VMWare Fusion -- Dreadfully Slow

[Hrothgar]

A few months ago, I upgraded to a new version of VMWare Fusion. I don't use it all that often, mostly because it's so slow that it makes me want to throw my computer out the window. I'm currently using 2.0.4.

When I open VMWare, my McAfee virus kicks in to tell me that the virus definitions are not up to date. This pretty much drives my computer (VMware and my regular Mac programs) to a standstill, while it takes approximately 20 minutes to download the new virus definitions. I pretty much just have to wait for this to be done -- I can't even surf the web in Safari, as the little rainbow pinwheel comes up constantly.

After the virus definitions are up to date, it starts scanning my computer. This takes about 30 minutes, with yet another slowdown in performance.

Even when the McAfee scan is done, when the VMware is open, everything on the computer slows down.

Is there anything I can do to fix this? Is there a diagnostic to determine whether it's installed properly?

[Sky Blue]

Is there anything I can do to fix this?

Uninstall McAfee?

[Phil A.]

How much memory do you have in your Mac, and how much do you have allocated to your virtual machine?

[Hrothgar]

If I uninstall McAfee, wont I get all sorts of dreadful viruses?

I have 2 gb of memory -- and I have no idea how much is allocated to the virtual machine.

[aaronw1986]

If I uninstall McAfee, wont I get all sorts of dreadful viruses?

I have 2 gb of memory -- and I have no idea how much is allocated to the virtual machine.

It would be helpful to know the RAM, as that's probably the problem.

[Hrothgar]

Model Name: MacBook Pro 17"
Model Identifier: MacBookPro2,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.33 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 4 MB
Memory: 2 GB
Bus Speed: 667 MHz
Boot ROM Version: MBP21.00A5.B08
SMC Version (system): 1.14f5
Serial Number (system): W86465U9W0J
Sudden Motion Sensor:
State: Enabled

[aaronw1986]

Allotted to the VM.

[Hrothgar]

Sorry -- According to the Settings, it's 512 mb.

If I increase the amount of ram allocated to the virtual machine, won't that slow down the rest of my Mac?

[neilford]

You need more memory. I have a MacBook Pro and I maxxed it 4 gb. Even with this much memory, both the Mac and the VM feel sluggish, and that is 1 virtual proc to the VM and 1.5 gb to the VM. Not as slow as you describe, but slower than when it is off.

neilford

Sorry -- According to the Settings, it's 512 mb.

If I increase the amount of ram allocated to the virtual machine, won't that slow down the rest of my Mac?

[MacDawg]

Yes, more RAM would definitely help you, both on the Mac side and the Fusion side. 512 is not sufficient. Are you running XP, Vista or Windows 7?

Virtualization is always slower, but it doesn't have to be as painful as you describe. And as little as you use it, I would uninstall McAfee too. Just practice save computing ;)

Woof, Woof - Dawg http://homepage.mac.com/k.j.vinson/pawprint.gif

[aaronw1986]

Yes, more RAM would definitely help you, both on the Mac side and the Fusion side. 512 is not sufficient. Are you running XP, Vista or Windows 7?

Virtualization is always slower, but it doesn't have to be as painful as you describe. And as little as you use it, I would uninstall McAfee too. Just practice save computing ;)

Woof, Woof - Dawg http://homepage.mac.com/k.j.vinson/pawprint.gif

1GB should work fine. I'd recommend adding more RAM to your mac.

[Hrothgar]

Thanks everyone. I'll see about adding more ram.

Cheers.

[rdav]

I have a similar situation on a MacBook Pro with 4Gb of memory.
Allocated 2Gb to Fusion2, but it still runs too slowly for my applications.
Optimized for VM performance (in preferences).
What can be done, anything? :confused:
Not even sure if this MBP model can candle more Memory.

MacBook Pro
Model Identifier: MacBookPro3,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.4 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 4 MB
Memory: 4 GB.

Any ideas?

[rdav]

Try PCillin from Trend Micro.
Much better and faster than McAfee & Norton
in my experience. :o

[bbotte]

My MacBook Air runs Windows XP just fine under VMWare Fusion. I have Mcafee loaded also. My computer is slower than yours....

[rdav]

Does anyone out there have experience of VMware Fusion running good and fast on a Mac (for more demanding software)? Just wondering what speed of machine and ram is needed.
Thanks.

[rdav]

bbotte,
What Ram do you have on the MB Air?

My MacBook Air runs Windows XP just fine under VMWare Fusion. I have Mcafee loaded also. My computer is slower than yours....

[magentawave]

I am about to install VMWare Fusion and will be running XP so it was nice to see this post and have a few questions too please...

1) I have someone that is going to install XP for me. Am I right to assume that I need to install VMWare Fusion BEFORE I take it to him to install XP?

2) Is there anything I should know before I install VMWare Fusion?

3) I have 4 gigs of ram. How much should I allocate to the windows side?

