Enable Hyper-V Role In Windows 10 Professional, Enterprise And Education Vs. Android Emulators

#Enable The Hyper-V Role in Windows 10 Professional, Enterprise Or Education Using PowerShell

#If this is the first time, and if if this will be the only time enabling the Hyper-V role in Windows 10, then this PowerShell command is all you need. If you need to switch the Hyper-V services on/off to avoid interference with other hypervisors and without removing the Hyper-V role then download Hyper-V Switch.

#Enable Hyper-V Role Using PowerShell

Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName:Microsoft-Hyper-V -All

#Disable Hyper-V Role Using PowerShell

Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Hyper-V

#The Long Story…

#Continue reading if you are having issues or are using a conflicting hypervisor or emulator and getting the dreaded Blue Screen of Death.

#Having Issues Enabling Hyper-V Role In Windows 10 Professional, Enterprise Or Education?

Check Requirements

  • Windows 10 Enterprise, Professional, or Education
  • 64-bit Processor with Second Level Address Translation (SLAT)
  • CPU support for VM Monitor Mode Extension (VT-c on Intel CPU’s)
  • Minimum of 4 GB memory

NOTE: The Hyper-V role cannot be installed on Windows 10 Home.

OK so beyond those requirements lies a different issue many are facing with the advent of Android based virtual machines and emulators.

BlueStacks Android Emulator and Andy Android Emulator both crash on load every time, when the Hyper-V role is active.  It looks like both used to work together before the Anniversary Edition update broke the support of Hyper-V and other emulators running at the same time. Here is the bulletin from BlueStacks regarding this issue.

I  want my computer to run everything and work right all the time, so I tried to install x86Android Android Emulator in Hyper-V as an alternative. Once I finally was able to get an older version to work; I found the touchscreen support / controls were unsuitable for my needs. The controls were pure garbage. I may revisit that scenario and try for a more complete configuration but BlueStacks Android Emulator is just so much more user friendly on every level. For now, I switch back and forth between a Hyper-V and a BlueStacks setup.

Here is what I found to switch Hyper-V on and off.  Previously, I was removing the Hyper-V role and adding it again when needed, but a caveat of doing that is the Hyper-V Virtual Switch Manager settings are lost in the process. The settings need to be recreated and reattached to each virtual machine, every time the role is reinstalled. You end up with a lot of orphaned network adapters.


!!!Hyper-V Switch To The Rescue!!!

Calm down. This utility doesn’t allow Hyper-V to run simultaneously with VMWare, VirtualBox or BlueStacks, but this great tool I found at least saves a reboot (it takes two reboots if you add and remove the Hyper-V role). Also, I don’t have to reconfigure Virtual Switch Manager every time I do it. This program automates a bcdedit process to disable Hyper-V without removing the Hyper-V role as part of the process.

Use Hyper-V Switch to toggle Hyper-V support on and off when using other emulators like VirtualBox or Andy Android Emulator to keep it fast and simple. I saved it to my Desktop and edited the executable file to Run as Administrator just to be sure it has the rights needed. You can also single right-click on the executable file or shortcut and then single left-click on Run as Administrator every time.

https://github.com/ygoe/HyperVSwitch – Download from GitHub

http://unclassified.software/apps/hypervswitch – Hyper-V Switch Website


#Enable The Hyper-V Role Using PowerShell manually or for the first time

#For the first and if the only time enabling the Hyper-V role then the command  below is all you need.

Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName:Microsoft-Hyper-V -All

#Enable Hyper-V and all features.

Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName:Microsoft-Hyper-V -All

#Type y and press Enter


#Disable The Hyper-V Role Using PowerShell

Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Hyper-V

#Disable Hyper-V and all features

Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Hyper-V#Type y and press Enter


Manually Enable Hyper-V From The GUI

Windows Key-R to bring up the Run box.

Type optionalfeatures.exe and single left-click OK to execute (just means to run) optionalfeatures.exe. This method actually allows for more control of the Hyper-V installation since you can deselect unneeded features. For example, some people may not have any need for the Hyper-V Module for Windows PowerShell module if they don’t use PowerShell  or PowerShell Direct to administer any virtual machines.

Single left-click to select the Hyper-V option. Single left-click the Plus sign to expand if you need to select or deselect any of the default features. I use all the Hyper-V features so PowerShell for this installation works just fine for me. The end goal is to avoid moving my mouse as much as possible.

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