Parallels "virtual memory too low" message

Question

Level 1

71 points

Parallels "virtual memory too low" message

When I am running XP in parallels, I often get a "virtual memory too low" message in the low right corner of the XP screen. The computer then acts real slow for a while.

Does anybody know how to fix this so the VM is bigger?

15in Aluminum Powerbook 1.5ghz 512mb 80gb combo, Mac OS X (10.4.5)

Posted on Nov 19, 2006 11:01 AM

Answer 1

QuickDraw

Level 3

704 points

Nov 19, 2006 1:14 PM in response to NateyBoy

You'll probably get a quicker answer to your questions here

http://forums.parallels.com/forumdisplay.php?s=e2bf361369ef9324eb2bbeb494442a4b& f=53

Although I run Parallels as well, I don't know the answer to your question.

Hope this helps you get your answers.

Answer 2

Nov 19, 2006 2:34 PM in response to NateyBoy

How full is your hard drive?

Answer 3

NateyBoy Author

Level 1

71 points

Nov 19, 2006 6:54 PM in response to Trevor Gibson

plenty of room on the hd. . .80+gb

Answer 4

Nov 19, 2006 8:20 PM in response to NateyBoy

Maybe when you partitioned your HD for Windows, you set the partition to be too small, and now the Windows partition is too small for the OS to operate. If you did that, you could back up your Windows data, erase the partition, create a new, bigger one, and then load all the data on it again.

Trevor

Answer 5

Dah•veed

Level 9

67,407 points

Nov 19, 2006 8:40 PM in response to Trevor Gibson

Parallels is not BootCamp. There is no disk partitioning. Parallels is a Universal binary app that hosts guest OSs on virtual HDs.

Answer 6

Dah•veed

Level 9

67,407 points

Nov 19, 2006 8:52 PM in response to NateyBoy

In the Parallels Desktop Window click the Edit button on the bottom of the window. In the Editor that opens choose Memory. In Memory Options you can increase the RAM. It isn't recommended to exceed the recommended maximum. Although you have 1.5 Gb of RAM in the Mac, Parallels works better for me if there aren't a lot of other apps running at the same time.
All of this is extensively covered in the User Guide. Read your manual. Then others won't have to read it for you.

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Answer 7

NateyBoy Author

Level 1

71 points

Nov 20, 2006 9:10 AM in response to Dah•veed

David, no need to attack me for "not reading my manual." Actual memory and virtual memory are two completly different things. There is no reason for the computer to not have enough room for virtual memory because as I'm sure you already know it's written to the disk. Thus, this is some kind of error and somthing is not working right.

Answer 8

Dah•veed

Level 9

67,407 points

Nov 20, 2006 9:40 AM in response to NateyBoy

Nateboy, I am not a Parallels expert, but from my reading of the User Guide all that a Guest OS has is virtual memory. If it isn't configured properly the User Guide describes a slow down of both the Guest and Primary OS.
From page 86 of the User Guide, emphasis mine;

The Memory Size parameter describes the size of virtual memory (RAM) to be allocated for the virtual machine. You can choose any value from 4 to 1500 MB. We advise you not to exceed the recommended maximum because this is the limit of the physical RAM that your system should reserve for virtual machines. If this amount is not enough the redundant memory is swapped to disk, thus slowing down both guest OS and primary OS performance.

Since Parallels is beta software and not an Apple product, perhaps the above poster is correct and posting in the Parallels forum would be a better place to seek assistance. There are some experts there.
Good luck.

User uploaded file