Problem with Parallels

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@nnie Posted messages 2124 Registration date   Status Membre Last intervention   -  
@nnie Posted messages 2124 Registration date   Status Membre Last intervention   -
Hello everyone,

Since today, when I launch Parallels (3.0 build 5526), the virtual machine starts, I briefly see the Windows startup screen, then the usual announcement Warning: Parallels tools initialization ..., and then => a black screen.

No error message. I tried waiting for a veeeery long time, it stays black. However, according to the activity monitor, it's not frozen, but nothing happens.

Moreover, I can exit Parallels normally, without having to force quit.

Repairing permissions, restarting the computer, no results. If I boot via Bootcamp on my Windows partition, no problem.

Apparently, it's really Parallels that's causing the issue.
I thank in advance anyone who can help me out of this bad situation without having to reinstall Parallels!

Configuration: iMac Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz 3 Go DDR2 20" / Leopard OS
Macbook Core 2 Duo 2.0 GHz 2 Go DDR3 13" aluminum / Leopard OS

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15 réponses

@nnie Posted messages 2124 Registration date   Status Membre Last intervention   615
 
Well then, is there no one to help me?
Sniff ...

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@nnie Posted messages 2124 Registration date   Status Membre Last intervention   615
 
Hey! Is anyone there?

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Please be patient: I have a 10-hour time difference...
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@nnie Posted messages 2124 Registration date   Status Membre Last intervention   615
 
Still no one?
Even the Parallels Support team isn't responding! :-(
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@nnie Posted messages 2124 Registration date   Status Membre Last intervention   615
 
Oh well, here it is, they answered me.
They said that it had been over a year since I purchased my product, and that I no longer had access to Support!

Cool! Thanks, that really helped me!

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Anonymous user
 
Hello Annie,

I don't use either Parallels or Windows, but since no one more qualified is answering...

Have you thought about starting with a cleanup on the Mac? since Parallels is a Mac OS application... (repairing permissions, clearing caches... see if the disk needs to be repaired or not..)

For example: take the free software Onyx that matches your version of Mac OS
and follow these steps:

You can find Onyx here: http://www.titanium.free.fr/
Be careful not to download the wrong version
-Take the one that corresponds to your version of Mac OS
-Install Onyx
-Launch it
-Let it check the SMART status of the hard drive and the volume structure
-then give it the password when it asks
-then click on the Automation button
-check all the boxes except "Display folder contents"
-click on "Execute"
-Restart the Mac when it's done.

Also check in YOUR Library / Preferences, to locate the preference file related to Parallels and delete it. It should probably contain the term Parallels and end with .plist

Good luck

PS: https://www.commentcamarche.net/faq/15279-entretenir-et-reparer-mac-os-x-10-6-et-versions-anterieures

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Francis Sanspseudo - iMac Intel Mac under OS 10.6 + iMac-G5 under Mac OS 10.5
Always indicate your exact configuration: Mac model and version of Mac OS!
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@nnie Posted messages 2124 Registration date   Status Membre Last intervention   615
 
Hello Francis!

I wasn't expecting a reply from you because I know that you indeed don't use Parallels, but I thank you for trying once again to help me. :-)

Actually, I had already explored all the avenues you mentioned, except for deleting the .plist file. I did that too... to no avail.
I also attempted a few restorations of the Parallels files via Time Machine, which also yielded nothing.

Onyx somewhat messed up my permissions (!!!), I had to run a repair via Disk Utility because Finder was not functioning properly anymore.

But still the same issue with Parallels.
It bothers me a lot because I had Parallels installed when I bought my iMac and the license was indeed charged to me, yet I can't find any trace of the number, except for the product number which is of no use to me. As for the store where I bought it... it no longer exists! Just perfect!
This means that I can't even reinstall it...

