reduce virtual hdd size?

I know once it's already been set to a specific size one cannot reduce a virtual hdd....
But is this still the case with PD4 etc?

I currently have a 49GB virtual hdd (transported from a real laptop) in which only 10gb is being used.
I'd like to reduce the virtual hdd size to 15gb if possible?

Cheers,
Jed

 

Try following:
1. make sure that backup VM is not inside pvm bundle
It is folder with VM name+(backup) - right Click show contents
2. Make sure you are not using snapshots
Merge them,
3. Use Parallels compressor

and of course backup VM first

 

There's no backup anywhere that I can see, how do I do a backup?
Should I just copy the entire .pvm to another directory?

I've not used snapshots at all yet from memory, and from checking that def. appears to be the case.
Parallels compressor, doh of course, one of the main apps that gets installed with parallels, tnx!

 

Yes, to make a backup just copy the entire .pvm to some safe place.

 

Yep already did that, thanks..

John do you mean compact the disk using parallels image tool?
Can't see anything in pd4 istself that 'compresses' a virtual hdd...
This is the only thing I can find associated with pd4 that comes close to what I'm wanting.

Cheers,
Jed

 

I guess there's no way to redefine the 'total' space allocated, but that's not an issue so long as I actually dont use it.
I can just compact what is being used!?

For example, inside the VM itself I'm using 10gb of a 49gb hdd, but when I look at the actual size of the virtual hdd it's 19.65gb.
So I'm guessing there's approx. 9.65gb I can reclaim if I run the "compact the disk" action that's in image tool?

I would like to compact, but I'd also like to redefine the the total size of the virtual hdd if possible?

 

Strange, compact used to be an option 'inside' pd3, but it appears to be only available in image tool with pd4.

 

There is a new tool, Virtual Machine - Run Parallels Compressor

 

No idea what you're talking about, can you please clarify?

cheers,
jed

 

Parallels Desktop - menu Virtual machine - Run Parallels Compressor

 

Parallels image tool's compactor doesn't appear to have reclaimed any space...
In fact it's made the virtual harddisk slightly larger, up from 19.65gb to 20.14gb!

Should I revert to my original .pvm and use the compressor tool built into PD4, or should I use this newer slightly larger .pvm?
Also is there not a way to redefine the absolute size of the virtual harddisk?

 

Probably there are still Snapshots?

 

no definitely not, parallels image tool did not seem to think so...

 

in pvm bundle, can you see Snapshots folder?

 

nope, no such folder.

 

Then further, in hdd bundle there is a DiskDescriptor.xml file
Put content here, pls

 

<Parallels_disk_image Version="1.0" >
<Disk_Parameters>
<Disk_size>156301488</Disk_size>
<Cylinders>155061</Cylinders>
<Heads>16</Heads>
<Sectors>63</Sectors>
<Padding>0</Padding>
<Miscellaneous>
<CompatLevel>level2</CompatLevel>
<SuspendState>0</SuspendState>
<ChangeState>0</ChangeState>
<GuestToolsVersion>4.0.3540</GuestToolsVersion>
</Miscellaneous>
</Disk_Parameters>
<StorageData>
<Storage>
<Start>0</Start>
<End>156301488</End>
<Blocksize>504</Blocksize>
<Image>
<GUID>{5fbaabe3-6958-40ff-92a7-860e329aab41}</GUID>
<Type>Compressed</Type>
<Flags/>
<File>harddisk.hdd.0.{5fbaabe3-6958-40ff-92a7-860e329aab41}.hds</File>
</Image>
</Storage>
</StorageData>
<Snapshots>
<Shot>
<GUID>{5fbaabe3-6958-40ff-92a7-860e329aab41}</GUID>
<ParentGUID>{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}</ParentGUID>
</Shot>
</Snapshots>
</Parallels_disk_image>

 

Here it is
<Snapshots>
<Shot>
<GUID>{5fbaabe3-6958-40ff-92a7-860e329aab41}</GUID>
<ParentGUID>{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}</ParentGUID>
</Shot>
</Snapshots>

remove this section and try again,
Of course , backup VM first

 

Strange, parallels image tool didn't believe there was any snapshots to merge etc...
Thanks, my orignal questions still stand...

1)
Should I revert to my original .pvm and use the compressor tool built into PD4, or should I use this newer slightly larger .pvm?

2)
Also is there not a way to redefine the absolute size of the virtual harddisk?

 

1. try on both, starting with current
2. you can only extend