Possible Solution To This Mess

POSSIBLE SOLUTION to 100% CPU usage on host by prl_vm_app

Suggested by another user in another thread:

1. Uninstall Parallels Desktop 4.0
2. Login as another user and install PD4 while logged in as that user.
3. Log back in to your normal user account and run PD4

I did this and no longer have excessive cpu usage by prl_vm_app or the Parallels Desktop process. I should note that in my case when I reinstalled I was logged in as root, but I don't think it matters. Also, I did not have to re-import or convert my virtual machines. I am using one that I already converted to 4.0 and it works great!! Super low cpu usage!!

Good luck!

 

ebatte,

Thank you, this is great observation and it might help us dig in right direction when resolving the problem. Please change your thread name to something like "possible solution to 100% CPU usage on host by prl_vm_app", so that it's easier for other users to search for your solution.

 

Here is the other thread where the suggestion to install as another user was mentioned:
http://forum.parallels.com/showthread.php?t=31430&page=4

 

Further observations:

I installed the update to build 4.0.3540 while logged in as myself and the high cpu usage returned just as before!

So, I tried to fix this by logging in as root and installing the update again. Still high cpu usage...so I tried various combinations of uninstalling and reinstalling as myself, root, a new (non-admin) user all without success.

Finally, I uninstalled 4.0 as myself. Then I created a new user with admin privileges and logged in as that user and installed 4.0.3540. Then I logged back in as myself and ran my XP VM, and VOILA! Success again.

This seems to indicate that once Parallels is installed as one user it is broken for that user until Parallels is reinstalled as another/different admin user. I've never seen anything so crazy.

Parallels, I hope this info is helping you to fix this!

 

Tim, I changed the title of my first post but it doesn't appear in the forum. I can see it when I edit that post, though.

 

Did you run the VM to install Parallels Tools in the new user account you created or did you just install Parallels itself and not run the VM until you logged in as your old account and installed Parallels Tools in your old account?

 

asilver,
I waited until I logged in as myself until I ran the vm. I did not run the vm at all in the new user account, just installed Parallels. I did not have to reinstall Parallels Tools as they were already installed in the VM.

 

ok thanks. I'll try that.

 

Try this KB article: http://kb.parallels.com/en/5810, if it hangs during the VM uprgade try pressing Ctrl+Cmd+Option+R to interrupt the process, then follow the steps from KB article

 

It's back!!!

I've been running for a week or so without high cpu usage and suddenly today it is back!

Again, the cpu usage is in the Mac OS as long as Parallels is running, even if the virtual machine is OFF. I do not have any indication that the cpu drive in windows is in need of reinstallation and I don't think that could be the problem since the VM is OFF, anyway.

What the heck is going on here?!

Eric

 

What do you consider as "super low CPU usage" ? I experience 15-55 ? with no processes running (avg 25-30) and rising with a bit of browsing etc. Seems high to me.....