Parallels 8 - Unable to connect Hard Disk 1

I did a fresh install of Parallels 8 on a fresh installation of Mountain Lion (10.8.1). Two different scenarios resulted in the same issues: Unable to connect Hard Disk 1.

Scenario 1: .pvm of Windows 7 from a prior P7 installation opened without a problem.
Scenario 2: New install of Windows 8 Enterprise RTM. After this happened the first time, I just created a new VM and installation of Windows 8. Same thing happened with the second installation too.

After a few uses of both VMs, with clean shutdowns following each use, I now receive the above mentioned error.

I reported the problem from the "Help" menu in Parallels Desktop and also opened a support request, but wondered if anyone else has seen this problem with v8 and if there is an easier fix than that described in the KB articles where users have experienced this error, albeit from possible a different cause.

 

Do you have this error at both VMs?

 

Yes, it did happen to both VMs. What seems to have been the problem, as I'm now able to successfully run both VMs, is the Windows Virtual Hard Disks didn't unmount from a previous use of the VM. At the suggestion of Support, I checked this an indeed they were both mounted. After unmounting, I was able to launch both VMs.

 

wow such a rare case) glad you managed to figure it out.