HD File "in use" after 4560 upgrade

I upgraded to 4560 today. After upgrading I started Parallels, clicked the Run button to start my VM and instantly had a hard Mac OS System Crash with the screen telling me to turn off my Mac in multiple languages.

After a restart, Parallels will not start my VM, telling me that "Parallels Desktop is unable to access the virtual hard disk image file /Users/foo/Library/Parallels/winxp/winxp.hdd. The file is used by other application."

Nothing I do will convince Parallels that the file is not in use. I have no other apps running except Parallels.

Any suggestions?

 

Look and see if there is a hidden .lock file. If so, while Parallels has been exited, remove this file.

Don't remove any file you are unsure of however... I can't remember the exact name of the lock file but it is hidden and it has something like the name .lock in it.

Not sure if this is your issue or not but worth a look.

 

MarkHolbrook is correct. Just remove lock file and thats it.

 

AHA thanks guys
I see that problem with other Windows apps

great forum

Hugh W

 

Thanks, that was it.

( The file ends in .lck and is inside the HDD package. )

 

I am having this same problem. Unfortunately, I don't know how to open the hdd package to remove the .lck file.

Any further instructions on how to locate and remove this file would be greatly appreciated.

 

Hi talvo,
Find your Parallels hard disk file - usually in ~/Library/Parallels/ - the filename will end in .hdd

Then, right click on the file (or control-click if you have a 1 button mouse) and choose "Open Package Contents" from the pop-up menu.

In the window that opens, you should see the lock file - it ends in .lck. Just drag it out of the package window to your desktop (don't touch anything else). Close the package window and you should be able to start up Parallels with no issues. Once you've verified Parallels starts up OK, you can trash the .lck file.

 

I had the same problem

when I remove the .lck file I get the following message

Parallels Desktop is unable to access the virtual hard disk image file /users/*****/documents/parallels/Microsoft Windows XP 1/winxp.hdd. The file is corrupted.

Help.

 

I have the same problem except I am running Linux F7. Removing the lck file results in file corrupted message.

Bob

 

Same problem here. It happened after the upgrade to 5060, right after I downloaded Windows System Update and restarted.

With the .lck file, Parallels won't start Windows, says the file is in use.
Without the .lck file, Parallels won't start Windows, says the file is corrupt.

Help!

 

I am running a mini. I resolved the problem by installing the interim fix release 4562. Sounds like I will not be trying 5060 any time soon.

Bob

 

Where can I download this interim fix release 4562?

 

See Message #73 by Spectre 8/2/07 under thread Mac Freezes on Launching VM. He has info and a link there.

I would assume you would need to back out version 5060 to version 4560 first.

Good luck. Was very frustrating for me as I followed advice on several threads to no avail until I finally downloaded this patch and it has worked flawlessly since.

Bob

 

Thanks for the response!

I assume you meant post #72, I found it here:
http://forum.parallels.com/post76039-72.html

Now, how do I back out version 5060 to version 4560 first? I can't just run this installer?

 

I'm afraid I can't help you there. But if you do a search you will probably find info on how to do it generically if not specifically for 5060. Have seen several posts by members who found 5060 unsuitable. So I'm sure more than one has done it.

Bob

 

Unfortunately 4560 nor 4562 worked. Same errors. All I did was update the Parallels app, and now my entire Windows image refuses to launch. Why do I have a feeling I'll have to create a brand new Windows image from scratch? No thanks...


Sheesh. I think I'll stick with VMWare Fusion from here on out.

 

Sorry to hear that. I was equally frustrated and came very close to switching to Fusion as well. Only recommendation I can make is to search the various forums here. I ended up trying several different solutions including recreating the xml file. If you open the xml and it is empty, which seems to happen with this problem for some, then 4562 will not work until you recreate the file as posted on several threads.

Sorry it isn't working out. It will be a long time before I upgrade again as well. For now at least, everything seems stable.

Bob