video memory limited to 16 megs

Discussion in 'Windows Virtual Machine' started by NotBill, Sep 21, 2007.

  1. NotBill

    NotBill Member

    Messages:
    36
    Hi all

    I'm using 5160 which was upgraded from 4560. I did the upgrade on the 11th and (re)installed the Tools. Prior to this upgrade, imho, everything was working very well.

    After the upgrade, not so much. Parallels periodically pops up a message suggesting that I increase the video memory. I know I had that set to the max before, now I can not select anything more than 16 megs. Thinking that I must have installed an old version of the Tools, I (re(re))installed the tools, and was informed that the Tools for 5160 would be reinstalled. After restarting the VM, the issue with the video memory remains.

    I also hear a problem with the sound. An application that worked fine before the upgrade now plays it's (short) wav files with the last 1/2 second cut off. Sound cut off isn't limited to this application, it's just most noticeable at that time. Another example would be navigating with Explorer. It makes a click sound when changing directories. Now, half the time I do not hear the click.

    The Mac is a Pro with 3 gigs of ram and 2 dual core 2.66 cpu's
    I'd like to set the Windows 2000 VM to 1 gig of ram, however, the only setting that is accepted is 'automatic'. When looking at Task Manager I see 1,052,212 KB and the same thing via My Computer, Properties.

    The VM worked fine before the upgrade.

    Ideas?
     
  2. BenInBlack

    BenInBlack Pro

    Messages:
    372
    Are you saying that build 5160 removes the manual memory setting? or was it grayed out?

    I had 5160 and after 2 days of crashes reverted to 4560 and didnt think of looking at that setting.
     
  3. Eru Ithildur

    Eru Ithildur Forum Maven

    Messages:
    1,954
    I just set a 24" iMac to 64 MB VRAM yesterday. Have you restarted your computer?
     
  4. NotBill

    NotBill Member

    Messages:
    36
    The setting is there. The max I can set is 16 megs.
     
  5. NotBill

    NotBill Member

    Messages:
    36
    Both the Mac and the VM, multiple times.
     
  6. Eru Ithildur

    Eru Ithildur Forum Maven

    Messages:
    1,954
    kk, I'll poke around and get back to you.
     
  7. NotBill

    NotBill Member

    Messages:
    36
    Now I'm getting this error in the console log window, and *everything* in the VM is about as fast as a herd of turtles stampeding thru peanut butter ...

    Sep 24 18:23:04 roswell /Applications/Parallels/Parallels Desktop.app/Contents/MacOS/Parallels: img_data_lock: Cannot allocate memory
    Parallels(2123,0xa000d000) malloc: *** vm_allocate(size=4796416) failed (error code=3)
    Parallels(2123,0xa000d000) malloc: *** error: can't allocate region
    Parallels(2123,0xa000d000) malloc: *** set a breakpoint in szone_error to debug
    Sep 24 18:23:05 roswell /Applications/Parallels/Parallels Desktop.app/Contents/MacOS/Parallels: img_data_lock: Cannot allocate memory
    Parallels(2123,0xa000d000) malloc: *** vm_allocate(size=4132864) failed (error code=3)
    Parallels(2123,0xa000d000) malloc: *** error: can't allocate region
    Parallels(2123,0xa000d000) malloc: *** set a breakpoint in szone_error to debug
    Sep 24 18:23:05 roswell /Applications/Parallels/Parallels Desktop.app/Contents/MacOS/Parallels: img_data_lock: Cannot allocate memory

    4 more like that while I typed this. Needless to say, I about to close/reopen the VM.
     
  8. Eru Ithildur

    Eru Ithildur Forum Maven

    Messages:
    1,954
    ACK!
    Have you tried cleaning your caches up with a program like Onyx? What version of OS X are you using?

    Also, could your memory be bad? I'm fishing, but there is something going on here that is a little... Uh... Untypical.
     
  9. OLAUser

    OLAUser Bit poster

    Messages:
    3
    Same error here

    I get the error telling me to increase the memory, I shut down the VM and atempted to adjust the settings in the VM configuration. Anything more than 16MB results in a BSOD. A safe mode boot works fine.

    I tried fixing my permissions and uninstalling/re-installing Parallels Tools, but the error persists.