Do you have any idea how to retrieve a license number on a Mac?
Because I admit it would really annoy me to have to pay for a license again. :-(

There you go.
And how are you doing? Your forest must be beautiful with colors at the moment!
Have a good day. :-*

PS: I forgot something that might enlighten you, but not me at all!
I launched Parallels via the Contents of the app, which opened a Terminal window at the same time and here’s what was displayed:

Last login: Thu Sep 16 15:21:29 on console
/Applications/Parallels/Parallels\ Desktop.app/Contents/MacOS/Parallels ; exit;
You have new mail.
iMac-Annie:~ annie$ /Applications/Parallels/Parallels\ Desktop.app/Contents/MacOS/Parallels ; exit;
QFSFileEngine::open: No file name specified
Operation failed. Error code: -8
Error disk change state flag to set
Error disk suspend parameter flag to set
Error disk change state flag to set


Nothing more. I have no idea what we can make of this...

Please be patient: I have a 10-hour time difference...
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Anonymous user
 
Hello Annie,

As for the license number, there isn't a specific "method" for Macs. Each software publisher has its own way of storing this information, most often in the resources or data of the application itself. You often need to use a binary file editor to find it, and even then, you have to know how to convert the information from hexadecimal to ASCII after locating it. So, it's not always within easy reach for anyone.
For my part, I keep all these numbers in a dedicated file.

The solution exists if the application has been registered with the publisher. If the latter no longer wants to provide customer support, they cannot refuse to communicate this information.

The message from the Terminal seems to indicate that the software launched in this way cannot find information to continue. But I can't say more.

What happens if you try to launch Parallels from another session (a test user, for instance)?

I'm surprised that Onyx has caused chaos on the Mac. I've never experienced such issues.

Maybe a tip:

Install Mac OS on an external disk
Start the Mac from this external disk
Use the migration assistant to recover everything from the Time Machine disk
Once that's done, go into Time Machine and restore all Applications and the "Françoise" directory from a date when everything worked fine
Launch Parallels, and if it works,
note its serial number, which should display at startup, or in "About ..."

Restart the Mac in the usual session from its normal disk
Reinstall Parallels once you have its serial number

Good luck .. !
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Francis Sanspseudo - Intel iMac running OS 10.6 + iMac-G5 running Mac OS 10.5
Always specify your exact configuration: Mac model and Mac OS version!
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@nnie Posted messages 2124 Registration date   Status Membre Last intervention   615
 
Hello Francis,

Regarding the license number, I had requested it in my message to Support, providing them with the only information that appears in "About", which is its product number. In fact, it’s a copy of that screen that the seller printed behind my purchase invoice.

However, Support completely shut me down as explained earlier without addressing this aspect of the question, which means I don’t know who I should direct my request to.

Actually, from what I’ve read online, when you install Parallels, you enter a license number which then allows you to obtain an activation key. To see if this product number was sufficient, I attempted an install on my Macbook ... which then told me that my product number was not a license number!
I’m stuck here.

As for Onyx, it was also the first time it was playing tricks on me!
So, I even wondered if it might be responsible for this problem, since it runs those famous maintenance scripts automatically, and so ... is that possible?

Anyway, there’s still the solution you suggested, installing on an external hard drive: the trouble is, I have no idea how to proceed. I haven't used my OS CDs since I got it and I wouldn’t want to do something wrong that forces me to reinstall everything (and lose Parallels in the process).

Is there a tutorial somewhere? I searched but found nothing useful.
However, I suppose I would have the same problem as when I tried it with the Macbook ... right?

Thank you for your help, Francis, and have a good day. :-)

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Anonymous user
 
Hello Annie,

The execution of maintenance scripts cannot be the cause of your issue. These scripts consist of deleting temporary files that have become unnecessary.

A tutorial for installing Mac OS? I wrote one myself for Mac OS 10.5, here:
https://www.commentcamarche.net/faq/15198-installer-ou-reinstaller-mac-os-x-10-5-alias-leopard

I wrote it at the same time as the procedure for maintenance:
https://www.commentcamarche.net/faq/15279-entretenir-et-reparer-mac-os-x-10-6-et-versions-anterieures
On this subject, the best way to repair a disk is to boot from the installation CD, as this is the only way to fully free up the hard drive for correction writes.

Under Mac OS 10.6, it's pretty much the same, but the Archive and Install option no longer exists, as by default the system installs "on top", so you must intentionally erase the destination disk.

