Unable to Access Virtual Hard Disk Image

Discussion in 'General Questions' started by jolenesy, Nov 18, 2008.

  1. jolenesy

    jolenesy Bit poster

    Messages:
    1
    Parallels was working great for my MacBook up until a few days ago. Now, when I try to start it, I get a message reading "Virtual machine cannot be started because of the following problem: Parallels Desktop is unable to access the virtual hard disk image file/Users/jolenesy/Documents/Parallels/Microsoft Windows XP/winxp.hdd. The file is used by other application." I tried closing other applications and restarting my computer to no avail. Any help would be appreciated!
     
  2. biglar

    biglar Pro

    Messages:
    250
    Is it possible that your Parallels application is suspended or paused and not stopped?
     
  3. climbaz

    climbaz Bit poster

    Messages:
    3
    same here

    I successfully updated my Vista guest OS from Parallels 3 to 4 and was working just fine until I updated to SP1. After the restart I received the same message.

    [​IMG]

    btw - trying to "Send a Report" with a description, tech data, and screenshot does not work. The report just times out.
     
    Last edited: Nov 20, 2008
  4. KimH

    KimH Junior Member

    Messages:
    13
    Funny, I'm having the same problem. I was hoping to find the solution in this. Please let me know what it is...
     
  5. climbaz

    climbaz Bit poster

    Messages:
    3
    Hi

    I have parallels working now. Another thread had a few suggestions and what worked for me was to change the setting in Configure > Hardware > Hard Disk1 - from Boot Camp Partition to Image File, click OK. Then change it back to Hard Disk1.

    My Parallels Vista install came back up after a while. Hope this helps.
     
  6. KimH

    KimH Junior Member

    Messages:
    13
    I wish this worked but it did not. If anyone else has ideas, please let me know. I'm under deadline and need the info off of the HDD... Is there a repair doctor that can diagnose if it's broke or something?
     
  7. climbaz

    climbaz Bit poster

    Messages:
    3
    if this helps

    I quit parallels after choosing the image file setting and clicking OK. You'll get a message about it being the wrong image or something. I closed it and quit. Restarted Parallels and chose Hard Disk1 again. Quit and opened parallels and it worked.

    Funny thing is, checking the setting to write my first response, I broke Parallels again. I had it running and apparently, if you choose configure while it's on, it has a problem. So I had to go through the process again.

    Might be a different situation but I just wanted to clarify. Good luck.
     

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