Crashing on Startup

I've just installed Parallels for the first time this evening on my Intel iMac with 1GB of RAM. I created a typical virtual machine with 256MB of RAM. But every time I launch the VM (by hitting the play button), it sends the whole machine into a kernel panic. I haven't even been able to install Windows XP yet! Any idea what's going on here?

I'm running Mac OS X 10.4.8 with Parallels Desktop build 1848.

Thanks,
Khoi

 

If you have the latest core 2 duo iMac (not the core duo), then 1848 won't work. You need the latest build (which is 1940 as I type). See the sticky thread at the top of the forum.

 

Okay, fair enough. I do have the latest Core 2 Duo iMac, so I downloaded and installed 1940. It seems to be working okay, and I'm able to launch the virtual machine.

But when I try to install Windows by inserting the CD and then launching Parallels, nothing happens. In fact, Parallels seems to dismount the CD from the desktop -- suggesting it doesn't see it at all. What I see is a standard BIOS Version 1.05 screen.

Any ideas?

Thanks for any help!