Can't increase virtual hard drive capacity

N

nlavertue

Bit poster
I'm at about capacity of my current virtual hard drive capacity and wanted to add another Gb or 2. I thought I would be able to do so via the Parallels Image Tool, but it's not appearing to function the way I thought it would.

I attempted to set the current size to 3Gb, but when I re-opened Parallels, the C: still lists 150Mb left available. However, when i close it, re-open the image tool, it actually lists 3Gb... when the host OS still lists 2Gb. Is there another step I'm missing? Or is my host OS virtual hard drive a bit screwed?

Thanks, and setup information below.


1. Mac OS Version --> 10.5.1
2. Parallels Build # --> 5582
3. What kind of computer --> MacBook Pro, 2.4Ghz
4. Total Physical RAM --> 2 GB
5. Hard Drives --> 1 Internal, 2 External FW
6. If you are using a BootCamp configuration or not --> not
7. Did you upgrade from a BETA --> No
8. With what Build did the problem start --> Never attempted before
9. If Parallels Tools are installed --> Yes
10. Anything you have tried to get things working --> Nothing other than listed
11. Anything specific about your set-up you think we should know --> Nope
12. If you are crashing, upload some crash logs --> No crashing
13. If you are getting an error message type it in and then attach a screenshot. --> No message
14. If you are having issues with a specific component (i.e. mouse, keyboard, monitor) tell us what it is.
 
I have pretty much the same computer, same software (Win XP Sp2) and the same issue, so I hope someone will answer this question for both of us.
 
You are missing a step, you have to use DISKPART to change what Windows sees as the actual size.

Usually I boot into the original, unexpanded disk, then open command prompt, enter 'DISKPART' without quotes, hit return, then I SELECT the applicable disk and then EXPAND that disk. If you type in an invalid command once you are in DISKPART it will give you the command list.
 
Are these the proper steps?

Now you should partition the new space in the Guest OS . To partition the new space in Windows 2000/2003/XP/Vista guest OSes, follow these steps:

Start the virtual machine with a Windows 2000/2003/XP/Vista guest OS installed.
From the Windows Start menu choose Run.
Type "diskmgmt.msc" and press Return to open Disk Management utility.
Right-click (Ctrl-click) the Unallocated Capacity bar and choose New Partition from the shortcut menu.
Click Next in the dialog box to continue.
In the New Partition wizard select Primary Partition and click Next.
Specify the new partition size and click Next.
From the drop-down list choose a letter to be assigned for the drive, and click Next.
Select Format partition. Make sure that the NTFS file system and the Default allocation size are selected. Specify the volume name and click Next.
Click Finish to start formatting.
The new volume will appear in the Disk Management window and in My Computer folder.
 
I was going to try what java2d did this evening, but, now they're reporting it didn't work.

If it doesn't work... why have the Image Tool at all then?
 
My understanding is that you can allocate the hard drive space using the Image Tool, but the OS cannot use it until you format the drive. The instructions I posted in my previous email was from Parallels guide from its website but for Parallels 2.x, not 3.0. I would have followed Eru Ithildur's instructions, but I could not follow them. My guess is he is assuming we understand more than we actually do.
 
Agh, sorry, guys. I guess I assumed a working knowledge of the command line.

Milage varies by machine, but here are some more... uh... Explicit steps. Starting from the beginning, going to the end. Read all the directions, if you have done part of them, pick-up where you left off.

1. Back-up .hdd file (do this before doing anything else!), put the file somewhere where you will not accidentally touch it.


2. Now, go find your image tool, the exact name varies by version and I am not sitting in front of a computer with 2.5 on it right now.

a. Open the image tool, go through the prompts, you want to select to convert your disk to a plain disk, if it is not already.

b. Once the conversion is done, go back into the tool and resize the disk to whatever size you want it to be (these two sub-steps might actually be one in the same... If while doing a you find you can select the size, do so then)


***COMMENTARY*** Alright, now your virtual hard-drive is actually larger, we only have one problem, Windows does not automagically recognize the change in size... So let's go edit the partition table. There are two ways of doing this, the first is to boot from gpartd, a Linux LiveCD, the second is more user-friendly, and that is to use DISKPART which is built-in with Windows. So off we go...


3. Go into your configuration file. Set the old drive that you backed up as a second hard drive. You may need to add a 'hardware device' to do this.


4. Set the Boot Drive to be the second HD that you just added. We want to boot into your backed-up drive, and not your new expanded drive, this is KEY.


5. Expand the drive using DISKPART (hit enter after each command you type).

a. Start-up your virtual machine, booting from the back-up.

b. Log-in.

c. Select Start->All Programs->Accessories->Command Prompt

d. Type in 'DISKPART', without quotes and hit enter. You'll be greeted by some text then a line that says something like: 'DISKPART>' When that shows up, continue on.

e. Type 'LIST VOLUME' it should out-put a list of volumes that are connected to your machine. Read the list, find the one that is NOT a Type: DVD/CD, is NOT Info: System, and has a size close to the size of the old disk. Note the number that is to the far left of it, it is probably 1 or 2.

f. Type 'SELECT VOLUME 1', substituting the number for the number you noted above.

g. Type 'EXTEND'. It should tell you that it was expanded successfully.


6. Shut-down Windows. In the configuration Window, disconnect your back-up drive, and set the primary boot drive back to the first drive.


7. Start-up Windows, it should all be set.


Lemme know if that works.
 
I followed your instructions, and everything went exactly as you described until the end of using diskpart. The message I received is "DiskPart failed to extend the volume. Please make sure the volume is valid for extending." Any ideas?
 
It sounds like you selected the wrong volume, you need to boot from the one that you did not extend, AND you need to make sure that you select the volume that has been extended in DISKPART.
 
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