Windows XP installation damaged after 11828 update.

Hello,

Yesterday I updated to Parallels Desktop for Mac 6.0.11828 and -half an hour later- to 10.6.5 on my iMac. I noticed that after installing the update, Parallels Tools did NOT install on its own.

Since that time, everything in my WinXP installation is not responding properly. Applications take forever to launch, there are a couple of devices (a generic "PCI device" and a generic "VGA adaptor") that fail to install, explorer windows take forever to open and so on.

I am suspecting that something is not working properly in regards to Parallels Tools, since some services (shared folders for example) work fine, while others do not (automatic windows desktop resize for example). I have tried installing again Parallels Tools with no luck. Tried uninstalling Parallels Tools a couple of times, but the uninstall failed.

Any ideas?

 

I just completed a re-installation of Windows (repair) to no avail. I still cannot uninstall Parallels Tools, my WinXP installation is still slow as hell, and the same devices still show up in device manager with a question mark.

Any ideas?

 

Managed to manually install the driver for the graphics adapter by manually pointing into drivers folder inside parallels tools folder, however, I still don't think the Tools are working fine, since the windows desktop resolution does not change according to the VM window size.

 

I just realized that I had NOT installed SP3 on my Windows XP installation. Downloading it now, hoping that it will wipe clean some windows installer corrupt data and I will finally be able to install Parallels Tools...

 

Partial Success

I managed to reinstall Parallels Tools by running the installer inside the /Library/Parallels/Tools/prl-tools-win.iso disk image. Parallels Tools installation went through just fine this time. Also managed to uninstall Parallels Tools completely through add/remove programs successfully afterwards, just to make sure.

I next reinstalled Parallels Tools through the Virtual Machine menu item and this went fine as well.
I notice that all Parallels Tools services are working fine now.

However, I am still noticing sluggishness, especially when the windows installation is freshly-restarted. It takes forever for applications to launch and if I try to open up process manager, windows explorer or windows taskbar seem to stall. So I guess I won't manage to fix this while mess without creating a new virtual machine and installing windows from scratch.

 

The issue was completely solved after uninstalling Parallels Internet Security. Everything works now as expected!

However, the newer Kaspersky Internet Security that I installed through the Virtual Machine menu is giving me headaches when trying to install any new software, so I guess I'll be opting for another internet security option soon.

 

I did an update to 11828, the windows opens, but I have no access to start button or start menu or control panel.
Opened a support ticket and they suggested updating to the '9' package, still no luck or access.

Is there any way I can remove the kaspersky and possibly reload/repair the tools without having access to the windows?

 

You should try starting up windows under Safe Mode (press F8 at startup) and uninstall Parallels Tools and Kaspersky Internet Security while under Safe Mode. If uninstall finishes successfully you should then start up Window normally and Parallels Tools should install fine.

 

Tried to do as you suggested.
I have two icons for Parallels, one is the desktop and the other is my windows. Clicking on either of these opens the same failed windows, although now when clicking I get the busy loading/timer bar and have to click on the 'show' button for the window to open.

In either case, clicking on F8 opens up iTunes and not the safe mode as required.

 

You should first RESET your windows virtual machine, since it's not responding. Not sure what you mean with "two icons for Parallels", do you have setup TWO virtual machines?

In any case, switch your Virtual Machine to windowed mode by selecting from the menu bar "View" > "Window".
Next, select from menu "Virtual Machine" > "Reset".
Then, while the Virtual Machine is booting up, hold "fn" on your Mac keyboard and press incrementally the F8 key. That should eventually (before windows starts up) give you the startup options menu for Windows in order to start up in Safe Mode.

Hope that helps.
-Thanos.

 

Thanos, Thank you very much for your help.

Two icons have always been there, thought it was natural.

I followed your guide and got into the safe mode, worked very well.
Control panel, add/remove items told me that installer was not present, so could not delete tools.
Went into the program files and found tools and used it's dos uninstaller, which removed the tools.
Blue screen came up and machine re-booted, manually re-installed tools and after a slight hiccup and a re-start of the mac, everything appears to be working fine.

Thank you very much. I have learned a lot from this.

Enjoy your day.

regards Toku