Downgrade from 3 to 2.5

[aidan]

Is there an official way to downgrade back to 2.5 from 3 until the some of the bugs are fixed. All my business applications used to work perfectly in 2.5, but now I'm having probelms with SQL Server 2005 and MS Graph (which I hope will be fixed soon). But in the mean time I need to run a working VM for business and I can't stop using the applications until the fix appears. Thanks.

[darkone]

uninstall parallels completely using the uninstaller in the 4124 dmg.

restore from your backup, your 2.5 VM. Remember, 3.0 VMs are NOT compatible with 2.5 PD

Install version 2.5 (3188 or the new 3212) and enter your old 2.5 licence if requested.

[AlanH]

Just a comment - I tried running Uninstall Parallels Desktop from my Build 4124 disk image. It told me Parallels Desktop is not installed on my system. I know this is not true, because I can still run the trial version.

I'll probably try to revert by manually removing all the items I can find on my hard drive relating to the current Parallels installation, but this is not an encouraging.

[StupidlyPersistent]

Darkone,

Is Build 3212 still available online for download somewhere? I'm reverting back from 4124 for now.

Regards,
StevenC

[StupidlyPersistent]

Argh. Belay that. Should have tried the obvious route first. For others wondering the same thing, Parallels menu > Help > Check for Updates lists Build 3212.

Sigh. Must be all this diazapam...

Regards,
StevenC

[jaredbeck]

I installed build 4124, tried it, and now I want to return to 3188.

I ran 4124's uninstall, restarted, then tried to install 3188. The installation failed, first warning me that I was installing over a newer installation, then saying "You cannot continue. There is nothing to install."

Does anyone else get this?

UPDATE: The 4124 uninstaller leaves a few files in /Library and ~/Library ... I deleted them and restarted and I was able to install 3188 :D

[jbleiermd]

uninstall parallels completely using the uninstaller in the 4124 dmg.

restore from your backup, your 2.5 VM. Remember, 3.0 VMs are NOT compatible with 2.5 PD

Install version 2.5 (3188 or the new 3212) and enter your old 2.5 licence if requested.
where on the website can I re-download the old build?

[jbleiermd]

I updated the new version 3.0 on top of the old version (3188, I think). Ever since then, when I try to use excel figures in powerpoint, the formatting gets ruined. Even If a open up a file that was previously embedded normally, opeing it up to edit it results in screwing up the formatting.

I tried repairing, then re-installing Microsoft Office 2003, but to no avail. I even created a new VM and re-installed Windows then Offic -- and still had the same problem! Any advice out there?

PLEASE HELP!

[dkp]

uninstall parallels completely using the uninstaller in the 4124 dmg.

restore from your backup, your 2.5 VM. Remember, 3.0 VMs are NOT compatible with 2.5 PD

Install version 2.5 (3188 or the new 3212) and enter your old 2.5 licence if requested.

I think I'd toss in a reboot after the uninstall owing to the weirdness of the kernel module loading process.

[jbleiermd]

if I deleted the download, where can I get a copy of 2.5?

[John Howard]

uninstall parallels completely using the uninstaller in the 4124 dmg.

restore from your backup, your 2.5 VM. Remember, 3.0 VMs are NOT compatible with 2.5 PD

Install version 2.5 (3188 or the new 3212) and enter your old 2.5 licence if requested.

3212? Never saw that one. But then again I may not have paid close enough attention; never got an email announcing it so i didn't check

[jbleiermd]

I tried to follow the link from my original purchase of v2.5, but it no longer worked. Does the website have any of the older versions. It is already paid for.

[bahman]

Link to download 2.5 please?????? 3.0 is not ready to be public yet, please stop delivering software that is not fully tested.

[wingdo]

Link to download 2.5 please?????? 3.0 is not ready to be public yet, please stop delivering software that is not fully tested.

Sweet jeebus, can people not use the forum searches? I did a search on 'link 3188' and got oodles of threads with active links to both 3188 and 3212 in them.

http://forum.parallels.com/showthread.php?t=12777&highlight=link+3188

First thread in the search. The saddest part of all is that at the bottom of THAT thread is someone (dkp i think) asking people why they can't use search as he links to an even older thread with the same image links in it. (that thread being http://forum.parallels.com/thread12706.html which has the admins posting the links.)

[bahman]

Sweet jeebus, can people not use the forum searches?

I don't how old you are or when you start using forums. And I truly hope you're not put into our position. So to answer your stupid question, NO, when you're about to lose tons of data or have to spend all f...ing night rebuilding your computer you're not in the mood to search for every single word. The first post you see with a google search, you post to it. Grow up! And thanks for the links.

