OSX Managed Accounts dont connect to XP

Brand new IMac, 24 inch. Brand new Windows XP Home Edition. Parallels bought from Apple store and upgraded online to latest build. Running OS 10.4.7.

After much pain due to very bad manual written by Windows Users for Windows Users, managed to get to point where I can run Windows XP ok when logging in as a OSX Administrator.

( 412 Mb Ram allocated to Parallels as suggested, total 2Gb Ram on board iMac. )

Not possible to login to Windows as OSX managed account. Get error dialogue - cannot find Guest OS. Have followed the fix on Parralels website for this issue = moving the winxp.hdd file and the winxp.pvs file to / Users/ Shared and changing permission for Others to Read and Write. Makes absolutely no difference whatsoever.

Ensured Parallels Preferences shows correct route to / Users / Shared folder and correct route is in Resources HD. No difference = still does not work.

Trashed Parallels Preference file and restarted to force new Preference file = no difference.

WHAT IS THE FIX FOR THIS ??

Is there a fix or is it impossible to log into Windows XP from a OSX Managed Account ??

Trying to move other Parallels files around to see if the issue can be fixed, results in total chaos and having to erase HD completely and start all over again from scratch.

Please help ...help ....

 

It does work for some of us.

Make sure your VM is in a folder that is accessible to the user you want to run it, and the VM files are all in that folder, with access from the desired user. The easiest way to insure this is to set permissions to read-write for owner, group, and all. Try 777 in terminal.

Then if you log into the desired account, and double click on the .pvs file, your VM should start.

If you can run your guest from an admin account, and can't from another account, you absolutely have a permissions issue. Note that restricting programs that can run in an account can be a can of worms. I haven't played with that particular combination (and don't intend to since I don't need it) but I'd expect to have to play with it for a while to get it to work.

FWIW, I've had very little trouble with Parallels other than a few bugs they fixed, and features I want that they are gradually including but aren't quite there yet. I use it regularly for hours at a time, usually pausing or suspending it when I'm not using it, and it works fine.

 

Well I am sure it does work for some - it worked for me as Administrator for a while but has even stopped doing that now. It has gone beserk now and reduces its memory warning message by 100Mb each time I log in. Weird. Bizarre.

it clearly does not work properly for many - as you can see from this forum !!

it clearly is driving many people bananas and I fear I will soon be joining that group.

I cannot run my guest accounts period.

You say that I should login by double clicking on the pvs file ???
Do you mean not using the Resource window ???

Please do explain - it might be helpful !
I will also try with fewer limitations although that defeats the purpose - imacs in student domain.

Thanks very much !!

 

If you double click the .pvs file, the resource window will open with that file selected.

Note that if you move any files, you must edit the .pvs file in the resource window to reflect the new locations for .hdd files, etc. If you must restrict the accounts you are using, you may have to play with the restrictions. I'd suggest unrestricted but not admin as a start, and once that works, add restrictions and see if it still works. Of course anyone who has enough access to the VM to run it can destroy or delete it, but you already knew that.

Note too, that my comment that it works for some was intended only as proof of concept.

 

Thanks - interesting ! Will try when I am on site again, where the iMacs are, on Tuesday. If I find a way, I will post it here, in case it is of help to others.