Slow running, keyboard issues, Plls 6, Lion

Discussion in 'Windows Virtual Machine' started by MinaL, Aug 31, 2011.

  1. MinaL

    MinaL Bit poster

    Messages:
    4
    Last spring (running OS X SL) all of a sudden the number pad on my keyboard stopped working in Parallels running Windows XP (the only guest OS I have). Could only use the numbers at the top, not the keypad.

    Upgraded to Parallels 6 right after that. Working OK but did not solve number keypad problem.

    In August, upgraded computer to Lion. Now on my first Windows project after that, and new problems appearing. Windows XP and the applications I use therein--MS Publisher 2003, Word 2003 mostly--running *very* slowly, often hanging. Also, keystroke commands have switched from the Apple "command" key to the "control" key (strange) and in Publisher now neither key works for selecting of multiple objects for grouping--an important function in Publisher!

    I have the Parallels automatic updater turned on and I always update when it prompts me. I can no longer check my version because when Parallels/XP is open it now only shows the active application within XP on the top bar, not Parallels like it used to, so I can't get to the Info window anymore. But I assume Updater would have supplied me with the bug recent Lion bug fixes.

    Computer is desktop iMac from summer 2007 upgraded to 4G RAM from Apple.

    What is going on here? How can I make this work?
     
  2. eriklarshansen

    eriklarshansen Bit poster

    Messages:
    7
    I'm having the same problem since I created a new Win7 VM with Parallels 6 and Lion on my host iMac. The keyboard pad numbers won't work although the operation symbol keys do work. Since i only need Windows for Quicken, not having the keypad is a major drag. I've tried everything I can think of but can't get the problem cured. Thanks.
     
  3. numpad keyboard problem: pls turn NumLock on in Windows guest. Press once on the button with the crossed rectangle located above '7' on numeric keyboard.

    MinaL, could you pls describe what do you mean spoken about keystroke commands. Could you pls provide me step-by-step instruction to reproduce the problem?
     
  4. MinaL

    MinaL Bit poster

    Messages:
    4
    revisiting problem

    I am sorry, I didn't think I was going to get any more responses to this thread so I didn't check it for a long time.

    I run Parallels with Windows XP and MS Office Publisher 2003. I use Publisher for some nonprofit newsletter volunteer work I do, and I haven't found anything on the Mac side that compares to it in features and capability, that I can afford.

    Last spring (still on OS X 6 and Parallels 5) my keypad (I have the iMac keyboard that has a keypad on the right) stopped working in Windows. It acts just like a windows machine would with NUM LOCK off, i.e. the number keys move the cursor around instead. Only trouble is, I can't turn NUM LOCK back on in the usual Windows way because the Mac keyboard does not have a NUM LOCK key. I thought perhaps it was a software glitch that would be fixed by upgrading to Parallels 6, so I did that. No luck. Having numbers on the keypad in Publisher is very helpful because I need to make many adjustments to line and paragraph spacing, and it goes so much more quickly on the number pad. I finally started this forum thread September 1, but at the time only got a response from someone else with a similar problem. I have just been living with it.

    Now, however, starting another newsletter project this week, I find a new problem. Now, in addition to the number keypad not working properly, the Command and Control keys do not always work. Of particular relevance to my newsletter layout work is that holding down the shift key, or using the Command key or the Control key (it varies by context) no longer creates selection of a range of text nor can I select multiple objects. Not having multiple selections means I cannot group objects in publisher, which is a *huge* issue, because I have to move groups of objects around after setting them all in relation to one another, a time-consuming and painstaking process. I am gravely handicapped if I cannot group objects.

    In the other Windows program I use, MS Office Word 2003, the number keypad does not work, but at the moment the Command and Shift keys do work for multiple selections.

    Please advise if you can.

    Thanks,

    Mina

    P. S. I installed OS X 7 Lion in August, but that didn't seem to make any difference one way or the other. All along, all these functions--number keypad, Command, Control, and Shift for multiple selections, work fine on the Mac side.
     
  5. Minal, you are completely wrong about NUMLOCK, see my answer 2 posts above. Mac DO HAVE NUMLOCK.

    As for multiple selection, we will check. Could you pls start your VM, try to select several items, create problem report (Help -> Report a Problem) and post its ID here? Basically your problem with multiple selection looks like a some glitch in guest OS which is not related to emulation :(
     

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