Can't increase VM disk size in El Capitan 10.11.1 (Parallels 11.1.0)

Discussion in 'macOS Virtual Machine' started by NeilR1, Dec 1, 2015.

  1. NeilR1

    NeilR1 Bit poster

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    I'm trying to increase the virtual machine disk size of an El Capitan guest system - I've done this in the past, albeit not on El Capitan. This time round though, I'm not getting any option within the El Capitan guest OS to extend the current partition to occupy the new hard drive space. To outline my steps so far:

    Within Parallels' Hardware options I edited the hard disk, moving the slider from 124gb to 512gb, leaving "Expanding disk" selected, as below. The option to Resize file system is greyed out.
    [​IMG]

    Within the guest OS Disk Utility, it now looks like the images below. Clearly the disk is recognised as being 512gb, however I can't work out any way to expand the 124gb partition into the remaining space - the partition section simply doesn't see the full 512gb. Anyone have any ideas?

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Thanks in advance.

    Neil
     
  2. NeilR1

    NeilR1 Bit poster

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    Just to add to this - I loaded an old backup on Yosemite to try the disk utility there (used an increase to 200gb though rather than 512gb). The disk utility plainly shows the available space and the partition can be resized simply by dragging the handle at the bottom of "Macintosh HD" (see below) - so the problem is clearly specific to Parallels 11 with El Capitan as a guest OS.

    Am I missing something, or is this a bug in Parallels / El Capitan?

    [​IMG]
     
  3. TorquilH

    TorquilH Bit poster

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    Bump +1... i am having exactly the same problem. I also made a support call to Parallels and spent an hour and a half to the support guy, who had no idea what to do about it. He also spoke to his senior staff member for 15 minutes, and came back with nothing.
    The only thing he suggested was that "you need to delete your files so that you can work with a smaller disk"
    Quality outsourcing of their support dept...
     
  4. kmw

    kmw Bit poster

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    1
    Bump +1
    Tried the same with Yosemite, started the install, shut it down before it went on, fired up disk util, could see the space but could not partition... cannot unmount drive
     
  5. FlavioC

    FlavioC Bit poster

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    El Capitan 10.11.5, MacBook Pro, Parallels 11.2.0
    Me too, I cannot have Parallels automatically expand my .PVM HDD
    I tried once (and I will NEVER repeat this) to launch the command "Expand" via the configuration menu. It ended up with an unuseful Virtual Machine.
    (Moreover, I don't have the "Expanding Disk" option on configuration menu)

    My drama: Windows 7 filled up the whole amount of disk image space. I had to dig into Win7, trying to create more space (clean unuseful files, defrag, reboot ....)

    This is exactly why I turned to Mac, and now Parallels forces me into the past.
     
  6. Raj@Parallels

    Raj@Parallels Guest

    Messages:
    467
    Hey all,
    To increase virtual hard disk space try this steps.
    If increased size doesn't reflect in a virtual machine, please follow this steps outlined.
     
  7. JacoG

    JacoG Bit poster

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    The initial problem stated was for an Apple OS X 10.11 El Capitan guest system (NOT WINDOWS).
    PLEASE GET THIS SORTED FOR APPLE GUESTS AS IT MAKES VM'S PRETTY USELESS WITH < 500MB FREE
    I run an Apple OS X 10.11.5 guest VM inside an Apple MacBookPro OS X 10.11.5 and cannot increase the diskspace - it is greyed out / disabled:
    OSX10115-harddisk.jpg
    But I get so far after some acrobatics / shenanigans of changing the source to the "Boot Camp Permissions" and after the error try again - but it does not always work.
    OSX10115-harddisk2.jpg
    Only have a single snapshots which I wish I could get rid off as it seems a waste of time...
    OSX10115-snapshots.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jul 23, 2016
  8. PaulChristopher@Parallels

    PaulChristopher@Parallels Product Expert Staff Member

    Messages:
    3,158
    Hello JacoG, Parallels Desktop does support resize of virtual hard disk for the following hard disk formats only:
    EXT4, EXT3, EXT2, NTFS, FAT16, FAT32, REISERFS. Unfortunately, the virtual disk of Mac OS X virtual machine cannot be resized post the installation.
     