I believe you are still on 10.5, so you can follow what I indicate in my procedure. Simply, at the moment of choosing the disk on which you want to install, you designate the external disk. (Warning: it will be erased)

Hoping this tip works.

Have a great day and a good weekend..:)
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Francis Sanspseudo - Intel iMac running OS 10.6 + iMac-G5 running Mac OS 10.5
Always indicate your exact configuration: Mac model and Mac OS version!
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@nnie Posted messages 2124 Registration date   Status Membre Last intervention   615
 
Hey Francis!

Super-complete tutorial, well done and thank you, as always!
I've only skimmed through it quickly so far, and it's clear that I will need to read it very carefully.

However, I already have a question, probably a stupid one, but here it is: what happens if I kick off the installation process and for some reason the external hard drive does not show up? Can I interrupt it without risking anything for my other hard drives?

Apart from that, do you think it’s worth it for me to dive into these big maneuvers (big for me, because I will need to get a hard drive, migrate what’s on it, format it, etc.) even though I don’t have the license number???

As for my config, I don’t know why it’s not showing up here anymore? Strange.
Anyway, yes, I'm still on 10.5.

In any case, I’ve bookmarked your technical sheets. ;-)
I’m studying all that closely and I’ll get back to you to let you know how I'm doing.

Have a great weekend! :-*
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Anonymous user
 
For the external drive, before starting the installation, prepare it.
Create a partition with a GUID scheme in the options and format it as Mac OS Extended. Do all this with Disk Utility. It will then be visible on your desktop.
Then, there is no reason for it not to appear during the installation. But if that's the case, you can exit the installation at any time. This will not affect the currently used drive.

Just so you know, if it's worth it... why not... if it allows you to save the cost of purchasing Parallels, since the goal is to retrieve the license number,... it takes time and effort, sure, but... for some, that time can represent a loss of income, for others, it's time taken from their leisure...
anyway, it all depends, it's a personal choice for everyone.

Good luck :-)
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Francis Sanspseudo - Intel Mac iMac under OS 10.6 + iMac-G5 under Mac OS 10.5
Always specify your exact configuration: Mac model and Mac OS version!
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@nnie Posted messages 2124 Registration date   Status Membre Last intervention   615
 
OK, thanks for your explanations about the (non) risks.

Hum ... I already have a problem: I was planning to use an old Windows HDD as an external drive => I'm connecting it via a USB port (no other choice) ... and it doesn't appear anywhere, not even in the disk utility. However, to format it, I would first need to be able to access it ... What should I do?
Because if I have to buy an external HDD for this manip, then it surely isn't worth it. :-(

What do you think?
It's not urgent, it's the weekend, take your time, okay?
Thanks!

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@nnie Posted messages 2124 Registration date   Status Membre Last intervention   615
 
STOP! It's working again!!!
I told you I had tried several restore attempts via Time Machine without anything changing. However, while searching once more, I just realized there was a folder I had overlooked (shame on me!).

By the way, I wonder if it's related to the problem I had with Finder not listing all the files. I had done a search including system files and hidden ones, but maybe that one slipped through... :-(

Anyway, I did a restore and voilà! It's working!
I'm super happy, although I'm sorry for wasting your time.
It's still a win for me since I've learned new things thanks to you, and I greatly appreciate it!

I must admit I'm relieved because I was worried about this pesky hard drive not showing up on my Mac (that question is still up in the air; I saw that it has been asked a lot but I couldn't find a clear answer on it.)

I wish you a good end of the weekend, with all my thanks again!

Best regards. :-*
Annie

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Anonymous user
 
Well great!!

Hurry up and write down the serial number, if you can now see it under "About" or when launching the app.

Have a good weekend.. but I'm sure you're already feeling better ;-))
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Francis Sanspseudo - Intel iMac Mac running OS 10.6 + iMac-G5 running Mac OS 10.5
Always indicate your exact configuration: Mac model and version of Mac OS!
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@nnie Posted messages 2124 Registration date   Status Membre Last intervention   615
 
Unfortunately, the only accessible number is still the product number, which I've had from the beginning and apparently isn't helpful at all! :-(

All I can do is cross my fingers that everything continues to work properly!
But you're right, I'm doing better!!! ;-)

Kisses!
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