Parallels Desktop for Mac build 3120 RC1 is available for download.

[bcr914]

Tim -- I've sent feedbak on issues with 3120 (to [email protected]) ... and sent feedback to your normal support site. No response (and, hope you are not becoming bureacratic). Net, net ... I upgraded from Beta 3036 to 3120. Window reszising and Coherenc stopped working. I dropped back to 3036. Any idea why?? (I have MacBook Pro, dual 2 core, 2 g RAM) ... VM is WIndows XP Professional)

But, I did like the fast suspend / unsuspend on 3120

 

[enicholas]

I've being using the last few betas from you guys, must say they're awesome.

One thing that seems not to be fixed is a disk space issue I have seen throughout my use of the betas.

I setup a 10Gb, 1024Mb XP Pro VM system. Then I install VS 2005, SQL 2005 Express and Ironspeed Designer (RAD Tool) and FoxIt, that's all I need. Which leaves about 4-5Gb disk space.

Then I notice my free space is about 80Mb left after a restart . I've re-installed twice now once with NTFS and the last time with FAT32. Still the same effect.

I'm not sure what's causing it, I reckon after a unexpected shutdown and when the disk scan (chkdsk) run before windows it maybe filling the disk.

I've tried Parallels compressor and check for any hidden files (pagefile etc..)


I don't know if anyone is seeing this ?


running on a MBP 2Gb/100Gb 7200 rpm/17"

Same exact thing here; I thought it was just me. I had a 25GB virtual machine, which should have been plenty for what I was doing, and yet I was perpetually running out of disk space. I scanned the hard drive using a couple different utilities and they all reported that I only had 12GB of files (which includes system files such as the pagefile). Windows saw the hard drive as 25GB with 25GB used, but 13GB of that supposedly-used space just didn't exist anywhere in the filesystem. I thought that perhaps my filesystem had become corrupt and some of the free space wasn't properly marked as free, but multiple runs of chkdsk failed to uncover anything. Parallels Compressor also failed to clean up any of the phantom space.

It seemed to be getting progressively worse; at first I had little trouble keeping the disk from filling up, but it got to the point that I was unable to function within the VM because the disk was full even with the absolute minimum set of programs I needed. I was unable to figure out the cause, and ultimately just bit the bullet and resized the virtual hard disk.

I figured this was somehow Windows' fault -- I can't imagine Parallels is mucking around with the filesystem itself -- until I saw someone else reporting the exact same symptoms. It might still be Windows' fault, but it's definitely suspicious...

 

[newf709]

Windows Vista

I was wondering if anyone is using Vista in Parallels and what version should you use? Does all the "eye candy" work in Parallels or should I use Boot Camp to be able to have access to all hardware resources? I have an iMac 20 inch intel with 2 gig ram.
Thanks!

 

[BillInSoBe]

I was wondering if anyone is using Vista in Parallels and what version should you use? Does all the "eye candy" work in Parallels or should I use Boot Camp to be able to have access to all hardware resources? I have an iMac 20 inch intel with 2 gig ram.
Thanks!

In my personal opinion I think Vista runs a little too slow under Parallels. I was running Windows Vista Ultimate and wasn't able to use the the cool new Aero Glass UI.

Parallels emulates a really old graphics card, thus it's not possible to take advantage of any of the new Windows interface. This means no transparency, etc.

If you want to run Vista in all it's glory I suggest using Boot Camp if it supports Vista.

 

[Stevamundo]

In my personal opinion I think Vista runs a little too slow under Parallels. I was running Windows Vista Ultimate and wasn't able to use the the cool new Aero Glass UI.

Parallels emulates a really old graphics card, thus it's not possible to take advantage of any of the new Windows interface. This means no transparency, etc.

If you want to run Vista in all it's glory I suggest using Boot Camp if it supports Vista.

Or wait until Parallels 3.0.

 

[markintosh13]

Anyone else experiencing problems where your MB or MPB don't goto sleep when you close the lid while running Parallels or after??

I've noticed my machine continues to run even with the lid closed. I've caught it running in my laptop bag and on the way to meetings on several occasions.

Only way to make it goto sleep is to press the power button then select "SLEEP".

