Changing RAM allocation: please help me!

Hello, I have used for couple of days Parallel desktop for Mac 6.0.11822 under Mac OSX Snow Leopard 10.6.4 with my MacBook Pro 13.3 inches computer (standard ram was 4GB).

I have than upgraded my computer ram from 4GB to 8GB.

I want now to change the RAM allocation and increase it.... BUT I am stuck!!! If I hit CONFIGURE from the bottom right menu, and go to GENERAL settings, i see the old allocated ram, but I cannot change it! (I see a yellow message say that I have first to shut down the virtual machine!). But obviously if I do that, I will close the application and so I will NOT be able to access this preference settings!!! I am totally lost!!! Please help-

Also, for a 8GB mac what is a reasonable good amount of ram for Parallel? 2GB or more?

Regards.,
Puffo

 

Go to the Start menu and choose Shutdown to shutdown Windows. That will stop the virtual machine. Then you can make changes to the virtual machine configuration. You can go to the Window menu and select Virtual Machine List to see a list of your virtual machines. You can right click a virtual machine in the Virtual Machine List window and select "Configure" to make changes to that virtual machine's configuration.

If you're running a 32 bit version of Windows then don't set the virtual machine's RAM higher than 4 GB. 2 GB is good. If you're running a 64 bit version of Windows then 4 or 5GB is good. If you're Mac starts performing slowly, then lower the virtual machine's RAM.

 

still lost :-(

Hi, I have just closed (turn off) Parallel. Now what I have to do???? Where is the window menu? In the Mac dock I have the Window XP folder, but if I click it I do NOT see from the list a virtual machine file/folder :-(

Puffo

 

reddied,

Now start Parallels Desktop application from Mac's Applications folder. You will see a welcome screen, click "Use my virtual machines". After that you will see your virtual machines list. Right-click the item with your virtual machine's name. Now you can change RAM allocation.

As for the best RAM allocation - there is no silver bullet here. It seriously depends on your usual tasks you perform in a virtual machine. I would recommend you experimenting. Start with 1 GB allocated to a virtual machine and work some time. Is the performance good enough? Leave it 1GB if so. If not, change it to 1.5GB and work some time more...

Just an example: I have 4GB RAM on my Mac and I have Windows 7 VM running all the time. My usual work pattern in Windows 7 is Microsoft Office. I give my VM just 1GB RAM and that's totally enough for it to fly and leaves pretty much memory for Mac itself.

 

Run Parallels Desktop (click on Parallels Desktop.app) without starting your virtual machine (do not click the .pvm file).

Then you can view the Virtual Machine List window and configure your virtual machine.

If your virtual machine automatically starts, then set the "Start Automatically" option to Never in the Virtual Machine menu -> Configure menu item -> Options tab -> Startup and Shutdown item.

 

I have set the windows XP menu start automatically to NEVER. But when I restart Window from Parallel I will still NOT be able to access the virtual machine settings.... Windows will just load and that it is :-( What am I am doing wrong???

 

Solved by removing .pvm file from the computer. Thanks!

 

I've been having a different problem within this vein: I was able to to allocated more memory to my virtual machine but now windows won't start and I get caught in a recovery dialogue that cannot do anything to fix the problem. It just says cant repair and dumps me out only to return to the same window. I just installed windows so I dont have a restore point either so no luck there. I've even tried changing the memory settings back and it still crashes out. Even further is I cant seem to start from the install disc! What can I do?!