Upgrade from 3 to 4 problem

[Johnny Vento]

I just installed Parallels 4 but in the process it created an entirely new Windows XP virtual machine. All I want to do is continue to use the virtual machine that I had already created in version 3- I don't want to start completely over. Where is all my data?

 

[Anupama A]

Hello,

To use your original virtual machine please start Parallels Desktop. Now, click on File -> Open and choose the appropriate .pvs file in /Users/<you user name>/Documents/ or /Users/<you user name>/Library/ and double click on it.

http://download.parallels.com/desktop/v4/docs/en/Parallels_Desktop_Users_Guide/26815.htm
http://download.parallels.com/desktop/v4/docs/en/Parallels_Desktop_Users_Guide/23672.htm

 

[Johnny Vento]

That's the problem. I had IT set this up and I cannot find the virtual machine file. I always thought it was a file called disk1.hdd however that file cannot be opened. I tried changing the extension to .pvs but that didn't work either. There doesn't seem to be any other files that I can find. At this point if you could tell me how to uninstall 4.0 and go back to 3.0 then I might be able to back up the virtual machine to something I can work with.

 

[hyh08]

go back to 3 fr 4? How?

Is it really possible?

 

[DeeL]

The instructions say to backup your .pvm file before installation of version 4.

I don't have a .pvm file. I do have a .pvs file and .hdd file. How can I backup what isn't there?

Parallels 3 is working just fine, I must admit I'm scared to install version 4. I don't want to lose my data.

I'm guessing that if you didn't backup your .pvm file your data is gone, unless it's stored in Time Machine.