Random slow startup

Hello,

Lately my Parallels started to do something really strange. Sometimes (randomly) it takes forever to start a Virtual Machine. Inside Host MacOSX there is nothing running and accordingly to the Activity Monitor the processing CPU goes to 100% during this slow startup process.

If I reboot my computer the problem eventually goes away (not always, sometimes I need to boot twice). When the startup works fine the CPU usage didn't hit 80%.

I have tried several guest configurations like reducing memory, changing CPU to 1 core, etc. Nothing seems to solve the problem.

I'm running version 6.0.11994 on Snow Leopard (latest updates) and I have multiple Guest OS like Windows XP x32, Windows Vista x32 and Windows 7 x64. My computer is a MacBook Pro Mid-2009, Core 2-Duo, 2.8Ghz with 8Gb RAM and 2 hard disks (Seagate Momentus XT 500Gb 7200 RPM) being one of them replacement of my DVD unit using OWC Data Doubler.

I have also tried some VMs placed into just one of the two disks and the same problem occurs.
Even when the problem occurs the OSX works normal without any visible problem. While Parallels tries to slowly start the VM I can read and write to the same hard disk which seems to prove it's not its fault.

Have anyone experienced something like that?
Could be an OSX problem while running with 2 disks?
Didn't make sense once the CPU usage goes to 100%.

Regards,
Fernando.

 

How annoying, yesterday I turned my MacBook off and today morning turned it on and Parallels works fine.
I have then Suspended the VM I'm using and turned off the MacBook again.
Getting back to home, opened Parallels and tried to Resume the VM and...slow like a turtle!

My CPU usage is at the maximum on both Cores...
prl_vm_app is consuming 95% of CPU...what is this???

It must be something related to Parallels...the OSX continue to work fine, disks running fine too, Internet ok, just Parallels is crawling...

Any ideas???

 

My log if someone is interested on

My Parallels LOG attached.
I just try to start the VM and it stays forever at the POST screen...

 

One thing may have or not something to do with this odd problem.
I have disabled the Animation feature of the Parallels application and since that I had no slow machines.

Does it make any sense?

Fernando.

 

I'm keeping responding myself!

No luck, after one day of smooth work today the slowness came back.
I have even tried to update my Parallels with this week's update and still no luck.

It is really strange why just one of my processor's core goes 100% and make the VM crawl...

Not even a hunch?

C'mon people!

Fernando.

 

so i stumble on your thread via google. Let me start by saying it's the OWC data doubler causing your problem. Which kills me to admit. I know this because i bought the MCE Optibay kit instead which also allows you to replace the superdrive with a second hard drive. I was running VMware fusion though. All my VMs slowed to a CRAWL. I opened a case with VMware and they immediately blamed the MCE kit and stated they were aware of the problem but had no timeline for a fix!

So i download a copy of Parallels to see if it would be any different...It wasn't. My Parallels VMs suffered the same performance hit as they did in Fusion. So i admitted defeat and pulled the second hard drive out and no problems since. My VMs are back to normal but i still need space!! This was only two days ago.

today i get around to researching the OCW kit, hoping it was just a problem with MCE quality but your post puts the final nail in the coffin. It appears that these two competing VM products can't get around a Mac book having a hard drive where an optical drive used to be. for the record, I still haven't reinstalled my DVD and my VMs remain fast. It must have something to do with having a hard drive connected to that DVD interface that screws with the VMs somehow. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but until they patch it, we're out of luck...and out of space.

Since i'm still on a trial, i can't open a case. But your licensed i assume. Have you called tech support yet???

 

Hello,

Yes, I have considered OWC data doubler somehow make Parallels to Crawl. In other hand I also have found some slow performance issues about the hard drive model I'm using which is the Seagate Momentus XT 500Gb. This drive is a hybrid drive and could present some different behavior. In other hand I'm experiencing the slow performance only with Parallels and didn't notice any OSX problem even accessing the drive while VM is crawling to startup.

One thing I have noted is that when it decides to crawl the only way to get it back to normal is a CMD+OPTION+P+R power on at my MacBook. This seems to work for 99% of the cases but once it didn't and I had to make it twice.

This is a very annoying problem because the only way to start over is by stopping the VM which may cause the VM drive to became corrupt (luckly this didn't happen with me so far).

I haven't open a case yet because it isn't clear if Parallels is the culprit or if it is a combination of problems happening.

As I said at above posts my Activity Monitor goes to 100% at the processors usage when the problem happen and the only app consuming this amount of processing is the Parallels VM app. I would be glad if I could run some tests to better determine what is going on but I'm not sure how detailed Parallels LOGs or diagnostic tools can be.

Wish they could give us some advice here (by the way, I have also used VM* in the past and Parallels is way better).

Regards.