4) Since I will be using the Mac side about 90% of the time, can I turn off the windows side (XP) whenever I want and only have the Mac side running?

5) Does everything I save to my internal hard drive when using windows get saved to my hard drive the same way it does now (Mac only), or do I need to do something with my hard drive to accomodate the windows side?

6) If the bulk of my internet stuff will be on the Mac side (I think), then do I really need to install an antivirus program?

7) And if I do need to install an antivirus program, do I install it (and any other windows program) just like I would with a windows computer? Or is there something weird I have to do when installing using VMWare Fusion and XP on a Mac?

Here are the specs for my computer:

Model Name: MacBook Pro
Model Identifier: MacBookPro4,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.4 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 3 MB
Memory: 4 GB
Bus Speed: 800 MHz
Boot ROM Version: MBP41.00C1.B03
SMC Version (system): 1.27f2
Serial Number (system): W8825FC1YJX
Sudden Motion Sensor:
State: Enabled

Thank you very much!

Steve

[luisflamex]

The only reason i bought VMware fusion was because i do a lot of Excel Visual Basics. i have encountered absolutely no problems running Visual basics on Excel. It runs just as fast as if i were using my PC. My Mac is the Uni MBP 13'', 2.53 ghz and 4 gb ram.

[dimme]

I have VMware on my 2.4ghz macbook pro with 2gb of ram. It have been running slow also so I really do not use it much.(I also have it installed on a MacPro with 6 GB of ram).
I tried Virtual Box from sun and I am finding it seems to run much snapper on my mac pro.

[rdav]

How well does VMware Fusion2 run on your Mac Pro Quad?
Does it run significantly faster than on the MBP?


I have VMware on my 2.4ghz macbook pro with 2gb of ram. It have been running slow also so I really do not use it much.(I also have it installed on a MacPro with 6 GB of ram).
I tried Virtual Box from sun and I am finding it seems to run much snapper on my mac pro.

[elgrecomac]

Thanks everyone. I'll see about adding more ram.

Cheers.

Go to Crucial.com and buy the ram for your machine. It should be easy to install on your MacBook Pro. Surf the web for detailed, step by step instructions.

4Gb of ram is less than $100 and the best money you spend on your mac...especially if you plan to run virtual machines.

I have 4gb with 1.7gb allocated to my Win7 and XP virtual machines and it runs all the apps I need with excellent speed.

Good luck.

[dimme]

How well does VMware Fusion2 run on your Mac Pro Quad?
Does it run significantly faster than on the MBP?

Yes it is much faster on the MacPro. I would say by a factor of 4.

[Consultant]

OP, that sounds like windows problem. Not VMWare problem.

Windows and any installed windows program will slow down over time for no reason.

[NovemberWhiskey]

A few months ago, I upgraded to a new version of VMWare Fusion. I don't use it all that often, mostly because it's so slow that it makes me want to throw my computer out the window. I'm currently using 2.0.4.

When I open VMWare, my McAfee virus kicks in to tell me that the virus definitions are not up to date. This pretty much drives my computer (VMware and my regular Mac programs) to a standstill, while it takes approximately 20 minutes to download the new virus definitions. I pretty much just have to wait for this to be done -- I can't even surf the web in Safari, as the little rainbow pinwheel comes up constantly.

After the virus definitions are up to date, it starts scanning my computer. This takes about 30 minutes, with yet another slowdown in performance.

Even when the McAfee scan is done, when the VMware is open, everything on the computer slows down.

Is there anything I can do to fix this? Is there a diagnostic to determine whether it's installed properly?

It sounds like you are narrowing the problem down to Mcafee.

Having been a windows user for something like 10+ years, I have been there and done that. Mcafee is probably the second worst anti-virus I have used next to Norton.

Uninstall Mcafee and install:

http://free.avg.com/download?prd=afe

AVG is the best anti-virus I have used. Database updates are done in 30 seconds to one minute, scans do take time but I have found them to be more effective and quicker than in mcafee.

[magentawave]

Yes there is something you can do about it. Dump Macafee and get ESET NOD32. It is the lightest anti-virus for windows you can buy. You won't even know its running unlike most of the other resource hog anti-virus programs. It isn't free though.

Steve

[LAS.mac]

I do use Parallels 4, and was previously using Parallels 3. As the fellow above, because of excel and VBA macros which do not run in Excel for mac OSX.
I have allocated 512 Mb of RAM, of the 4 available. Also when I had 2 Mb, Parallels was running fine.
Now: I'd never (and repeat: NEVER) would use McAfee, nor Nortons. I have Avira, which is free, light, does perfectly its job.

Oh: my VBA macros run at least 2x faster in Excel with win XP under Parallels, than in my Dell XPS 1210, with 4 Gb RAM and under win Vista.

[RufusT]

To the original poster:

I just bought the 4G kit from Crucial for about $60 total including tax. I have VMWare and I got the extra memory for this purpose.

And thanks to the others re:McAfee. I def won't install it. I was leary anyway since I've used Norton in the past and hated it.