Difficult time getting Parallels 9 upgrade stabilized

I had a nice, stable iMac running Parallels 7 and Windows 7 for the past two years. I upgraded to Parallels 9 so I can upgrade to Mavericks. Now when I start Parallels and launch Windows, I have problems:
1. After entering my Windows password at login, I get an error message saying it cannot complete the operation because it was taking a snapshot. Then the hard drive works away for a long time.
2. And whereas before I could always see a Parallels menu, now I can't. When I click Parallels all I get is a small dialogue box showing "parallels virtual machines" and Windows 7, but I have no control over the system because there is is no Parallels menu.
3. And when I click Opt-Cmd-Esc to try to kill the process, the list of running apps does not include Parallels.

I would appreciate help getting Parallels and Windows settled down again please. Thanks.

 

UPDATE: I think it is fixed. I discovered Parallels online Chat support. The technician pointed out the Parallels icon in the icon bar (doh!) which allowed me to shut down Windows and reinstall Parallels 9. So far so good.