Parallels 6 will not launch

[RaymondG]

I recently upgraded to Parallels 6. MISTAKE!! The program will not launch. I've waited up to 10 minutes, and nothing happens. Parallels 5 worked just fine!

My computer:
Model Name: MacBook Pro
Model Identifier: MacBookPro3,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.4 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 4 MB
Memory: 2 GB
Bus Speed: 800 MHz
Boot ROM Version: MBP31.0070.B07
SMC Version (system): 1.16f11

Can anybody out there help?

Ray

 

[joevt]

Try restarting the Mac, uninstall using the uninstall program on the .dmg, then restart, then install again.

 

[kevin.ross]

I have the same problem, this post has details similar to mine from another user

http://forum.parallels.com/showthread.php?t=105021

 

[RaymondG]

Tried that... still will not launch

Try restarting the Mac, uninstall using the uninstall program on the .dmg, then restart, then install again.

Last night, I uninstalled the old v6 (ParallelsDesktop-parallels-en_US-6.0.11820.602974).
I rebooted.
I re-installed v6 (ParallelsDesktop-parallels-en_US-6.0.11822.604190).
I rebooted.
The problem remains. I launch the program by double clicking the icon. The Parallels menu bar appears, but does not function. No windows open.

BTW, I'm running Mac OS X 10.6.4 - There are no updates available for the OS

 

[joevt]

You can't create a problem report if the menu bar won't function. Maybe try checking your logs with Console.app. Maybe repair permissions. Maybe contact Parallels tech support. Maybe reinstall Mac OS X.

 

[RaymondG]

More specifics, please

Maybe try checking your logs with Console.app.

Which log? And what do I do with it once I track the right one down?

Maybe repair permissions.

I'll do that this morning.
UPDATE: Repaired permissions - no effect.

Maybe contact Parallels tech support.

From what I could find, that will cost something on the order of $75/contact. Since the upgrade cost $50, that seems, um, "economically imprudent," don't you think?

Maybe reinstall Mac OS X.

Now I think you're messing with me...

 

[joevt]

You could start with the "All Messages" log. Then the "Console Messages" log. Check the System Diagnostic Reports for any crash or hang reports related to Parallels (prl_). I believe "system.log" has the same info from "All messages".

There's also "parallels.log" in ~/Library/Logs and /Library/Logs.
The e-mail support was good but that was with a sales/license problem. If you have a support code, you could use the "Create Support Request" option, then choose either "Parallels Support Chat" or "Proceed with ticket submitting".

Reinstalling Mac OS X is a last resort. Instead of reinstalling, you could just install Mac OS X to a new partition (shrink the existing partition using Disk Utility on the Mac OS X installer DVD). Having two Mac OS X installations is a good idea if one of them stops working.

Are you running any third party software on your Mac? Virus protection software? Disk protection software? Are you running Time Machine? Try disabling all that stuff.

Do you have any aliases on the Mac Desktop? Move them into a new folder.

You could try using Activity Monitor to see if there's a process that hanged. Use the All Processes option. Select a hanging process, and click "Sample Process". Maybe it will give a clue.

Maybe deleting all the Parallels preferences would help.

 

[Olivier]

Maybe deleting all the Parallels preferences would help.

This sounds like the most interesting thing to try. It should help get the initial welcome wizard back, and from there should help finding the existing VMs and getting started.

 

[RaymondG]

Still won't launch

Thanks for the suggestions, but it still won't launch...

Are you running any third party software on your Mac? Virus protection software? Disk protection software? Are you running Time Machine? Try disabling all that stuff.

Virus protection: yes, I did. Turned off now.
Time Machine: yes, I did. Turned off now.
Uninstalled, rebooted, reinstalled, rebooted.
The next time I tried to launch Parallels, I got a dialog that said "The Windows Applications folder will be added to the Dock." Then it hung.
Deleted Windows Applications folder, uninstalled, rebooted, reinstalled, rebooted.
The next time I tried to launch Parallels, it immediately hung - no dialog appeared.

You could start with the "All Messages" log. Then the "Console Messages" log. Check the System Diagnostic Reports for any crash or hang reports related to Parallels (prl_). I believe "system.log" has the same info from "All messages".

After uninstalling and reinstalling as described above, this line is in the All Messages log:
10/14/10 10:18:27 AM [0x0-0x1e01e].com.parallels.desktop.console[225] QKqueueFileSystemWatcherEngine::addPaths: open: No such file or directory

There's also "parallels.log" in ~/Library/Logs and /Library/Logs.