This happens when I run Parallels (3120 RC1) or after I quit.

Rebooting the computer fixes the problem... unless I run Parallels again.

Computer:
MBP Core Duo // 2GHz // 2GB RAM.
OS X 10.4.8 with all updates.
Parallels 3120 RC1 // Auto Memory // 512MB for WinXP Pro SP2 with all updates // 10GB HD // Bridged Networking.

No problems with that at all. My Parallels has been on for days and days at a time, going through six to ten sleep cycles per day.

MBP 2.33 15" C2D, 32GB Fat Bootcamp partition.

 

[TenTenths]

One problem I saw with 3106 that is still present in 3120 is that something - some interaction that I can't isolate - causes cmd+tab and expose to stop working.

I use Keyboard Maestro and it too can't switch when the xp window is active either. Does not matter if it's, a window, full screen or coherence, it does not work and command tab also does not work.

In 1970 I was always able to switch even from full screen...fast.

coherence worked a few times correct then it was not able to center the enclosed screen's window???

this beta seems way fast though!!!

morgan

 

[VTSkier]

I am running Vista RC1 and V2.2.

When I first installed Vista the Aero interface worked great. (MBP Core2Duo, 2GB RAM[1024 MB for VM])

Then Aero stopped working. Why? I don't know.

Anybody have any ideas?

 

[mini.boss]

On the Macbook then if you run Parallels then it tends to make the fan stay on all the time even with the windows side idle. Does anyone know if thats something that can be addressed in future Parallels versions or is that something I just have to live with.

I'd love to leave windows on all the time but that fan makes me nuts so i suspend windows whenever i'm done with an app. Its a pain to always open and close parallels.

 

[markintosh13]

Fan activity could be because the cpu is being heavily utilized.

Could be due to something in windows, like spyware or anti-virus software hogging the cpu.

 

[terryhatmaker]

Slow down of system

First off, I would like to thank you for releasing such a WONDERFUL product. It's working almost completely perfectly, and apart from some issues in earlier betas, which have mostly been fixed, it seems, this application is running absolutely awesomely on my c2d mbp.

I have one issue however.

My setup is, as mentioned, a Core 2 Duo Macbook Pro, with a 32 gig Boot Camp partition. Parallels is running Windows XP on that partition, with 1 gig RAM assigned to it.

Everything works very nicely and smoothly, I must say, the issue starts when I allow Windows to restart itself.

Essentially, whenever I choose the option to let Windows reboot, rather than shut down completely, Parallels will slow down IMMENSELY, and drag my entire OS X with it in the course of the booting process. Sometimes it will in fact get through this hanging, but it's happened quite often that I need to hard reset, because after a while, OS X will simply come to a complete stand still, including an unresponsive mouse and frozen clock, if I don't force quit Parallels, before it's come to that.

I can prevent this by simply shutting down and reopening Parallels every time I wish to reboot Windows, so it's not really that huge an issue, but I would guess this is not the way things are supposed to work.

We have tested this on my boyfriend's Core 2 Duo Macbook Pro as well, and he's getting the exact same issue, so I was surprised not to find it reported anywhere on the forums.

I see the same thing on a Core Duo MacBook.

Terry

 

[BotFodder]

Remounting Windows Partition

Okay - first off, I am just flabbergasted that you guys have gotten PDfM working the way you have. The whole Boot Camp, Parallels, and Convergence thing is just phenomenal, IMHO.

However, just one minor nitpick so far ... When I'm running my Boot Camp partition in Parallels and then "Shut it down", it doesn't automagically remount my Windows XP partition (it is a FAT32 partition).

I haven't tried remounting it using the Disk Utility (which I'm almost certain would work) and I know a reboot would do it, too. So in the grand scheme of things, I agree it's a minor thing, and I'm almost certain someone else has mentioned it, but, ya know ...

Hey, so far that's the worst thing I can say about it.

On a completely different note, since there are rumors of Apple charging for Boot Camp when it comes out of Beta, are you considering including Boot Camp with Parallels when this current version comes out of Beta/RC?

 

[Moondougie]

how come I can't download the beta? when I try (on 4 different browsers) I get a message like this (or similar, depending on the browser in the attempt)

Safari cant open the page http://download.parallels.com/RC/Parallels Desktop 3120 Mac en.dmg because it cant find the server download.parallels.com.