[wingdo]

I don't how old you are or when you start using forums. And I truly hope you're not put into our position. So to answer your stupid question, NO, when you're about to lose tons of data or have to spend all f...ing night rebuilding your computer you're not in the mood to search for every single word. The first post you see with a google search, you post to it. Grow up! And thanks for the links.

Hmmm, started using forums back when they were called BBSs back in the 80s. As an IT engineer, I've had to rebuild more servers than I can recall and have had to deal with hundreds of angry users wondering why the Exchange mail server would ever crash. So I feel for your position.

No google search was used, just the internal forum search. I just find it odd that people who are in a hurry for life or death information would make a post and wait until someone answers it instead of even bothering to search the forum you are on. There are over 20 other threads with people asking where to download 2.5 again, and every one of those threads someone posted a link.

[Rachel Faith]

I don't how old you are or when you start using forums. And I truly hope you're not put into our position. So to answer your stupid question, NO, when you're about to lose tons of data or have to spend all f...ing night rebuilding your computer you're not in the mood to search for every single word. The first post you see with a google search, you post to it. Grow up! And thanks for the links.

Ignore Wingnut.... He replies to everyone with that arrogance, almost like he enjoys pissing in the coffee just to see yer reaction. I've yet to see him actually be helpful to anyone. He even complains about the complainers. LOL

[dkp]

I don't how old you are or when you start using forums. And I truly hope you're not put into our position. So to answer your stupid question, NO, when you're about to lose tons of data or have to spend all f...ing night rebuilding your computer you're not in the mood to search for every single word. The first post you see with a google search, you post to it. Grow up! And thanks for the links.

Just a minor point. Searching for the information is a direct action. Asking for the link is an indirect action that has no assurance of success. Asking for a link is also a form of searching but a very inefficient form. One thing that anyone can do is search every one of these forum pages far more efficiently and faster by using Google as they have copies of every page here and many pages that have been deleted.

Lastly, there was nothing stupid about the question, but your answer reveals a lot about your sense of entitlement.

[fbronner]

I updated the new version 3.0 on top of the old version (3188, I think). Ever since then, when I try to use excel figures in powerpoint, the formatting gets ruined. Even If a open up a file that was previously embedded normally, opeing it up to edit it results in screwing up the formatting.

I tried repairing, then re-installing Microsoft Office 2003, but to no avail. I even created a new VM and re-installed Windows then Offic -- and still had the same problem! Any advice out there?

PLEASE HELP!

Verify your regional settings in your windows XP session, also make sure you the fonts you need in you powerpoint and excel are present on your windows machine if these files were not originally created in your VM.

[fbronner]

Ignore Wingnut.... He replies to everyone with that arrogance, almost like he enjoys pissing in the coffee just to see yer reaction. I've yet to see him actually be helpful to anyone. He even complains about the complainers. LOL

And when have you posted something useful?

[paddler]

The saddest part of all is that at the bottom of THAT thread is someone (dkp i think) asking people why they can't use search as he links to an even older thread with the same image links in it.

No the saddest part of all is there are so many people wanting to downgrade... :)

[dkp]

No the saddest part of all is there are so many people wanting to downgrade... :)

And that this has been going on for a very long time over a number of beta, RC, and GA releases.

[cmendoza099]

So can anyone please tell us how to uninstall 3.0?

I've run the uninstaller for 4128, then ran the installer for 3188 and I get the "nothing to install" error. In addition, the installer thinks that 3.0 is installed in my system.

I also deleted one kext that was lying around (connectUSB.ketx i believe), and in addition I removed anything with "parallels" in its file name from my system (Folders, plists, etc). Still, the installer tells me that 3.0 is there and there is "nothing to install"

So, could someone please post detailed instructions as to how to completely remove 3.0 from my system?

Snarky replies need not apply. In this thread there have not been instructions as to how to remove the program from a system. "Run the uninstaller" and "i removed things from /Library" are NOT detailed instructions, nor are they useful. I also "removed things from /Library" and I still can't reinstall. Link smack me if there is a thread with useful info.

jaredbeck: could you please tell what files you removed?

It would also be real nice if someone from Parallels showed up. Radio silence is not making you look good, especially since all of these problems are not regarding a Beta version, nor an RC. This is supposed to be production software, but it obviously isn't. And let me remind you that we paid for this upgrade.

[dkp]

It would also be real nice if someone from Parallels showed up. Radio silence is not making you look good, especially since all of these problems are not regarding a Beta version, nor an RC. This is supposed to be production software, but it obviously isn't. And let me remind you that we paid for this upgrade.

This is a discussion forum, not a support forum, so don't be surprised that a lot of support doesn't happen here directly from Parallels and that isn't intended to be snarky, that's just the facts. Support@Parallels.com is still the best way to get support. For your problem - did you reboot your system at any time after removing everything? And did you remove all the directories (VM directories excepted)?

