Windows Server 2025 and Windows 11 v24H2 boot to Automatic Repair after enabling VBS on AMD VMware vSphere ESXi servers

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0
• VMware vSphere ESXi 8.0

Issue/Introduction

After VBS is enabled on VMware vSphere ESXi (AMD) virtual machines, the Windows Server 2025 and Windows 11 v24H2 guest operating systems boot to Automatic Repair as shown in below screenshot.

This is caused by an operating system issue affecting Windows Server 2025 or Windows 11 v24H2 build 26100 and is fixed in the Windows Update KB5039239.

Resolution

This issue is fixed in the update, June 15, 2024—KB5039239 (OS Build 26100.863) - Microsoft Support.

Workaround

When you encounter Windows Automatic Repair shown is the screenshot above after enabling VBS on VM and in guest OS, select Turn off your PC and follow below steps:

1. Click Editing Settings -> VM Options of the VM, uncheck Virtualization Based Security, and click Ok.
2. Click Editing Settings in the VM, go to the CPU dropdown list, uncheck Expose hardware assisted virtualization to the guest OS on Hardware virtualization, and click Ok.
3. Power on VM, install Windows June 15, 2024—KB5039239 (OS Build 26100.863) update, or check and install the listed updates from Windows Update, and restart OS as required. Make sure that the Windows build number is 26100.863 or later.
4. Shutdown the OS.
5. On vSphere vCenter UI of the VM, click Editing Settings -> VM Options, select Virtualization Based Security, and click Ok.
6. Power on the VM.