need help with parallels really badly!

[theimp]

i just realized that i didnt allocate enough memory for the virtual hard drive in parallels. so i went to image tools and tried to increase it. in the regular parallels screen it reflects the change, but when i log into windows it still thinks the hard drive is small, what do i do?? i am trying to install matlab for a big project and need to fix this asap! thanks!

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

Did you run through all of the steps from the faq?

I already have Windows installed in the VM. How can I make more space available on the VM hard disk without losing data on it?

1. Open "Macintosh HD" - "Applications" - "Parallels" - "ImageTool".
2. After Parallels Image Tool starts click "Next" to perform the operation.
3. Select "Hard Disk" to expand the size of your Virtual Hard Disk.
4. Select the "Increase the size of the Virtual Hard Disk" option and click "Next".
5. Click "Browse" to select your Virtual Disk Drive for expansion.
6. The path is defined in the Configuration Editor Resources section.
7. Specify the appropriate amount in the "New Size" input box. Then click "Next".
8. Now the Image Tool is ready to perform the required operation. Please verify the options and click "Start".
9. This operation can take some time, approximately up to 5 minutes. (This depends on the amount of data already stored on your virtual hard disk in the guest OS).
10. After the operation is successfully completed click the "Exit" button.
11. Start your guest OS (Windows).
12. Launch "Start" - "Run". Type "diskmgmt.msc" in the input field and click “Return” to open Disk Management utility.
13. Right-click (or Ctrl+Shift-click) on the "Unallocated Capacity" bar and select the "New Partition" option. After that click "Next" in the dialog box to continue.
14. Select "Primary Partition" option and click "Next".
15. Specify the size of a new partition size and click "Next".
16. Assign the drive letter from the drop-down list and click "Next".
17. Select "Format partition" using NTFS file system with default allocation size. Specify the volume name and click "Next".
18. Click "Finish" to start formatting.
19. A New Volume will appear in the Disk Management window and in "My Computer".

 

[theimp]

oops, i didn't read that, i was convinced this was just a weird issue. thanks so much.

 

[rogercohen]

Method to Expand Parallels Disk Image

The Parallels disk image size and location is setup during installation. I was conservative, and set it to about 7.8 GB. It turned out that that disk image size was too small, after I installed more software.

Parallels offers the Parallels Image Tool.app to "expand" the Windows XP disk image, but after running the application, the Windows XP disk image does not appear to be larger. Nor does that disk image "expand," as Parallels says it will.

The problem appears to be that the image "can grow" in size, but neither Parallels nor Windows knows how to use the extra space that was allocated.

There are many procedures posted on the Net for expanding the Parallels Windows disk image size, but most rely on using extra partitioning software. The method suggested by Parallels results in Windows seeing a new partition, not in expanding the existing partition's size.

I found the following simpler procedure, which worked like a charm.

Reproduced here, with the grammar and instructions cleaned up a bit.


<http://deseloper.org/read/2006/12/expanding-a-parallels-disk-imagewhat-they-dont-tell-you/>

Expanding a Parallels Disk Image. What They Don’t Tell You.

On the initial install of Windows XP under Parallels, I was very conservative in the disk space I allocated to it. After Windows repeatedly yelling at me to do something about the lack of disk space I figured I would.

When setting up the Windows Virtual Machine, I had the image set to “Expanding.” A bit deceiving, for there is a procedure that is not “included” in the help file for accomplishing this. This procedure allows Windows to see the extra space that Parallels has allocated:

1. Find your hard disk image file on the host machine (in this case Mac OS). Run the Parallels Image Tool.app on it and expand it to the desired size.

My Parallels disk image is located in:

~/Library/Parallels/Microsoft Windows XP/winxp.hdd

These days, Parallels is installing that image in:

~/Documents/Parallels


2. Use the Finder to duplicate the hard disk image you wish to expand.

3. Open Parallels but do not start Windows. Open the Parallels Preferences for the virtual machine. Change the hard disk image path to the duplicate image. (Note, this is not the "Default Folder for Virtual Machine" setting you first see. It is the Hard Disk setting, lower on the Preferences screen.)

4. Add a new hard disk via the Add button at the bottom of the screen. Set the new hard disk's path to the original image. The purpose of this and the above step is to boot from the duplicate disk, so that Windows can have full access to the disk (original image) you wish to expand.

5. Boot up Windows. Windows will report that it has identified new hardware. After that is finished, then navigate to Start -> Run. Type <DISKPART> (no <chevrons> and no quotes), and press Run/Enter.

6. In the new window that appears type: <list volume> <return>

7. After that process runs, a list of disks appears. Notice that Volume 1 and Volume 2 look identical. Note: Volume 2 should be the original hard disk image.

8. Select Volume 2 by typing: <select volume 2> <return>. Then extend it by typing <extend> <return>. Once that is complete type <exit> <return>. Then shut down Windows.

9. Before starting Windows, clean up the Virtual Machine preferences by using the Parallels preferences to delete the second hard disk, and to switch the Hard Disk 1 path back to the original hard disk image. You can put the duplicated Win XP hard disk image into the Mac Trash.

10. Restart Windows. Rebooting may be necessary if Windows "detects new hardware."