Problems with a)virtual memory b) setting main memory allocation

Problem I)
I am running WIndows XP with Parallel Desktop for Mac Ver 5 on MacBook 10.4.11
I am getting messages that "virtual memory too low". I don't know how to eliminate this problem. I Cleared Up the Disc , I defregemented the disc, I compressed the disc (Capacity 6.92 GB, Free Space 2.83 GB.). What should I do?


Problem II)

In desperation I gradually increased the Main Memory assigned to the virtual machine until I reached 1212 MB (Total is 2000). Obviously this has to be changed to maximum 1 GB- but I can't do it. The VIrtual Machine Configuration>Memory is not responding. I have tried to reduce the asigned space from 1212 MB to lower than 1000 MB-but the panel doesn't respond. (I am getting a warning when I close the window that too much is asigned but it doesn't allow me to change it to a lower figure.) I went to Parallel>Preferences> Memory>manual and changed the assigned memory down to below 1000 MB. It didn't affect the setting under the Virtual Machine Configuration even after rebooting .

What should I do?

 

Hello.

Could you please clarify what does it mean: "The VIrtual Machine Configuration>Memory is not responding"?

1. can to change memory value with spinbox?
2. can't to change memory value with slider?
or something else

 

What I mean when saying that the Virtual Machine is not responding:
I START Windows XT,
I click on the icon of the Virtual Machine in the lower right corner of the window,
I click on GENERAL : the Virtual Machine panel comes and shows the Name, Processor, Main memory Adjustment slider, Notes.
I can't change any of the settings. Only the OK button in the right corner and the Notes are highlighted, the rest of the panel is "fogged" and not responding to clicking.

I hope I am describing part of the problem I am having. Thanks for you help

 

Then it's quite simple: there are a numerous of options which can't be changed while VM's running. One of them of course memory. Just shutdown your Windows XP and then open configuration editor and make necessary actions.

 

Thanks! Problem #2 is resolved.

Can you advise me on how to resolve Problem #1 related to the Message:Virtual Memory Too Low

Thanks again

 

Could you provide with details about this message - the best way when this message appeared to create and send us problem report and post here it ID. In order to send problem report you can:

1. Use PD 5.0 menu item Help->Report a Problem - please follow problem report wizard in this case
2. Send it with command line utility: open application Terminal (/Applications/Utilities/Terminal.app) and at command line perform one of two commands (on your choice):

prlctl problem-report "vm_name" --send
prlsrvctl problem-report --send

in first command instead of vm_name please use your virtual machine name ("Windows XP" for example).

In both ways please wait until problem report will be sent, copy received problem report ID and post it here.

 

Thanks for you instructions!

I used Help>Report a Problem. I received ID #1027067

(By the way, I tried to use the command line approach in Terminal- but I did not receive a reply or an ID number.)
I attached my entries into Terminal.

 

problem in your virtual HDD size applied to VM and virtual memory settings inside Windows XP:

<Size>10000</Size>
<SizeOnDisk>8068</SizeOnDisk>

here Size - is size of hard disk (10Gb) and SizeOnDisk is used disk space by Windows files. You can try to use disk resize functionality at configuration editor and increase hard disk size till at least 20 Gb (do not forget to stop VM at first; then open VM configuration editor; select Hardware tab and select at hardware list Hard disk - then press Resize and follow instructions) - but i strongly recommend you to do VM backup at first - such operations quite dangerous. After success disk resize you can increase virtual memory file size at Windows XP. Actually you can try just increase virtual memory pagefile size inside Windows but i'm afraid you'll have extremely low disk space after this action for applications work.

seems you forgot space symbol (' ') between "problem-report" and "--send" words

 

Increasing the size of the disc worked

Thanks! The enlargement of the disc went without difficulty. (I did create a copy before the procedure---just in case-but nothing happened.

(I had problem creating a "clone". If I turn off the Virtual Machine, the option of clone is not highlighted and can't be chosen. Of course, when the Virtual Machine is running, the clone option is not available. How can I access the clone option. The instruction says to close windows-but that means turning off the virtual machine. What am I missing?)

 

Clone operation is possible just for completely stopped VM. In Order to do this when Windows is running you can either perform Shutdown action through PD 5.0 or shutdiwn Windows with guest OSes actions (perform Start->Shutdown). When WIndows guest OS will completely shutdown clone operation became acceptable.

 

Clone still doesn't work

It still doesn't work. I tried closing windows through START>Shutdown and through VM STOP commands.
Following closing the WIndows the FILE tab of Parallels doesn't highlight Clone. What do i do wrong?

 

please reproduce situation and send us one more problem report - i need to take a look on situation (do not forget to post here problem report id)

 

Can't activate "Clone"

I received ID 1106720
Thanks for you advice

 

At report screenshot i see that your Windows guest OS is running. It's impossible to clone VM until it'll be comletely stopped. If you can't to do it with Parallels GUI controls try to use command line utility:

1. Open Terminal application (/Applications/Utilities/Terminal.app)
2. Perfrom follow command and wait until it'll be completed:

prlctl stop "Microsoft Windows XP"

After this Clone operation should be accesible.

About your question on send Problem Report with prlctl command line utility (why it's not working) i need details of problem. Best way to post here output of command line: commnad which was performed and command output.

 

Problem with activating "cloning"

I followed your advise and stopped the VM through Terminal-after I stopped it through the conventional way. Just to be sure.
I try the access File>Cloning (I took a picture of this and attached)
When it didn't work, I created an error report-as you suggested . I got a long list of unreadable lines (I attached a picture of this too). I DIDN"T RECEIVE AN ERRO REPORT NUMBER TO REFER TO.

Do I use the wrong way to activate "Cloning"? If the answer is affirmative-what should be the approach?

 

You did not select VM which should be cloned. Just open the VM window without starting it and go to File menu again.
Here is my screenshot:

http://forum.parallels.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=3443&stc=1&d=1259919486

as you can see on stopped VM Clone operation acceptable. My steps were follow:

1. When VM was running i perform Virtual Machine->Shutdown operation and wait until Windows stopped it work
2. Without closing VM window go to File menu

Seems you forgot --send attribute which very important. Command line utility post problem report to console standard output otherwise - it's require to receive problem report as file (when it can't be sent by some reasons). In this case output redirection "prlctl args >problem_report.output" should be used. But i think command which i posted before should send problem report without obstacles in your case - just perform complete command as is (copy-paste it):

prlctl problem-report "Microsoft Windows XP" --send

 

Seems at least i understand your problem bound with I guess you have specific configuration of Startup Shutdown VM configuration part which specifies to start VM on VM window open and close VM window on guest shutdow, haven't it? It's our interface inconsistency, sorry. You can either change temporarily "On shutdown" option on "Keep window open" or use command line utility for clone operation:

prlctl clone "Microsoft Windows XP" --name "Microsoft Windows XP Backup"

 

I found the problem! "Cloning" is now highlighted

I had to change the setting in Parallels Machine Configuration>StartUp and ShutDown, on Shutdown> Keep WIndow Open (it was on Close WIndow)

Thanks for your help!