There is a LOT in this file (196 lines)... Here are a few lines where "error" appears:

10-14 10:17:07.450 F /cmn_utils:175:207/ ParallelsDirs::Init( ) was called. Current app mode = 1 ( DESKTOP_MAC ) build version: 6.0.11822.604190 Tue, 14 Sep 2010 10:52:16
10-14 10:17:07.851 F /cmn_utils:175:207/ Error: ParallelsDirs::getAppExecuteMode() called without initialize!!! You should use ParallelsDirs::Init() before. Return 65535

10-14 10:17:14.339 W /disp:129:8f03/ failed to start naptd proxy for parental control err=256

10-14 10:18:04.664 F /gui:175:207/ AHRegisterHelpBook failed with err == -50

10-14 10:18:27.420 F /gui:225:207/ Task HttpGet <0x6873b00>: new subtask is DF_GetRequest <1>
10-14 10:18:27.421 F /cmn_utils:225:207/ [isRemotePath] statfs64 error: 2 (No such file or directory)
{this no such file or directory line is repeated 20 times}

10-14 10:18:28.145 W /disp:129:1c23/ failed to start naptd proxy for parental control err=256

At the bottom, there's a line that isn't labeled an error but makes no sense to me...

10-14 10:26:57.896 F /disp:129:7c03/ Hardware Configuration was changed !

Maybe deleting all the Parallels preferences would help.

Sure... How?

 

[joevt]

There are Parallels preferences stored in the following locations:
/Library/Preferences/Parallels/
~/Library/Preferences/com.parallels.*

~/Library/Preferences/Parallels/ just contains keyboard profiles so I don't think deleting those will be necessary.

Anyway, instead of deleting the preferences, just move them to the desktop or somewhere.

Is your virtual machine set to automatically start when Parallels Desktop is started? Try disabling that so you can access the Parallels Desktop menu before the virtual machine starts running in case it fails somehow.

To get rid of "The Windows Applications folder will be added to the Dock.", disable Windows application sharing for the virtual machine. You can turn it back on when everything else is working or leave it off if you don't use that feature.

Are your folders in the stand locations? /Applications and /Users on the Mac OS X drive?

Do you have Parental Controls enabled for any user in the Mac System Preferences -> Parental Controls? Try disabling those.

 

[RaymondG]

Will try, can't do, no, and I'm still trying

There are Parallels preferences stored in the following locations:
/Library/Preferences/Parallels/
~/Library/Preferences/com.parallels.*

~/Library/Preferences/Parallels/ just contains keyboard profiles so I don't think deleting those will be necessary.

Anyway, instead of deleting the preferences, just move them to the desktop or somewhere.

I'll try this, after I finish trying a few other things... Thank you

Is your virtual machine set to automatically start when Parallels Desktop is started? Try disabling that so you can access the Parallels Desktop menu before the virtual machine starts running in case it fails somehow.

To get rid of "The Windows Applications folder will be added to the Dock.", disable Windows application sharing for the virtual machine. You can turn it back on when everything else is working or leave it off if you don't use that feature.

Parallels will not launch to the point where I can do any of these things. All I get is the Parallels menu, and it doesn't function.

Are your folders in the stand locations? /Applications and /Users on the Mac OS X drive?

Yes, folders are in the normal places, where Parallels installed them.

Do you have Parental Controls enabled for any user in the Mac System Preferences -> Parental Controls? Try disabling those.

Parental Controls are disabled.

On a positive note, yesterday I managed to get into contact with Parallels Tech Service. The first-line tech said that he had no idea what was going on, and passed me up to the next level of support, who would contact me within 6 hours. That was 20 hours ago... At least it's on their radar now.

 

[joevt]

Parallels will not launch to the point where I can do any of these things. All I get is the Parallels menu, and it doesn't function.

Move your virtual machines to where Parallels Desktop can't find them (preferably a different partition). That will at least eliminate them as the cause.

 

[Warren Gandy]

I seem to be having the same issue except with Parallels 5. I've been using it extensively for the past few weeks and out of the blue I opened my machine from sleep and Parallels wouldn't respond. Since my VM is a bootcamp partition I booted into it and it was fine. I tried reinstalling parallels desktop and it seemed to work again, until I put it to sleep. Now I've tried installing a completely fresh install after trashing the parallels prefs and it wont even get past the registration screen.

 

[RaymondG]

Move your virtual machines to where Parallels Desktop can't find them (preferably a different partition). That will at least eliminate them as the cause.

Did it. No change in problem, but it DID recreate the folder (empty, of course). Thanks for the suggestion, though.