Upgrading Parallels Tools fails every time

G

GearTalk

Member
I've been running Parallels 8 and Win 7 Home on my iMac for a couple of years. No really issues or problems. Then yesterday, there was an "update" to P8. The update went fine and when Windows started Parallels Tools started to upgrade as well.

This failed. The Tools installation agent offered a Reboot button. When clicked Windows wouldn't start at all. So, I did a restore in Windows and got it to load. But then the same Tools installation failure happened all over again.

Like a fool, I thought we'll maybe I need to upgrade to P9 and did so. But the joke is on me as the exact same issue continues to be a problem. Windows starts, Tools automatically starts to upgrade. And it fails. I've learned enough to not reboot when it fails. But the error messages says click here for more help. But really, there is no help at that link either. In fact, it says to look for the /library/paralles/tools folder for a file. Except that my install doesn't have any such folder and looking back over 3 months in Timemachine backups it appears that that folder has never existed.

I hope someone from Parallels will read this post and contact me to get this issue corrected.
 
Just tried again disconnecting and then reconnecting the Tools ISO

Here's the result again:
 

Attachments

  • Screen Shot 2013-12-15 at 11.17.38 PM.png
    Screen Shot 2013-12-15 at 11.17.38 PM.png
    646.3 KB · Views: 6
Updating this.

So, I followed all the KB articles on this that I could. I finally tried the "Most Difficult" fix which was opening the .pvm file with parallels monitor. As expected two HD (C & D) from my windows install were mounted and on my desktop. I found the prl-tools-win folder in my P9 package and copied it into my C disk in Win7.

To my great surprise after unmounting the C & D drives in my Mac windows completely refused to boot up. In fact, it said there were no drives at all remaining.

I thought I was done, because I don't back up the .pvm in my TimeMachine backups. But then I remembered that I put a copy of the .pvm file on my MacBook Pro a short time ago. After three hours of copying a 230gb file from the laptop to my desktop I was able to boot Win7 and even start the win instance in P9. Luckily, the PRL Tools update installed properly in this older .pvm file without failure.

Lesson learned. Keep a copy of the .pvm somewhere all the time unless you want to start over from scratch the next time Parallels offers to upgrade your program.
 
OK. I did the same damn thing. Upgrade->lost P tools-> bought P9->still no tools. I'm going to try what you did I'll get back to you (after my 3 hour wait of backing up the .pvm) if I have any problems.

I'm not sure I understand all of your steps.
 
Just use a pre-update backup of your PVM. One of my "steps" was following a knowledge base suggestion of a way to fix the problem that didn't work and made my VM not boot. So, no need to attempt that.

It seems that the P8 update was damaged when the new Tools that came with the update failed to install properly. And that's why Tools wouldn't install in P9 either. So, by reverting my windows .pvm file to an older pre-update version the I didn't have that issue any longer and the new P9 tools installed without issue.

If I was cynical, I'd suggest that perhaps Parallels put out an update of questionable quality and this is boosting their sales of the P9 upgrade.
 
I upgraded to Parallels 9 11-21-13 from 8. Running Windows 7 64 bit.Parallels tools was updating - was not successful, but a W7 update started. When it rebooted.
Windows 7 opens in a safe mode with big icons. Parallels 9 says I am running on current version.... no error messages and no opportunity to ask to open W7 in normal mode.
Sounds like i need to go to a previous version of Windows? or pre update.... this all happened this morning...... not sure if I'm techie enough to do this....
 
Im running Parallel for Mac V11 and after an auto upgrade of parallels I too have this problem that Parallels tools fails to update after about 10% and I cannot break the cycle. Is there a straight forward fix for this please?
 
chrisw9 said:
Im running Parallel for Mac V11 and after an auto upgrade of parallels I too have this problem that Parallels tools fails to update after about 10% and I cannot break the cycle. Is there a straight forward fix for this please?
Click to expand...
Hello Chrisw9,
You could continue the failed installation from the temporary folder.
1. Click on Windows Start button;
2. In the search field choose Programs and Files;
3. Type %temp% and hit Enter/Return;
4. Go to PrlToolsPackages folder -> double click on setup.
 
Sorry, but there is no PrlToolsPackages folder when I follow your instructions.
I only see:-
ArmUI
Microsoft-Windows-AppXDeploymentServer-Operational
Microsoft-Windows-Store-Operational
Microsoft-WS-Licensing-Admin
regards
Chris
 
Hi Arun,
I have tried all 4 scenarios. The parallel tools installation agent always starts on boot up and then stops at 10% with the error message - There was en error installing parallel tools reboot and start again. Its a continuous cycle which I cannot break. When this window is open, all the methods you suggest to run parallel tools installation agent are not quite appropriate because the agent is already running and demanding a reboot. Its not possible to close this window without rebooting windows and on startup the parallel tools installation process autostart again. I have also tried uninstalling parallels desktop (11) and reinstalling it but it just repeats the old cycle.

I have another clue in that on the windows user login screen, in the bottom right hand corner is a message telling me to install some important windows updates. I go to PC Settings as advised and press the upgrade button but it just goes to a white screen with some dots chasing each other in a circle for ages with no other information as to what if anything is going on.

This is becoming very frustrating as windows is out of action and I also cannot upgrade it to Windows 10 until this problem is resolved.

Any thoughts on how to do a completely fresh installation.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top