    I'm on a MAC Pro, Dual-Core Intel Xeon @ #GHz and 10GB of RAM. Version 5160 of Parallels.
     
  10. Eru Ithildur

    Eru Ithildur Forum Maven

    Messages:
    1,954
    OLAUser, same questions go to you as NotBill... Let's see if this can't get worked out.

    Also, have you tried wiping and re-installing Parallels?
     
  11. NotBill

    NotBill Member

    Messages:
    36
    About the caches: this system is 2 months old and I do not use Safari much yet. While I don't doubt it's possible, I don't see how the caches could change the maximum setting on a settings screen from something like 256 to 16 and adjust the slider at the same time. Same for the RAM.

    iirc someone wanted to know what type of system I have:

    Kernel version:
    Darwin Kernel Version 8.10.1: Wed May 23 16:33:00 PDT 2007; root:xnu-792.22.5~1/RELEASE_I386

    Model: MacPro1,1, BootROM MP11.005C.B04, 4 processors, Dual-Core Intel Xeon, 2.66 GHz, 3 GB
    Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT, NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT, PCIe, 256 MB
    Memory Module: DIMM Riser A/DIMM 1, 512 MB, DDR2 FB-DIMM, 667 MHz
    Memory Module: DIMM Riser A/DIMM 2, 512 MB, DDR2 FB-DIMM, 667 MHz
    Memory Module: DIMM Riser A/DIMM 3, 1 GB, DDR2 FB-DIMM, 667 MHz
    Memory Module: DIMM Riser A/DIMM 4, 1 GB, DDR2 FB-DIMM, 667 MHz
    Network Service: Built-in Ethernet 1, Ethernet, en0
    Network Service: Parallels Host-Guest, Ethernet, en2
    Network Service: Parallels NAT, Ethernet, en3
    PCI Card: NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT, Display, Slot-1
    Serial ATA Device: ST3250824AS P, 232.89 GB
    Parallel ATA Device: OPTIARC DVD RW AD-7170A
    USB Device: Hub in Apple Pro Keyboard, Mitsumi Electric, Up to 12 Mb/sec, 500 mA
    USB Device: USB-PS/2 Optical Mouse, Logitech, Up to 1.5 Mb/sec, 100 mA
    USB Device: Apple Pro Keyboard, Mitsumi Electric, Up to 12 Mb/sec, 250 mA
    FireWire Device: built-in_hub, unknown_value, Unknown


    This issue started right after upgrading to the current version (5160). Prior to this upgrade, both the Mac and the VM worked much better than I expected. I have not yet tried to r&r Parallels or downgrade to the previous version. The VM's memory is set to 1028 megs of RAM. The video is limited to a maximum of 16 megs of RAM. The longer the VM runs, the slower it gets.
     
  12. OLAUser

    OLAUser Bit poster

    Messages:
    3
    Cleaned cache with Onyx

    I used Onyx to clean all of my caches, with no effect on the memory issue. I haven't tried re-installing Parallels yet. The system is running OS X 10.4.10. The VM is Vista.
     
  13. Eru Ithildur

    Eru Ithildur Forum Maven

    Messages:
    1,954
    I would re-install Parallels next, it does not touch your Virtual Machine, only the parallels drivers for OS X, etc.
     
  14. NotBill

    NotBill Member

    Messages:
    36
    After installing the firmware update (now MP11.005C.B08), the max video memory is 64 megs. If the VM is still unstable, is uninstalling 5160 as easy as opening the ~87 meg dmg and selecting 'uninstall' ? Should I uninstall the Tools first? During the reinstall, does Parallels automatically find the VM? Lastly, if I decide to go back to 4560, is there any difference in the reinstall procedure since I would be installed a different (older) version?

    Thanks!
     
  15. Eru Ithildur

    Eru Ithildur Forum Maven

    Messages:
    1,954
    I've heard from some that you can't roll back to 4560... Never had to try it myself. I would always uninstall the tools before doing a rollback, and things might just work, just use the uninstaller and then the installer.

    Remember, if things don't work with the older one, just install the newer one again. Just use the uninstaller that came WITH the disk image for the build you currently have installed.
     
  16. BenInBlack

    BenInBlack Pro

    Messages:
    372
    Yes

    It would have been better if you had a backup of your VM prior to upgrading to 5160, but if you dont then, probably uninstalling PTools would be prudent


     

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