Can't create VM from boot camp partition

[Tom W]

I can't get Parallels 6 to create a VM from my boot camp partition of win 7 (64 bit).

I have win7 working fine from a SSD mounted in the ODD space on a Mac Pro4,1. When I use Parallels 6, I never get the option to create the VM from boot camp.

Follow the directions is no help. There is no option for "Boot Camp Partition" in the Create Virtual Machine window.

File>New opens the dialog box but no boot camp option (just the DVD or continue without). Following the "continue without" eventually gets me to selecting a folder in which to install the VM, but not where to get the Guest OS from.

Import from Boot Camp is greyed out. It appears that Parallels does not see my boot camp installation...

Thoughts?

 

[Tom W]

If anyone finds this via a search trying to troubleshoot a problem ...
I opened a support ticket but so far have no resolution to the problem. I still get an error "PRL_ERR_DISK_FILE_OPEN_ERROR (0x80021014)" when trying to create the VM.

Since the user manual is wrong in it's description of how to create a VM, I've followed the steps specified by a support person:


1. Open Finder => Launch Applications => Utilities => Disk Utility.

2. Select Macintosh HD on the left panel and click Repair Disk permissions.

3. Reboot your Mac.

4. Launch Parallels Desktop and choose create New Virtual Machine, choose continue without disk

5. Select your Virtual Machine Name that is windows 7

6. Choose like a MAC.

7. In Name and location check the option customize settings installation and click on create.

8. Configuration window will popup and in the Configuration window choose Hardware tab.

9. In the Hard ware choose Hard disk 1 in the left hand pane and on the right hand side of the window next to " Source " click on the drop down menu and choose Boot Camp partition and click OK.

They don't work as the error listed above is provided. A .pvm file is created but it doesn't work as it does not find the boot disk. I'll post any fix that gets found.

 

[Tom W]

For the record...

My problem has been solved. After a number of rounds of back-and-forth with Parallels support via email, I was escalated to 2nd level support and the engineer ended up providing an unofficial build which worked like a charm. I don't know what Anna did to fix it (yet) but I am pleased that it was resolved.

When all else fails, after you've read the manual , try the official support. It took a while with a day between each iteration, but it solved the problem.