New iMac running Parallels 7 lacks disk space

Discussion in 'Windows Virtual Machine' started by AML480, Nov 1, 2012.

  1. AML480

    AML480 Bit poster

    Messages:
    2
    I show the following drives within the Windows 7 environment after installing Parallels 7: Local Disk C: 95MB free of 63.9GB; Network Location "Home on 'psf'" Y: 693GB free of 930GB; Network Location "Host on 'psf'" Z: 693GB free of 930GB.

    Knowing little about hardware, would I be correct that Y: and Z: have somehow been allocated to the Mac and C: has been allocated to Windows? If so, is there a way to "move" disk space for Y: and/or Z: to C:, and if so, how?

    Thanks very much for any guidance you can offer!
     
  2. Tony Carreon

    Tony Carreon Hunter

    Messages:
    155
    you're partially correct. the "c:\" drive is not a real drive, it's a virtual disk contained in your virtual machine's file. the other "drives" you're seeing are the physical drives belonging to your mac which have been made visible to windows. when you set up your windows virtual machine, you specified a "maximum" disk size (c:\) of 64GB. this is the largest file size that your virtual disk can grow to. once it's reached the limit your virtual machine is out of space.

    my first suggestion is figuring out why it's grown so large? i assume you're storing a lot of files within windows, for whatever reason.

    you can:
    1. delete the files in windows (on your c:\ drive) and free up space
    2. increase the maximum file size your virtual disk (c:\ drive) can grow to.

    to do #2, open your virtual machine's configuration by selecting Virtual Machine -> Configure on your Mac's menu bar. select the Hardware tab and select the "Hard Disk 1" item from the list. click the "Edit" button and increase the file size to something larger. keep in mind, that this is the "maximum" size the disk can grow to so it will start out at whatever size it is currently and then grow to the size you specify. once it hits that size it will again start informing you that you are out of disk space. you can not make this size any larger than your mac's hard drive.
     

    Attached Files:

  3. AML480

    AML480 Bit poster

    Messages:
    2
    Many thanks

    Tony,

    I greatly appreciate your advice. I selected alternative number 2, followed your detailed instructions, and enlarged the drive.

    I owe you a beer!

    Alan
     

Share This Page