Parallels For Mac Xp App Not Responding

Windows on Mac Q&A - Updated December 3, 2006

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Parallels Desktop for Mac allows you to seamlessly run both Windows and Mac OS X applications side-by-side with speed, control and confidence. Click below for frequently asked questions, documentation and other helpful tools to get the answers you need. Q: Parallels; file sharing between MAC OS and XP not working I own 2 Macs with identical OS and Parallel versions. On the MBP laptop, I can move a file from the Mac desktop to the XP desktop (and vice versa) by just dragging it with the mouse.



How fast is a Mac running Windows XP using Parallels compared to Boot Camp?

Please note that this answer specifically refers to the first version of Parallels Desktop for Mac, and the company has released improved versions since this answer was written. Nevertheless, in general terms, one can expect the performance of 'virtualized' software, such as Parallels Desktop for Mac or VMWare Fusion, to be less than that of a native operating system running via Boot Camp. However, virtualized software can be considerably more convenient for tasks that do not require maximum performance.

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Also see: How does the performance of Parallels Desktop for Mac 5 compare to VMWare Fusion 3? How does the performance compare for productivity applications? How does it compare for games?

Parallels says that the Desktop for Mac software provides 'near-native performance', rather than the full speed of a 'dual-boot' configuration.

A ZDNet article published the day that Desktop for Mac was released in its final version quoted a systems administrator at Canada's University of Waterloo who said that 'the performance in Parallels was within 1 to 2 percent of [Boot Camp].'

Real-world tests released more recently from C|Net and MacWorld show that Parallels Desktop for Mac is not quite that fast, but nevertheless remarkable compared to the performance of emulation software.

App Not Responding Mac

C|Net tested the performance of Windows XP running via Parallels and Boot Camp on a MacBook Pro 'Core Duo' 2.16 17-Inch with 2 GB of RAM. The reviewer setup a 10 GB partition for Windows XP with Boot Camp and a 20 GB virtual disk with Parallels.

In an unspecified series of Photoshop CS 2 'image processing tests', C|Net reported that Parallels performed the tasks in 604 seconds, compared to 501 seconds for the same tests running in MacOS X via 'Rosetta' and 278 seconds running natively in Windows XP with Boot Camp. For Microsoft Office 2003, which is only available for Windows (Office 2004 is available for MacOS X, although it is not 'native' for Intel-based systems), the reviewer remarked that 'Boot Camp ran the test almost 2.4 times faster than Parallels'.

Oddly, given that Parallels does not support DirectX for gaming, after crashing the system first, the reviewer tried running Quake 4 at 1024x768 within Parallels and reported that 'Quake 4 actually produced noticeably faster frame rates on our test than with Boot Camp.'

C|Net concluded that for 'the mundane tasks that probably make up most of your computing time (such as word processing, e-mail, and browsing the Internet), you're not likely to notice Parallels' performance degradation.'

In a well-written review that should be read in its entirety, MacWorld provides some background information, basic setup and installation instructions, and in-depth benchmarks for Windows XP using Parallels and Boot Camp running on an iMac 'Core Duo' 2.0 20-Inch and MacBook Pro 'Core Duo' 2.16 15-Inch, each with 1 GB of RAM installed.

The reviewer acknowledges 'if you don’t require 3-D accelerated graphics or full hardware support, then Parallels delivers solid results' and regarding its speed states that:

Using Parallels on the Macs, the overall WorldBench test score is about two-thirds of what it is for the same machine booted natively into Windows via Boot Camp. Some portions of our testing, such as multitasking, show a big divide in performance. Other portions show only slight differences. In our Office 2002 test, for example, Parallels was only about 10 percent slower than in native mode. Overall, our results indicate that, using Parallels, you'll get about two-thirds of the speed you’ll get using Boot Camp.

Ultimately, it's probably not the solution for gamers, who want to wring every last bit of performance out of a system, need DirectX support, and have no need to run multiple programs at the same time or 'copy and paste' between them. For day-to-day use, however, the Parallels virtualization solution provides an impressively fast way to run other operating systems 'within' MacOS X.

