Parallels Desktop does not expand automatically

Discussion in 'Windows Virtual Machine' started by labj, Aug 17, 2008.

  1. labj

    labj Bit poster

    Messages:
    2
    I have build 5608 and it does not expand the VM-disk automatically as it should. I have tried to compact, make a plain disk och back again to the expandable one, compacted again but with the same result: Windows XP Pro complains about low free disk och not enough memory for the swap area.

    Would it be possible to help me with this one? What could I do?


    Best,

    Lars
     
  2. John@Parallels

    John@Parallels Forum Maven

    Messages:
    6,333
    Some background:
    There are virtual disks (aka physical device) in VM (that is one you expanded)
    There are volumes on disk (disk c: d: e: etc) - which is not exapnded

    Parallels support expanding only virtual disks, and in addition in Windows Vista you can dynamically expand volumes through disk management , but not in Windows XP,
    In Windows XP (and other old OSes) you have 2 ways
    - In disk Management create new disk and move some data from C: to newly created volume
    - Use steps described in http://uneasysilence.com/archive/2007/01/9404/
    This is not officially supported by Parallels
    (Backup, backup VM before you try this)
    Backups described in Parallels Desktop for Mac user guide from http://www.parallels.com/en/download/file/doc/Parallels_Desktop_for_Mac_User_Guide.pdf on page 243
     
  3. labj

    labj Bit poster

    Messages:
    2
    I'm not sure I understand what you are saying. Shouldn't the virtual disk expand as I am working with it and so the C: disk? Is the size of the C: disk within the virtual disk set once and not possible to change dynamically as I work? (I'm not a Windowser.) If that is the situation I understand why it is full. Is the C: disk set to the size of the total vitual disk when it is created? Possibly I started the Parallels Desktop and Windows journey with only the size 8 GB of the virtual disk and then expanded to 20 GB unaware of the fact that the C: disk didn't go along. As I'm writing this answer I think I'm understanding the situation.

    Thank you so much,

    Lars
     

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