I've seen a lot of posts all over the place with this problem which I've had on and off myself.
Windows appears to freeze periodically when using applications, this can manifest itself as either a pause in the function of Windows OR the spinning beachball/disc/ball will appear.
SYMPTOMS
You close a window in XP, either ALL windows or specific ones (I was getting it with Outlook 2007 yesterday - the only app affected) and as you close the window half closes (leaving some garbage/fragments on the screen) and after a second or so the spinning Mac OSX beachball appears. After anywhere between 5 and 15 seconds the remains of the window close normally.
AFFECTS
Either all windows are affected or specific applications. Minimising and Maximising Windows is fine, opening is fine - this just seems to affect closing Windows either ALL or specific applications.
CAUSE
Looking at various threads, this is something to do with Parallels tools and/or virtual memory allocation within Mac OSX although - there could be other related issues but Parallel tools is definitely at the centre of this somewhere. If you kill the Parallels tools process the problem is solved. You lose clipboard sync (no biggie) and Time sync (annoying but workable by updating your clock when you resume Windows.)
RESOLUTION
I found various fixes for this that worked for me including adjusting the swap space settings of Windows, rebooting Windows, rebooting MacOSX etc however the consistent fix I've found is turning ON "show applications in dock" in the Parallels preferences.
I realise this information is now new to many people with this issue and I certainly didn't solve this myself - I just thought I'd put this up as I've seen multiple threads on different subjects where people describe this issue. Hopefully this will help!
Jason
Windows appears to freeze periodically when using applications, this can manifest itself as either a pause in the function of Windows OR the spinning beachball/disc/ball will appear.
SYMPTOMS
You close a window in XP, either ALL windows or specific ones (I was getting it with Outlook 2007 yesterday - the only app affected) and as you close the window half closes (leaving some garbage/fragments on the screen) and after a second or so the spinning Mac OSX beachball appears. After anywhere between 5 and 15 seconds the remains of the window close normally.
AFFECTS
Either all windows are affected or specific applications. Minimising and Maximising Windows is fine, opening is fine - this just seems to affect closing Windows either ALL or specific applications.
CAUSE
Looking at various threads, this is something to do with Parallels tools and/or virtual memory allocation within Mac OSX although - there could be other related issues but Parallel tools is definitely at the centre of this somewhere. If you kill the Parallels tools process the problem is solved. You lose clipboard sync (no biggie) and Time sync (annoying but workable by updating your clock when you resume Windows.)
RESOLUTION
I found various fixes for this that worked for me including adjusting the swap space settings of Windows, rebooting Windows, rebooting MacOSX etc however the consistent fix I've found is turning ON "show applications in dock" in the Parallels preferences.
I realise this information is now new to many people with this issue and I certainly didn't solve this myself - I just thought I'd put this up as I've seen multiple threads on different subjects where people describe this issue. Hopefully this will help!
Jason