What is .pvm file

L

Louis_Potter

Bit poster
I uninstalled parallels Desktop for Mac 9 having concluded that my heritage work with Windows and Microsoft no longer justified it. Unfortunately, I did not archive the data files associated with it and now Murphy's Law has struck and I desperately need to recover a Powerpoint presentation.
I notice that Parallels has left behind a massive 58.5 Gb file with the .pvm terminator. is this some sort of recovery file which will help me to recover from this disaster?
Many thanks
Louis
 
The extension .pvm (Parallels Virtual Machine) is used to identify the package (it's not actually a file it's more like a folder, but it doesn't matter) that contains all files necessary to a virtual machine, in other words it's the self-contained vm (your Windows machine), this not a recovery file, this is your actual Windows install.

Just reinstall Parallels and double click on the .pvm.
 
Specimen said:
The extension .pvm (Parallels Virtual Machine) is used to identify the package (it's not actually a file it's more like a folder, but it doesn't matter) that contains all files necessary to a virtual machine, in other words it's the self-contained vm (your Windows machine), this not a recovery file, this is your actual Windows install.

Just reinstall Parallels and double click on the .pvm.
Click to expand...

Many thanks. All is becoming clearer but not sufficiently clear to see my way forward.
I have already re-installed Parallels Desktop for Mac AND re-installed my Windows XP Pro Operating system. Just double clicking on the .pvm at this stage simply opens the folder but nothing else.
When I re-install Parallels the program just gives me the opportunity to install an operating system. At what stage do I introduce the .pvm ?
Many thanks in advance
Louis
 
By suggesting you to re-install Parallels I did not, in anyway, suggested that you should create a new virtual machine by installing XP all over again.

What I suggested was that you would just install the Parallels app, I didn't even said that you should start it.

Now you probably have two .pvms, the old and the new.

With Parallels installed, you double-click on the .pvm (the old one), or right click > Open, or even right click > Open With... > Parallels.
 
Thanks Specimen,
Following your instructions I am have now recovered my original virtual machine, complete with the desired files.
It did not go quite as you suggested but I arrived at the right result. What happened was that upon installation of the application via the .dmg, Parallels immediately opened the .pvm automatically but unfortunately, not the right one. However, on clicking on the later .pvm file a window popped up giving me the option of choosing between my two machines.
Thank you very much for getting me back on track.
Louis
 
Specimen said:
The extension .pvm (Parallels Virtual Machine) is used to identify the package (it's not actually a file it's more like a folder, but it doesn't matter) that contains all files necessary to a virtual machine, in other words it's the self-contained vm (your Windows machine), this not a recovery file, this is your actual Windows install.

Just reinstall Parallels and double click on the .pvm.
Click to expand...
I'm hoping you can help me further - I just found a .pvm file in the folder named "Parallels" and am wondering if I can delete it or not, if so (either way) why?
 
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