  9. EricS6

    EricS6 Bit poster

    Messages:
    1
    Dear Paul,
    1. I tried to reinstall Parallels on my macbook pro 13 retina (late 2013, 16 gb ram, 512 ssd straight from the factory) but it has not work. The default disk size seems to be 64 gb. I would appreciate it if you can give me step by step instructions on how to reinstall parallels and increase my disk size to 128 gb. Would that work?
    2. I would also like your opinion as to whether it is necessary to increase the virtual disc size. I am just concerned because I am running out of space and it seems there is not a lot left. Are most of your customers happy with a 64gb disk?
    I am asking all these questions because my mac is 3 years old and I am planning to buy a new computer. Work is getting harder and I need windows. So I am thinking of buying a windows laptop if I can't get parallels to expand my disc size to 128 gb. Meaning I am worried that I cannot get all my work done on a 64 gb virtual machine in the future so maybe I should just go the hardware route. Parallels have been working well for me for the last 3 years and I don't want to give up my Mac but might have to if work demands it.
    Thanks and kind regards
    Eric
     
  10. PaulChristopher@Parallels

    PaulChristopher@Parallels Product Expert Staff Member

    Messages:
    3,158
    Hello EricS6, please check out this article to know more about how to increase the hard disk size in the installation wizard. Parallels Desktop does not support Resizing virtual hard disk post installation.
     
  11. BERNDW1

    BERNDW1 Junior Member

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    Dear Team,
    tried that - no joy:
    resize button greyed out
    and in Disk management expand disk greyed out

    when trying disport: after deleting partition and typing extend: there is not enough free space

    Very grateful for your help here.
    Bernd
     
  12. Ajith1

    Ajith1 Parallels Support

    Messages:
    2,719
    Hi BERNDW1,
    Confirm if you are trying to increase hard disk size of a Mac OS X VM or Windows VM.
     
  13. BERNDW1

    BERNDW1 Junior Member

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    Sorry - should have included: Win 10 VM
    Thank you
    Bernd
     
  14. Ajith1

    Ajith1 Parallels Support

    Messages:
    2,719
    Refer to this article to increase hard disk size of the virtual machine.
     
  15. BERNDW1

    BERNDW1 Junior Member

    Messages:
    10
    Thank you very much - tried before & did again, no success
    Run chkdsk as suggested
    These are the steps that do not work:
    Choose the size you want for the virtual hard disk, check Resize file system and click Apply - Resize file system is greyed out
    Right-click on the main C: partition and select Extend Volume - Extend volume is greyed out

    Thanks very much for looking into this!
    Bernd
     
  16. BERNDW1

    BERNDW1 Junior Member

    Messages:
    10
    Hi Team, this is critical now - my VM has run out of space and is no longer functional.
    Grateful for urgent reply.
    Bernd
     
  17. EricB7

    EricB7 Bit poster

    Messages:
    1
    Why does mine look like this? I have no option to resize at all.
     

    Attached Files:

  18. BERNDW1

    BERNDW1 Junior Member

    Messages:
    10
    Dear Team,
    there are clearly issues here and we need help asap. I have been through most articles and suggestions to no avail - can you please respond urgently.
    Bernd
     
  19. BERNDW1

    BERNDW1 Junior Member

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    10
    Tried that in vain - please reply to my post from 15/10 - this is now 10 days ago.
     
  20. Ajith1

    Ajith1 Parallels Support

    Messages:
    2,719
    We can see that you are using a Boot camp partition as a VM from the screenshot. You cannot increase a Boot camp partition using VM settings. You can reach out Apple support for assistance with it.
     

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