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Mac Application Not Responding

Frequently Asked Questions

Parallels For Mac Xp App Not Responding

  1. Customers who purchased and registered a copy of Parallels Desktop 14 for Mac from the Parallels Online Store or an authorized reseller on or after August 1, 2019 through October 31, 2019, are eligible for an upgrade to the next version of Parallels Desktop for Mac at no charge, subject to certain conditions. For details on the Tech Guarantee 2019, please visit the Tech Guarantee page.
    Note: If you have a subscription for Parallels Desktop for Mac, Parallels Desktop for Mac Pro Edition, or Parallels Desktop for Mac Business Edition, you can upgrade Parallels Desktop to the latest version with the license you own. Download and install Parallels Desktop 15 and use your subscription license for activation.
  2. You should receive your upgrade key within 7 days after the new version of Parallels Desktop for Mac becomes available. The upgrade key will be sent to the email that was used for registration of your Parallels Desktop 14 for Mac license.
    If you have not yet registered your copy of Parallels Desktop 14 for Mac, please register it in your Parallels account.

Mac Xp Theme

  1. Does Windows come pre-installed with Parallels Desktop for Mac?
    Windows is not included with your purchase of Parallels Desktop for Mac. Windows can be purchased directly from Microsoft or retail stores. Please visit KB 9003 for additional information.
  2. Will Parallels run on my current Mac hardware?
    A full list of system and hardware requirements can be found here.
  3. What is the difference between Home and Pro Editions?
    Visit KB 123296.
  4. What is the difference between a permanent license and a subscription?
    Visit KB 122929.
  5. Can I use my license on multiple Mac computers?
    Parallels licenses are valid only on one Mac per license. For more information, please reference www.parallels.com/about/eula/.
  6. Do you have discounts for Students/Education Staff/offer academic licenses?
    Yes. For more information on Education licenses, please visit KB 113630.
  7. Is there a trial version of Parallels Desktop for Mac I can evaluate before purchasing?
    Yes, Parallels offers a free 14 day trial at www.parallels.com/products/desktop/trial/

My Mac Is Not Responding

  1. Install or upgrade to the latest version of Parallels Desktop for Mac.
    Visit KB 124250.
  2. Install Windows in Parallels Desktop for Mac.
    Visit KB 4729.
  3. Migrate my current Windows PC to a Parallels Desktop for Mac virtual machine.
    For instructions, visit KB 123929.
  4. Register and activate Parallels Desktop for Mac.
    Visit KB 124225.
  5. Launch Windows from Parallels Desktop for Mac.
    Visit KB 115170.
  6. Upgrade my license to Pro Edition
    Visit KB 123159.
  7. Install Quicken, MS Office or other software in Windows virtual machine.
    Visit KB 119310.
  8. Learn how to use the Coherence mode.
    Visit KB 4670.
  9. Learn how to use the Parallels Desktop sharing tools.
    Visit KB 122567.
  1. What is Parallels Toolbox?
    Visit KB 123903 and KB 124200 to learn about Parallels Toolbox for Mac and for Windows.
  2. How can I get Parallels Toolbox?
    See KB 123902 about Parallels Toolbox for Mac and KB 124202 about the Windows version.
  3. How do I install Parallels Toolbox?
    Visit KB 123904 for information on the Mac version, and KB 124183 to learn how to install the Windows one.

Windows Apps Not Responding

  1. How to give more hard disk space to a Windows virtual machine?
    Visit KB 113972.
  2. How can I improve virtual machine performance on my Mac?
    Visit KB 112091 .
  3. How to reinstall Parallels Tools in Windows Guest OS?
    Visit KB 4841.
  4. Network issues in the virtual machine.
    Visit KB 8978.
  5. Error: Unable to start the virtual machine. There's not enough disk space available.
    Visit KB 10117.