Parallels Desktop Black Screen on Win 10 Startup

Under Mac OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 on a MacBook Pro Retina 15" Late 2013, upgraded to Parallels version 12 pro. Every attempt to launch Windows 10 shows "Windows 10 starting..." briefly, then a black screen with no cursor. Under "Actions" "Shut Down" does not shut down, so have to use "Stop". Trying F8 during launch does nothing. I had seen this "black screen" on rare occasions under ver 11, but now it is all I get. Help, please.
 
I have exatly identical issue with Windows 8.1, Windows 10 and Windows XP virtual machines. I have upgraded from version 10 in two steps. Version 11 run fine but version 12 have this issue. It.s not possible to buy a product in beta... Now I can't use it: PARALLELS DEVELOPERS CAN YOU HELP ME? I NEED URGENTLY A PATCH! (please)
 
Issue solved. See discussion:
"Parallels 11 Bus to 12 Upgraded and VMs boot too black SOLVED
Many tanks to amutti!
 
I tried the switch to "Apple hypervisor" and that now allows a boot into Win 10. However, screen resolution is a problem now. Icons are way too big. I can set resolution to a high number (reduces text and icon size), but advanced display settings says "A custom scale factor is set" and shows "200%". Icons still too large. Trying to set the custom scale factor to a more reasonable number (like 100%) says a log out is necessary, but doing that (or a reboot) restores the 200% "Custom scale factor". I cannot get a reasonable display setting.
 
I just wanted to say that I have had the same problem with the black screen on two computers, but the switch of Hypervisor to Apple from Parallels works for me. If Parallels is supposed to be better, it needs a patch.
 
Hello, please be informed that Parallels Desktop 12 for Mac Hotfix 1 (12.0.1-41296) was released and the issue has been addressed. Please update Parallels Desktop to the latest build http://kb.parallels.com/123948 Latest version always available here: www.parallels.com/directdownload/pd12 Please note that Parallels Tools also needs to be updated (Actions > Update Parallels Tools) and let us know how it works. Thanks!
That has solved the problems for me. I can now use the Parallels hypervisor as before.
Thanks,
Bill Halberstadt
 
I installed the update as recommended above, but didn't fix the problem. Windows 10 starts and after 20 seconds the screens is black.

Please help with a solution.

Thanks
Ralph
 
Having the same problem here. I am resuming my W10 install and the screen is completely black. I can suspend the VM, but not shut it down, so therefore I cannot make any changes to the image.

I'm really desperate, the W10 machine is my work computer (IT Support) .... I can do everything except for a couple of apps.

If someone could please help me forcibly shut down my W10 so I can at least start from scratch.

I've also noticed I can close all of the Windows apps, except Acrobat Reader in my MacOS Dock. Possibly related.
 
Having the same problem here. I am resuming my W10 install and the screen is completely black. I can suspend the VM, but not shut it down, so therefore I cannot make any changes to the image.

I'm really desperate, the W10 machine is my work computer (IT Support) .... I can do everything except for a couple of apps.

If someone could please help me forcibly shut down my W10 so I can at least start from scratch.

I've also noticed I can close all of the Windows apps, except Acrobat Reader in my MacOS Dock. Possibly related.

Please be informed that Parallels Desktop 12 Update 1 (12.1.0-41489) was released and the issue has been addressed. Please update Parallels Desktop to the latest build. Latest version always available here: www.parallels.com/directdownload/pd12 Please note that Parallels Tools also needs to be updated (Actions > Update Parallels Tools) and let us know how it works. Thanks!
 
Please be informed that Parallels Desktop 12 Update 1 (12.1.0-41489) was released and the issue has been addressed. Please update Parallels Desktop to the latest build. Latest version always available here: www.parallels.com/directdownload/pd12 Please note that Parallels Tools also needs to be updated (Actions > Update Parallels Tools) and let us know how it works. Thanks!

Thanks Paul, but my installed version is 12.1.1 (41491).

I resolved the issue by using the 'Reset' function. I tried everything else without luck .... I may have tried this earlier too.
 
Thanks Paul, but my installed version is 12.1.1 (41491).

I resolved the issue by using the 'Reset' function. I tried everything else without luck .... I may have tried this earlier too.
Glad your issue has been resolved successfully. Feel free to reach out anytime. We are here to help!
 
Thanks Paul, but my installed version is 12.1.1 (41491).

I resolved the issue by using the 'Reset' function. I tried everything else without luck .... I may have tried this earlier too.
I have the same problem but under Parallels 13. Like you, I can only suspend Windows not shut down. What is the 'Reset' function?
 
OK; I found the Reset function and tried it but to no effect; the screen remains black. Does anyone have further suggestions?

Please note that the system recovered a few minutes after the the reset procedure apparently finished.
 
Last edited:
Hello, please be informed that Parallels Desktop 12 for Mac Hotfix 1 (12.0.1-41296) was released and the issue has been addressed. Please update Parallels Desktop to the latest build http://kb.parallels.com/123948 Latest version always available here: www.parallels.com/directdownload/pd12 Please note that Parallels Tools also needs to be updated (Actions > Update Parallels Tools) and let us know how it works. Thanks!
Hello,
I and a first time Parallels user and just purchased Parallels 16 and I am experiencing this issue. My Windows 10 VM has two user accounts - user A has the desktop resolution is high (4K I think) and user B has the display resolution set lower (1920x1080). User B works fine but user A gets a blank screen immediately after logging in. It's definitely resolution related because when you hit the soft Alt-Ctrl-Del key, the menu shows even for user A.
 
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