Unable to start virtual machine because one or more kernel components are for another version of Parallels Desktop

Symptoms

You are unable to start a virtual machine after upgrade of Parallel Desktop because of the error message:

Resolution

WARNING: We strongly recommend to backup your Virtual Machine prior to following the instructions below!

• Launch Terminal application from Applications/Utilities

• Paste the commands into Terminal (one by one; hit return after pasting each command)

  sudo su 
  

  (type your Mac user password (your Mac user should have Administrator's privileges) and hit return. You will not see characters while typing)

  for pid in $(ps aux | grep "Parallels Desktop.app" | awk '{print $2}'); do echo kill -KILL $pid; done
  
  for kext in $(kextstat | grep parallels | awk '{print $6}'); do kextunload $kext; done
  
  rm /System/Library/Extensions/prl*
  
  rm -rf "Parallels Desktop.app"
  

• Do the same to uninstall all Parallels Desktop 7 traces. Paste the below listed commands as is into Terminal (one by one; hit return after pasting each command).

  Note: If the Terminal does not show any output after executing the command it means the command has been performed successfully. If you see 'No such file or directory' message it means this file or directory has been removed by the regular uninstaller and you may continue.

  sudo launchctl stop com.parallels.vm.prl_naptd
  sudo launchctl stop com.parallels.desktop.launchdaemon
  sudo launchctl stop com.parallels.vm.prl_pcproxy
  
  sudo kextunload -b com.parallels.kext.prl_hypervisor
  sudo kextunload -b com.parallels.kext.prl_hid_hook
  sudo kextunload -b com.parallels.kext.prl_usb_connect
  sudo kextunload -b com.parallels.kext.prl_netbridge
  sudo kextunload -b com.parallels.kext.prl_vnic
  sudo kextunload -b com.parallels.filesystems.prlufs
  
  sudo rm -rf /Library/Parallels
  sudo rm -rf /Applications/Parallels\ Desktop.app
  sudo rm -rf /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.parallels.desktop.launchdaemon.plist
  sudo rm -rf /Library/LaunchAgents/com.parallels.*
  sudo rm -rf /Library/Python/*/site-packages/prlsdkapi
  sudo rm -rf /usr/bin/prl_perf_ctl
  sudo rm -rf /usr/bin/prlctl
  sudo rm -rf /usr/bin/prlsrvctl
  sudo rm -rf /usr/bin/prl_disk_tool
  sudo rm -rf /usr/share/man/man8/prl*
  sudo rm -rf /var/db/Parallels/Stats/ParallelsDesktop.*
  sudo rm -rf /usr/lib/parallels
  sudo rm -rf /Library/Filesystems/prlufs.fs
  
  sudo rm -rf /Library/Preferences/Parallels
  sudo rm -rf /Library/Logs/parallels
  

• Go to Applications --> Utilities --> Disk Utility, select your Mac Hard Drive and choose Repair Disk Permissions option.

• Restart your Mac.

• Now you may install Parallels Desktop:

  • to install Parallels Desktop 8 visit KB 114623
  • to install Parallels Desktop 9 visit KB 116989
  • to install Parallels Desktop 10 visit KB 122647
  • to install Parallels Desktop 11 visit KB 123279

Cause

Parallels Desktop 7 kext files were not properly removed.