[cmendoza099]

I removed everything that has "Parallels" in its name, VM's included (I am on Boot Camp, so I didn't really care for the VM's). That means all folders and plists. Rebooted, and still more of the same. Obviously, there are some files still lying around.

And, umm, all of the titles in these pages read "Parallels Support Forum" :)

[wingdo]

This will probably come across as "snarky" but here I go anyway ........

from the finder, do a "find" (command-F) and search for Parallels. You will find a number of folders. Remove them all EXCEPT the folder containing your VMs . In my case I have folders all over the place:

Applications/Parallels
~/Documents/Parallels
~/Library/Logs/Parallels
/Library/Parallels
~/Library/Parallels
/Library/StartupItems/Parallels
/Library/StartupItems/Parallels Transporter

A reboot after running the uninstaller is strongly suggested.

[wingdo]

And, umm, all of the titles in these pages read "Parallels Support Forum" :)

He's got you there! :eek:

[cmendoza099]

Thanks wingdo, but those are all gone. I checked for the logs (which I hand't checked), but they are gone too. Searching for "parallels" doesn't turn out anything relevant anymore. Does this program install anything on any of the os x hidden folders?

[dkp]

I removed everything that has "Parallels" in its name, VM's included (I am on Boot Camp, so I didn't really care for the VM's). That means all folders and plists. Rebooted, and still more of the same. Obviously, there are some files still lying around.

And, umm, all of the titles in these pages read "Parallels Support Forum" :)

Specifically, this forum is described thus:

Installation and Configuration in Mac OS
Share your experience about installing, configuring and fine-tuning Parallels Desktop.

That's a far leap from support. But never misunderestimate the ability of Parallels to create ambiguity :). What makes this not a support BBS is Parallels as they consistently recommend using support@parallels.com for support issues. Without any kind of case tracking and closure tools this would be a very poor choice for them should they try to conduct true product support.

Edit: More stuff - here's the what to do when it breaks link I was hunting for - right under my nose: http://forum.parallels.com/thread11880.html

[cmendoza099]

So I managed to install 2.5

I decided to install 3.0 again and see what happened. To my surprise, my key didn't work, and when I checked, the 3.0 installer had installed 2.5!! So I put my 2.5 key and now I'm downgraded.

This is very bizarre behavior, to say the least. Oh well, it got my problem fixed.

[kblume]

Unfortunately, when one has an OEM copy of Windows, one can only register it once. So a complete re-install of Parallels Desktop 2.5 plus Windows is out of the question.- Having been a Mac user since 1984, this version 3.0 is one of the worst. - Once Parallels Desktop 3.0 starts running, the BBOD (beach ball of doom) is forever running, bringing MacOS to its knees.- I now wait until Parallels Desktop gets a working copy out.

Cheers,

Klaus

[David5000]

Unfortunately, when one has an OEM copy of Windows, one can only register it once. So a complete re-install of Parallels Desktop 2.5 plus Windows is out of the question.

As far as I know, an OEM version of Windows can only be registered to one computer, but you can install it on that computer as many times as you want.

David

[kblume]

Hi,
I attempted to leave Parallels Desktop 3.0 alone, and install a fresh copy of 2.5. However, Parallels Desktop won’t let me do that. It appears that a complete uninstall is in order.

Could someone tell me what impact this will have re: building a new VM? I assume that I have to re-install Windows XP. I have an OEM version that allows me to activate it once. Does anyone know what might happen?

Thanks,

Klaus

[David5000]

I assume that I have to re-install Windows XP. I have an OEM version that allows me to activate it once. Does anyone know what might happen?

As far as I know the OEM version can be activated many times, but only on one computer. At the worst you will have to call Microsoft to re-activate. Just be sure to tell them that you are only reinstalling and that you haven't changed your hardware. I think it is also best not to mention that you are using Parallels--that will only lead to confusion on their part.

A Google search will yield many discussions of this.

David

[Hindsight]

As far as I know the OEM version can be activated many times, but only on one computer. At the worst you will have to call Microsoft to re-activate. Just be sure to tell them that you are only reinstalling and that you haven't changed your hardware. I think it is also best not to mention that you are using Parallels--that will only lead to confusion on their part.

A Google search will yield many discussions of this.

David
We just re-activated our OEM and were successful in getting a serial from Microsoft on the second attempt. The first time, we mentioned Parallels and that threw them.

[John Howard]

And that this has been going on for a very long time over a number of beta, RC, and GA releases.

Just goes to show that newer is not always better.

From a commercial and ethical point of view, there is nothing wrong with this as long as people aren't paying for what they want to downgrade from (betas etc.). I've beta-tested other products and I had to sign a disclaimer waiving any claims against problems the beta might cause.

But this is very wrong when we're talking about paid-for GA releases.