Are Mac Files Duplicated in Virtual Machine?

Discussion in 'Installation and Configuration of Parallels Desktop' started by FoxRidge, Feb 21, 2013.

  1. FoxRidge

    FoxRidge Bit poster

    Messages:
    5
    I am running Mountain Lion (10.8.2) on MacBook Pro with Parallels 8 using Windows 7.
    My .pvm is running 100 GB while my wife's is only 30 GB with a comparable program/file load. Part of the difference is likely the fact that I have about 30 GB of pictures and audio, but that does not explain the other 30 GB difference. In Windows I access my Mac files through "Home on 'psf' (Y)" in Windows Explorer. Is it possible that the .pvm has duplicated these files in Windows 7? That would explain the 30 GB difference. If the files are not duplicated, does anyone have an idea where the extra file usage might be coming from?
    Thanks.
     
  2. strells

    strells Product Expert

    Messages:
    573
    No the files have not duplicated.

    When you are talking about the size, are you referring to the size of the .pvm file (the Parallels disk container) or how much space is free in Windows? If it's the .pvm, have you tried compressing the disk image, i.e. shrinking the size of the expanding image?

    Steve
     
  3. FoxRidge

    FoxRidge Bit poster

    Messages:
    5
    Are Files Duplicated in the Virtual Machine

    I was referring to the size of the .pvm. It is generally ~100 GB. I do compress it periodically which cuts the size by about 5-7 GB, but the .pvm still seems outlandishly large in relation to its contents. I just now compressed it back to 100.37 GB.
     

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