Binary Code

Evidently some internals in Leopard changed that prevent the current version of Parallels Desktop for Mac from functioning completely properly. Failure tends to involve nasty kernel panics and, when Parallels does work, the Spinning Beachball of Death when one tries to quit.

Parallels support recommends this as a solution for the time being:

Hello,

Parallels allocates Virtual Machine’s RAM as one integral file. Consequently when your Mac’s RAM is too defragmentated (when too many applications are launched) then there could be not enough space in one sector for this file. And it causes this error when you are trying to start your virtual machine. But when you try to start it again – it may cause kernel panic or “grey screen of death”.

So the solution of your problem is following:
- Reboot your Mac, do not launch any applications except Parallels
- try to load Windows then
- You will need to decrease amount of virtual RAM for your VM if the problem still occurs.

Best regards,
Alicia.

which, while effectively turning Parallels into the equivalent of BootCamp, doesn’t fix the beachball issue, it does seem to fix the kernel-panic-on-startup issue.

Parallels techs are working on the issue:

Dear all,

We are sorry for the inconvenience caused. We are working hard to fix the issue but for the moment we can’t offer you a solution alternative to the one given by Alicia.    

Patiently looking forward to it.

Update: A number of users are reporting that turning off Spaces seems to help some of the issues. I, however, like Spaces too much to do something so drastic.