VirtualBox: Host OS processor is spiked while guest OS virtual processor is idle?

VirtualBox: Host OS processor is spiked while guest OS virtual processor is idle? I'm running Windows XP 32-bit on Windows Vista 64-bit with VirtualBox 3.0.6. Whenever I run the XP VM, Vista (host) reports 100% cpu utilization even though XP (guest) reports between 1-5% cpu utilization.
Asked by: Guest \| Views: 287

Total answers/comments: 4

Comments display order:

Guest [Entry]

"I experienced this problem running a Windows XP guest on an Ubuntu Intrepid host, and the solution for me was to disable ACPI in Windows XP.

http://forums11.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/bizsupport/questionanswer.do?admit=109447626+1253120112041+28353475&threadId=652377"

Guest [Entry]

"Is the guest configured with more than one CPU? That seems to still be a bit buggy with some OS combinations, even under 3.0.6.

Did you post up at the VirtualBox forums too, so the developers will see your problem report?"

Guest [Entry]

"Note that there are much more than just the CPU that is emulated. It could be the IO processor/memory paging etc at work.

That's my blank speculation though."

Guest [Entry]

What process is being shown as taking up the CPU? If it is System you could have something causing the system to cache or PIO mode enabled.