Optimal Memory usage with Parallels and USB port recognition issue

M

mschneller

Bit poster
I am having two separate issues with Parallels- I am using Windows XP:

First, does anyone have an idea of what to set the memory usage to? I see that the optimal amount is 512 MB, but at times, if I have too many excel windows open, the VM screen will start flashing and I have to close excel, Outlook, etc. to get it to stop. I'm not sure if this is a memory issue or perhaps it is being caused by something else?

Second, I have to restart my printers every time I start the VM in order for the VM to recognize them. Is this normal? It also seems that the communication speed between the computer and the printer is extremely slow- I have this same issue when using Boot Camp.

Any help is appreciated- thanks!
 
1. 512 should be enough for Excel, you can always increase it to 1 GB if you have enough memory for OS X afterwards (at least 1 GB for OS X). But it seems more like a graphics issue, increase your video memory to 32 or even 64.

3. Instead of restarting your printers you can unplug/plug the USB cables (presuming these are USB printers).

2. PrinterS? How are they connected to the computer? Thru a hub, all at the same computer USB port (I'm presuming they are USB)? If many devices are sharing the same USB port the bandwidth (and power) has to be divided between them, try to distribute your devices thru the USB ports you have on your computer.
 
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The printers (2) are connected using the USB ports on back of the Mac. It's interesting because my photo printer has no delay at all- it's just my larger HP printer that takes forever. What do you mean about distributing the power? How do I do that?

Thanks for your help!
 
Ok... I see they are using different ports (not connected thru an hub to one USB port on your computer), so the bandwidth and power (the power thing was a long shot, since printers are normally self powered, meaning they don't draw power from the USB port like an USB keyboard or mouse does) are not shared.

Troubleshooting suggestions:

1. Are the spooling settings on both the same? The spooling settings determine how the printing is processed and managed, if it's first processed and when it's completed it is sent out to the printer (takes longer before it starts printing), or it's processed and printed at the same time (starts printing faster from when you tell Windows to print).

2. Is the larger HP printer still slow if it's the only one connected?
See what happens if you don't plug your photo printer and just use the larger HP one.
If it isn't slow anymore it's an issue between the two printers (maybe the drivers).

3. Whatever the result of the former suggestion, I suggest (in Boot Camp) you unplug the printers uninstall both printers (drivers), reboot, and reinstall first the problematic one (the larger HP), test it to see if it works ok, and only then you install and plug the other one.
 
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Thanks- I will try reinstalling the printer(s). Now, sorry to take you back to the memory issue, but I increased the video memory first to 32mb and now to 64mb and it didn't seem to solve the problem. Any other ideas on that one?
 
Hm... Maybe the flashing is not related to the video memory. Do you have Parallels Tools installed in Windows? If not, install them, this will greatly improve your graphics related experience.
 
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