Parallels freezes, reboot necessary

H

HansL

Junior Member
I'm running Windows XP SP3 on a new iMac 27" with 2 GB for the VM and 6 for the host. Latest Parallels version and build.

From time to time my Parallels *starts* freezing: the screen looks like if there was a Photoshop rain filter applied to it, the Windows app gets grey stripes.

I can move the mouse over the Dock but I cannot open the Apple menu (to force quit).

Only solution: Power off.

What could be the cause?

Hans
 
when parallels freezes, are you able to open other os x apps? is the entire mac os x system locked up where you can move the mouse but can't click anything? can you take a screenshot?
 
I can move the mouse but I cannot open any other app, nor the force quit menu or shortcut (option+command+escape).
 
The system frooze again. The Windows screen becomes distorted (I can see it happening/coming up). This time I had a Skype message indicating one of my contacts came on line (short beep) after the freeze. And I can move the mouse cursor. Nothing else.

What is happening?
 
i've seen this on imacs before. it's most likely not parallels directly causing your system to lock up. but indirectly, parallels may be causing your system to overheat. any app that increases heat from high CPU or GPU utilization (such as a game, HD video, etc.) would probably cause the same issue. the fact that you see graphics distortions before the freeze points to a graphics card failure, probably due to overheating.

one temporary band-aid would be to increase the internal fan speeds with a third-party app. the default fan speeds in the imacs are set too low in my opinion, and they cause a lot of logic board and graphics card failures within a year or two.
 
Thank you for your answer, you have pointed me in a direction that I'll further investigate.

I have 2 questions and hope you can answer them:

- Why do you call it a 'temporary' band-aid? Because a real solution should be found? If so, I guess only Apple can do so.

- If I use a fan control tool, will this void my guarantee?

Thanks again,

Hans
 
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