Windows flickers in 'Single Window' mode

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DFoxgrov

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I have recently seen two instances of Windows flickering badly in Parallels for Mac 3.0. In both cases, the computers have been iMacs (one from 2006 with a Core Duo chip, the other from 2007, with a Core 2 Duo chip).

Here is the way another user has described the issue - see post at:
<http://forums.parallels.com/showthread.php?p=91483#post91483>

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I've installed Windows XP Pro inside Parallels, and inside the Virtual Machine I'm getting pretty bad display quality. For example when I mouse over a window in XP, often it flickers on and off. Or when I close a window, often it flickers back and forth in and out for a number of minutes before disappearing entirely.

I've played with a couple of settings in Parallels. For example setting up specific custom resolutions, and matching those inside XP. I've also increased the amount of video memory assigned by Parallels to the virtual machine. The issue has been persistent and invariant under these changes.

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I tried cloning the Core 2 Duo iMac to a MacBook Pro, and the problem does NOT happen on the portable.

I have replaced the RAM in the Core 2 Duo iMac and the problem continues with the new RAM.

I have followed the procedures for increasing the virtual RAM in Windows. It didn't help.

This is happening with Parallels Desktop 3.0 for Mac, build 5582.

The problem seems to go away if the systems are switched to Coherence.

Thanks for any help.
 
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Bad news! It's back!!!

This is really getting frustrating now. We have this running on around 100 computers, and ONE seems to have this issue. Parallels, please support your product and help us out!
 
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Sorry to hear that. FWIW, I've tried disabling hardware acceleration in windows displays, I've checked the refresh rates (parallels driver is locked to 60hz), i've tried a full removal and reinstall of parallels tools, i've disabled custom resolutions on the VM, turned off VT and VM acceleration, no help.
 
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Hello all!

Thank you for your reports. We keep on investigating the issue.
Please try disabling your Antivirus programs.
This is just another try to localize the problem, not the final solution, of course.

Best regards,
Xenos
 
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How much more VM video memory?

Xenos said:
Please try increasing your VM video memory size in Configuration Editor - Memory.
Click to expand...

My system is running perfectly or at least it appears that way to me. I'm running a MacBook with 4 GB, Parallels 3.0 and Vista Home Premium. My wife likes to play Freecell and it just doesn't have enough horsepower.

When I load Parallels, the default memory recommended 512MB with a max available shown as 2048 MB. The video memory recommended 16 MB with a max available shown as 64 MB (as I remember it.) I upped my RAM and Video to 1024 MB and 32 MB on the video in an attempt to get Freecell running in a workable state. However, it didn't help much.

I have since installed the old XP Freecell and it works fine so my wife is now happy.

Re your recommended increase of video memory above, what numbers would you recommend for my configuration? My main use of Parallels is MS Office which runs great at the moment.
 
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Hello Macaby,

In your case it is not Video Memory issue. You could not run Freecell for Vista Home Premium because of a limitation of the current 3D graphics support implementation. You can try enabling DirectX Shaders (experimental) on Video tab in Configuration Editor but it is not guaranteed to be helpful. Parallels developers are working to improve 3D graphics support.

Best regards,
Xenos
 
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Thanks for the answer to the Vista Freecell problem. It's really not a big deal for me (kinda like swatting a single nat.) I've very impressed with the Parallels desktop and it does 99.9% of what I want in regard to Windows operations.
 
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Coherence...

I'm "tagging" onto this thread because I can't figure out how to start a new thread in this forum.

I've been reading here and there on this forum about "coherence" and wondered what it was. Yesterday I was playing around and found the button that activates coherence and boom, it popped up on my Mac screen just like it is designed to do. Nice, but I have very limited use for this option.

So, from the manual I figured out how to get back to the VM Vista Window. But now, my computer seems to go into the coherence mode anytime I minimize Windows.

When I first clicked on the coherence button in Windows, did I make this mode more active and if so, how do I turn it off?
 
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Hello Macaby,

Please look at Configuration Editor -> Options -> Booting. You have Default Startup Mode - your VM is booting up in the mode last used. Choose Single Window or Full Screen mode.

To start a new thread in the forum just open an appropriate forum section and click red round button with + at the top of the list.

Best regards,
Xenos
 
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Any solution

Hi there,

I've been experiencing this flickering in the last few weeks as well.

Has any solution been found to this?
If not, would you recommend reverting to an older version of Parallels?
Is that possible?
 
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Hello Ron Merom,

Please try this workaround:

1. Right-click on the Windows Desktop. You will see the drop-down menu. Choose "Properties".

2. In the opened window, open the "Settings" tab and click on the "Advanced" button. You will see another window, click "Troubleshoot".

3. In "Hardware Acceleration" section put the slider on the third graduation line from the left.

Best regards,
Xenos
 
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Ron Merom, please give more details:

- what PD build are you using
- what's your Host and Guest OS
- your Mac model
- what application are you using to run video and audio files?

Best regards,
Xenos
 
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I'm using
- Build 5584
- Max OS X Version 10.4.11
- It's a MacBook Pro (2.33 GHz Core 2Duo with 2GB)
- The flickering of the video/audio starts as soon as I start windows

Please help.
 
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