MacPro, Leopard, Parallels & CAD program problems

I'm running Parallels 3.0 build 5582 on a dual core MacPro 2.66GHz with 2GB of RAM, but I'm having lots of problems when I use Microstation (a CAD program similar to AutoCAD).

The app is painfully slow - to the point where it's almost unusable. I could go off and make a coffee while I'm waiting for a task to finish, where on an ancient PC it would be instantaneous.

In the prefs I have "adjust memory limit automatically" ticked, as well as "enable virtual memory preallocation". I have no other apps running.

Are there any other tweaks that may help?
Do I need extra RAM?

On an aside, I use the same CAD app on my single core MacBook Pro which has only 1.25GB RAM, and it works perfectly. The only diffence is that it's Parallels 2.0.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions,
Jan

 

I just did a re-install of Parallels, to see if that made any difference.

I also tried changing the settings of the virtual machine, but again this hasn't helped at all.

Any suggestions would be very welcome, as I can't get any work done at all at the moment.

 

Hello,

please disable virtual memory preallocation. Also try to decrease the amount of memory allocated to Parallels Desktop ('Parallels Desktop' -> 'Preferences' -> 'memory tab') and to your VM ('Edit' -> 'Virtual machine' -> 'Memory' tab).

Best regards,
Stacey

 

Thanks for the reply Stacey.

Unfortunately this doesn't seem to have made any difference. I don't have any other apps running, and it's still extremely slow. The file isn't that large either.

Would extra RAM help?

My video memory is set to 16mb in the machine config.

 

Please try to increase the amount of video memory.
Also please try to open 'Video' tab in 'Configuration Editor' of your VM and enable DirectX there.

Does Microstation require DirectX 9 to run?

Best regards,
Stacey

 

DirectX is causing very strange things to happen on screen, so I'm going to switch that off, and increasing the video memory meant that Windows wouldn't start up at all!

So still no luck

With regard to Microstation and DirectX - I'm not sure, but this is a recent issue. Until recently, Microstation was working fine. I haven't made changes to my settings or anything like that - the only thing that is difference is that I upgraded to the most recent build of Parallels.

 

Why Windows will not start up if you increase the video memory?

Best regards,
Stacey

 

I don't know why but it will only start up in Safe Mode.

 

Did you try to reinstall Parallels Tools?

Best regards,
Stacey

 

Yes. It currently starts up provided the video memory is 16mb or less.

 

Stacey, I got this error message when trying to quit Parallels -

You are trying to suspend the virtual machine with a running graphics application that uses OpenGL or DirectX. You can either close teh application manually....

So Microstation must use one or the other. Does this help?

Edit Do you have a link to the last build of Parallels? I think I will uninstall this version and try the old version.

Thanks

 

Jan,
it looks like there is a problem with Parallels Tools. Please open 'Devices Manager' in Windows and tell me what Video Adapter (or Video Driver) do you have there.
Then please start your VM in the Safe Mode, select Full Screen Mode and uninstall Parallels Tools there. If necessary use this article.
Then install Parallels Tools one more time.

Best regards,
Stacey

 

Stacey,

I can't start in safe mode, because F8 in Leopard is for spaces - any workaround?

EDIT - I turned off Spaces and got in... will report on progress

 

The video drivers are
Legacy Video Capture Devices
Video Codecs

I did as you suggested, but it's still no quicker.

 

Jan, please tell me what do you have under 'Display Adapters'.
And tell me what version of Parallels Desktop do you have, US/UK or a localized one?

Best regards,
Stacey

 

The display adapter is Parallels Video Driver, and the version of Parallels is US/UK.

 

Please try to uninstall Parallels Desktop in the following manner:
Parallels Desktop for Mac distribution provides an Uninstaller application for easy product uninstallation.
Please note, that Parallels Uninstaller application does not remove Virtual Machines from your Macintosh HD. But back up your VM (.pvs and .hdd files) just in case.
To find Uninstaller application, if you have a Parallels Desktop for Mac CD, please insert it into your Mac CD/DVD drive. The Uninstaller application is there.
If you have previously downloaded Parallels Desktop for Mac from the web site as a .dmg package, please double-click it. Once the .dmg package is mounted, you will see an Uninstaller application there.

Launch the Uninstaller application and follow the on-screen instructions.
In Terminal please perform the following commands:
• sudo rm /System/Library/Extensions/vmmain.kext
• sudo rm /System/Library/Extensions/hypervisor.kext
• sudo rm /System/Library/Extensions/helper.kext
• sudo rm /System/Library/Extensions/ConnectUSB.kext
• sudo rm /System/Library/Extensions/Pvsnet.kext
• sudo rm ~/Library/Parallels/
Note: move your VM's to another folder if they are located in /Home/Users/<user name>/Library/Parallels
• sudo rm /Library/Parallels/
• sudo rm ~/Library/Preferences/com.parallels

Reboot your Mac and install Parallels. Please use this link.

Best regards,
Stacey

 

Thanks for your help Stacey.
It is faster than this morning after all that, but unfortunately still nowhere near as fast as on the oldest PC in our office (which is saying something - it's pretty ancient!).

Is this the fact that it's a DirectX app? Or that I need more RAM?

 

I should also mention that as Parallels doesn't seem capable of runnning Microstation, I will be downloading VMWare Fusion to see if that is better, unless this problem can be fixed.

 

I didn't receive an answer to this.