Maverick, Windows 8.1, Video Resolution on Macbook with Retina

[jcronkhite75]

Just a tip in the event anyone runs into this. If you update Parallels 9 to the latest version (the Mavericks patch), and then upgrade OSX to Mavericks, Windows may use its own video driver instead of the Parallels Tools-provided driver. This fixes your max resolution much lower than you would desire. Re-installing Parallels Tools didn't fix this issue. Here's what to do:

- Go to Device Manager (charms bar search or Start Screen and type "Device Manager")
- Expand Display Adapters
- If this problem exists, in my experience, your adapter will be a default from Windows as opposed to "Parallels Display Adapter (WDDM)"
- Right-click, go to Properties, click the Driver tab, then click Update Driver, then click Search Automatically for Updated Driver Software
- Windows should find the Parallels driver if you have installed the Parallels Tools.
- When the update is complete, you will be able to max your resolution as expected.

Hardware: Macbook Pro 15", Early 2013, 2.7 GHz Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, Apple Thunderbolt Display
Software: Mac OS X 10.9 (13A603), Parallels 9 build 9.0.23136, Guest OS Windows 8.1 Pro

Hope this helps.

 

[RickRobinson]

Any idea what to do if I'm running XP instead of W8?

 

[jcronkhite75]

Rick, it's actually very similar. In XP, right-click on My Computer and select Manage. Then go to Device Manager. Everything else still applies from there. You may want to reinstall Parallels Tools first.

 

[RickRobinson]

Thanks. It says "Parallels Video Adapter" so my problem is something else. I'll keep looking ;-)

 

[RickRobinson]

Update. Figured it out. Had to disable Retina Resolution in Parallels.