For those running WKO+ in Parallels – how much total RAM do you have in your machine? I’ve got 1GB in my MBP and it’s not very snappy when switching between the Parallels window and OSX. For example, after XP starts up and my desktop appears, there’s about a 20-30sec delay before I’m able to do anything in that window - move an icon, open a program, etc. I would assume that another chip of RAM could take care of this, unless I’ve got some setting in Parallels adjusted improperly…? I’ve got the Parallels RAM allocation at 640MB, FWIW. Thanks in advance.
I don’t run WKO+, but I also do a bit of switching between Win XP and OS X via parallels as well. Macs DEFINITELY prefer more RAM since they throw so much up into memory. I’ve got 2 GB on a MacBook Pro and experience zero lag time.
Vmware Fusion.
I have a Macbook Pro and I had almost identical issues. A friend who is pretty good with Mac’s suggested more Ram. For about $70 I had an additional 2 GB ram added. Mine had 1 GB to start with so I added the extra 2 for a total of 3 GB and it’s lightning fast now, rarely any delay.
Mine has a limit and for some reason can only utilize 3.3 GB, even if more was installed so don’t spend more if it has limits. If you live in Canada I can send the link where I got a great price, otherwise a google search should yield more results.
I also found a video on youtube on how to install it properly, very simple. PM if you need an more info.
I started to run Parallels but then decided to go to boot camp in Leopard and it is much better. I was having problems with computrainer software since they send so much information through the serial port it was crashing from time to time. Now on boot camp WKO+ velotron etc all work great.
I do not mind going from OS to OS it only takes a few minutes check it out.
Ever try BootCamp?
I would dial the windows memory in Parallels down - that is what is slowing you down so much. 256mb is entirely reasonable for WKO+ under parallels with XP, with Vista you will likely need closer to 512.
What is happening is that the MacOS X side of things is already using at least 300mb of ram to do things if you have no applications open. With Parallels open and using 640mb for Windows, you’re basically out of memory, and the system uses virtual memory on the hard disk to compensate. That slows things down significantly.
Short term solution: Dial down the Parallels RAM
Long term solution: Get another 1-2GB of ram for you mac. It’s not expensive, and it’s worth it. Everything you do on your mac will feel faster.
“Mine has a limit and for some reason can only utilize 3.3 GB, even if more was installed so don’t spend more if it has limits.”
You have a 2.16 or 2.33 Core2Duo? I’ve got the 2.16 and from my previous research I did find that 3.3GB is the most it can utilitize (though it will recognize 4GB in the system profiler, it will only use 3GB). I was pleased to find my refurb came with a single 1GB chip instead of 2x512MB – so I’ll eventually just go with another 2GB. Only the 2.2 and 2.4 Santa Rosa chipsets can do anything with a full 4GB. I’m not worried about it though, 3GB should be plenty.
“Ever try BootCamp?”
Not yet, but I probably will when/if I make the upgrade to 10.5. Just not really seeing the need to do it right away.
“I would dial the windows memory in Parallels down - that is what is slowing you down so much.”
BINGO! Thanks for that tip. That really seemed to take care of the lag…it’s almost nil. I’m still going to get a 2GB chip eventually, just not in so much of a hurry now.
I’m running 3 GB in a MacBook and 4GB in an Intel iMac. Memory is cheap and getting cheaper…
FYI, I bought my 2GB sticks from transintl.com.
Tip for Parallels users on laptops: Always quit WKO+ before you leave your machine if you are going to keep Parallels running all the time or suspended. A couple of times now I have corrupted my athlete.dat file when my kids switched off my machine or it went into sleep.
Here’s a piece of an email I received from PeaksWare support (their email support has been very good recently) which I don’t think they’ll mind me sharing:
The scenario you described of having WKO+ open and your virtual machine (running Windows XP on Parallels 3.0 on Mac OS 10.4.10) paused, when someone turned off your Mac, usually results in the athlete.dat for the athlete profile that was open at the time to get corrupted. This is an unfortunate side affect of running on Parallels.
Rule #1, always File | Exit WKO+ before suspending your computer or allowing
it to sleep.
Rule #2, backup your files often (before modifying them).
Rule #3, always reboot Parallels before using any windows application.
Don’t suspend and restart.