MacBook Runs Extremely Hot -- *ONLY* When Parallels Desktop is Running

I'm running the following system:

MacBook 2.4 GHz Intel
2 GB 1067 MHz DDR2 RAM
Mac OS 10.5.8
Parallels Desktop 5.0.9344

I've been putting up with this for months, but I've had enough. Is this software supposed to cause your laptop to heat up to the point where it burns your skin? This is ridiculous.

The laptop temperature is fine until I launch Parallels, and then heats up immediately after Parallels is running, even if there isn't any other Mac OS software running. The temperature cools off immediately after Parallels is closed.

Should I have gotten VMware? Or does anyone have some advice on this?

 

Since parallels is memory intensive, possibly you might have a problem with one of the memory sticks?

I upgraded my macbook from 1gb to 2gb in order to run paralells, and even with 2gb, I can only
run one virtual machine at a time.

If your comfortable with it, try reseating the memory sticks, and make sure there is no dust on them,
that will help hold in any heat they generate.

GG

 

I had the same experience, but I may have stumbled into the solution. Parallels was continuously using CPU time even when I was working on the Mac side i.e. no processes running in windows XP. In the meantime, my McAfee subscription expired and I deleted it from the PC side for another option. Ever since then, my laptop has not gotten hot. I did not check CPU usage prior to removing it. Apparently McAfee was running in the background checking for viruses non-stop. What I recommend in order to see if this could help you is to look at the activity monitor on the Mac side (in utilities folder) as well as the task manager on the windows XP side (CRTL-ALT-DEL, CTRL-SHFT-ESC, or right click on an empty spot on the task bar) and look at what is using up CPU time. BTW don't worry about the "system idle process" running on the windows side. it is supposed to run when it is doing nothing (it's windows, don't ask!!!!). I believe your computer is hot because the CPU is running non stop and you need to find out why. hope this helps.

 

I have the same issue. My configuration is 2.4 GHz, 4 GB RAM. The moment I start Parallels Desktop with Windows 7 (without even working inside Windows 7), my computer gets hot. This drives me mad and I'm seriously thinking of selling my Mac and buying a normal Windows laptop, just like anyone else has. Why did I want Mac :-D? I no longer remember, Mac turned into a nightmare and I want to get rid of it as soon as possible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!