkms

there were only linux-lts kernel in my system so far. i just install linux-lts-headers using pacman and then i rebooted pc.it worked for me.

This one in recovery mode answered by @idkn worked for me.

spctl kext-consent add VB5E2TV963

The below code seems to fix the error. It might recur when you update your distrbution, so make sure to rerun it.

sudo modprobe vboxdrv

The latest macOS Testbuild (revision >= r140753) has preliminary support for MacOS Big Sur included.

For all builds please check:

See for more info.

did you try the command:

sudo kextload /Library/Extensions/

I had the same problem and I fix it with this:

rm -r /etc/init.d/vboxdrv
rm -r /var/lib/update-rc.d/vboxdrv
apt-get install virtualbox virtualbox-dkms virtualbox-guest-utils virtualbox-guest-additions virtualbox-qt

via :

Firstly open a terminal and write this command: