Time machine doesn't backup Parallels VM

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Time Machine does not backup VM

I have the same problem, but the link provide does not help me.

Time machine doesn't backup Parallels VM
I'm running Parallels 8 on Mountain Lion with a Windows XP guest.

In Parallels, I enable Time Machine backup by:
1. NOT checking "Do not backup virtual machine"
2. SmartGuard option: "Disabled"

In Time Machine, I have made sure the VM file isn't excluded.

But as I look into my Time Machine backup, I can't see the .pvm file in ~/Documents/Parallels (which is its location in my machine). I've tried restarting machine, run multiple Time Machine backups etc. Nothing matters, the VM isn't backed up.

What should I do to have Parallels VM backed up by Time Machine?
 
What do you mean by saying link didn't help you? Did you submit the support request? did anyone contact you after that reading the issue?
 
The link did not help because I could not choose the relevant issue in the symptom/issue list. I had contact over the telephone but the lady at the other and could hardly hear me and I had to spell out full @mail addresses etc. That did not work.
With regards
A. Visser
 
Time machine doesn't backup Parallels VM 7

I also have the same problem!

Time machine doesn't backup Parallels VM
I'm running Parallels 7 on Mountain Lion an Windows 7

In Parallels, I enable Time Machine backup by:
1. NOT checking "Do not backup virtual machine"
2. SmartGuard option: "Disabled"

In Time Machine, I have made sure the VM file isn't excluded.
But as I look into my Time Machine backup, I can't see the .pvm file in ~/Documents/Parallels (which is its location in my machine). I've tried restarting machine, run multiple Time Machine backups etc. Nothing matters, the VM isn't backed up.

What should I do to have Parallels VM backed up by Time Machine?
I have bought PM 7, on the 5 July 2012 and now the first time I have seen that since this time the ZM never back up my virtual machine. Unfortunately I have not recognized earlier!!!!!!!
 
SAME ISSUE: Time Machine not backing up PVM

Parallels, what's going on there? Whenever I uncheck "Time Machine: Do not back up virtual machine", the checkmark will be back on after leaving and then revisiting the "Configure" menu.

Please advise.

Thanks, Marcus
 
I have the same exact problem!
I have parallels 7 that runs on Mountain Lion (Macbook pro early 2011) with Windows 7 VM.
Please fix quickly this problem!
 
I have used the command line tmutil tool and the backup now works.
But the "Don't backup VM" option in the preference window of Parallels doesn't still work.
Once I have check the option, after short navigation through the others panels, it results not checked.
How does resolve this problem permanently?

(sorry for my english)
 
There might be some problems with this feature - were are still working on the fix. Updates would be published in KB article - you can subscribe to it.
 
I have the exact same issue.

Mountain Lion. Parallels 7. WIndows 7.

1. NOT checking "Do not backup virtual machine"
2. SmartGuard option: "Optimize for Time Machine"

I ran the command suggested in the KB: sudo tmutil removeexclusion -p "/Users...

It did not work.

Please advice.

Can anyone confirm it works in Parallels 8? From the comments above it seems it does not? I will not upgrade unless I know for sure this had been solved.
 
I repartitioned my external TM backup drive, it was MBR but now I formatted as GUID Partition Table (GPT).

After selecting this disk again as TM destination it started also backing up the VM file.

Maybe it does not work with MBR partitioned disks?
 
bnguyen said:
I'm running Parallels 8 on Mountain Lion with a Windows 8 guest.

But as I look into my Time Machine backup, I can't see the .pvm file in ~/Documents/Parallels (which is its location in my machine). I've tried restarting machine, run multiple Time Machine backups etc. Nothing matters, the VM isn't backed up.

What should I do to have Parallels VM backed up by Time Machine?
Click to expand...

I had the same problem. I set up a new iMac and looked for the pvm file on the TimeMachine drive but didn't see it nor in the new iMac's Documents folder. Scary as heck!

It turns out Parallels 8 for Mac does NOT store the pvm file in ~/Documents/Parallels, which exists but is empty on the TimeMachine drive and new iMac I'm working on. Wow.

BUT...

Parallels 8 had been and is still storing the pvm file in root:Users/Shared/Parallels (again, this Users folder is on the root of the hard drive so this correct Parallels folder is NOT in any user's account.)

I only figured this out by using OS X's (10.8.3's) search feature and searched for "pvm" (without quotes) in the new iMac (not in the TimeMachine drive since spotlight (OS X search) hadn't indexed the external drive yet and so wouldn't return any search results); I had already manually copied the Users/Shared folder from TimeMachine to the new iMac and so was able to find the pvm file via the OS X search.

I've set up many Parallels and VMWare Fusion accounts on many Macs, and both companies's support is shaky and convoluted. My long term goal is to dump Windows VM on my Mac, but Intuit's the villain here, as its Quicken Home & Business for Windows has no Mac counterpart. Ugh.
 
I also have the same problem!

Time machine doesn't backup Parallels VM
I'm running Parallels 7 on Mountain Lion an Windows 7

In Parallels, I enable Time Machine backup by:

1. NOT checking "Do not backup virtual machine"
2. SmartGuard option: "Optimize for Time Machine"

But as I look into my Time Machine backup, I can't see the .pvm file in ~/Documents/Parallels (which is its location in my machine). I've tried restarting machine, run multiple Time Machine backups etc. Nothing matters, the VM isn't backed up.

Nobody help us ?

Please fix quickly this problem !
 
Last edited:
same identical problem with Parallels Desktop 9. I have lost data and I am not able to recover them. PLEASE FIX IT!!!!!
 
Time Machine doesn't backup Windows 8 PVM

I have the same issue... I thought that my VM was getting backed up because I didn't tick the do not backup with Time Machine box in Parallels 9. My Computer crashed and guess what my VM was not backed up... After hours of recreating the VM I realize that every time I untick the box it somehow reticks itself after a boot up of the VM or a restart of Parallels.

The option to sudo tmutil removeexclusion -p the .pvm file is useless (seen in a kb here) and The .pvm is not excluded in the graphical of Time Machine.

I see this thread has been going on for a while and the fact that there are no solutions is quite mind boggling...
 
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