Since the Intel Airport update was installed I can no longer connect to the domain at my place of employment and I need to get it working again - but alas, I can't download the current build to reinstall/update

any ideas?

 

[mini.boss]

Fan activity could be because the cpu is being heavily utilized.

Could be due to something in windows, like spyware or anti-virus software hogging the cpu.

Are you saying you don't have any fan activity when you run parallels on your macbook?

I get the same activity running Linux, XP or Vista. My XP is a fresh copy with only 2 apps installed so I doubt its that. And resources in use are at a minimum so I'm thinking its something the parallels guys maybe can address.

 

[markintosh13]

Are you saying you don't have any fan activity when you run parallels on your macbook?

I get the same activity running Linux, XP or Vista. My XP is a fresh copy with only 2 apps installed so I doubt its that. And resources in use are at a minimum so I'm thinking its something the parallels guys maybe can address.

I do not have fan activity when runing Parallels. I've had my Parallels running now for over a week - it's surviving sleep / wake cycles, and is cool enough to use on my lap.

If I were to activate my antivirus and have it scan my C drive, etc, then it is possible the additional cpu activity, combined with things I'd be doing in OS X, might generate enough cpu heat to have the fans kick in.

As I type this, my MBP has been sitting with Parallels running for the last 8+ hours, and the fans are not running.

Is yours doing updates in the background or virus scanning or something?

 

[non-troppo]

However, just one minor nitpick so far ... When I'm running my Boot Camp partition in Parallels and then "Shut it down", it doesn't automagically remount my Windows XP partition (it is a FAT32 partition).

+1 for this fix

 

[Swift2001]

Turns out everything's fine

I wrote earlier that I had installed XP in Bootcamp, and then authenticated or whatever you call it in Parallels, and then I noticed, booted up in Bootcamp, that it was still asking to be authenticated. I was afraid, after two phone calls to Microsoft to get a big, long number, that it would screw up. Well, it turns out my fear was unjustified. This morning, in Bootcamp, I got a warning that I had one day to go, and that I had to authenticate. I clicked, and in about two seconds, I clicked and I was done. So it turns out you do have to verify your installation in Parallels and in BootCamp, but it really is one authentication now.

 

[rhind]

Thansk for the post Swift2001, I've been waiting to re-install via bootcamp until I knew about the activation issues and whether activation in both BootCamp and Parallels were required or just in Parallels.

I hope with the final release, documentation is provided about the correct order to do this, even if its only for new installations.

Cheers

Russell

 

[EricNolan]

Same exact thing here; I thought it was just me. I had a 25GB virtual machine, which should have been plenty for what I was doing, and yet I was perpetually running out of disk space. I scanned the hard drive using a couple different utilities and they all reported that I only had 12GB of files (which includes system files such as the pagefile). Windows saw the hard drive as 25GB with 25GB used, but 13GB of that supposedly-used space just didn't exist anywhere in the filesystem. I thought that perhaps my filesystem had become corrupt and some of the free space wasn't properly marked as free, but multiple runs of chkdsk failed to uncover anything. Parallels Compressor also failed to clean up any of the phantom space.

It seemed to be getting progressively worse; at first I had little trouble keeping the disk from filling up, but it got to the point that I was unable to function within the VM because the disk was full even with the absolute minimum set of programs I needed. I was unable to figure out the cause, and ultimately just bit the bullet and resized the virtual hard disk.

I figured this was somehow Windows' fault -- I can't imagine Parallels is mucking around with the filesystem itself -- until I saw someone else reporting the exact same symptoms. It might still be Windows' fault, but it's definitely suspicious...

Same issue - is this because we have set our disk to be "expanding" and not fixed? If so, can this be changed without reloading. I believe it might be but don't have the guts to do until I have time to reload my 30GB backed up image if it fails

 

[Swift2001]

Well, in fairness, I did read somewhere to activate in Parallels. When I saw the little notification blinking at me, I was too filled with dread to click on it, thinking that it would be one more trip around the mulberry bush. But it's not. They could warn you that's going to happen, and not to be worried about it.