Unable to start Windows virtual machine: Updating your Windows Virtual Machine

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Applies to:
- Parallels Desktop for Mac Standard Edition 17 and older
- Parallels Desktop for Mac Standard Edition 10
- Parallels Desktop for Mac Standard Edition
- Parallels Desktop
Last Review: May 22, 2015
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Symptoms

After starting the virtual machine "Updating your Windows Virtual Machine" window lasts forever.

Cause

Virtual machine misconfiguration;
Windows corruption, perhaps BSOD in the background.

Resolution

Open VM configurations, go to Hardware -> Boot Order -> and paste in Boot Flags box:
```
vm.compat_level=2
```
Start your virtual machine.

If it crashes, Open VM configurations again -> Hardware -> Hard Disk 1 -> change its Location from SATA to IDE or vice versa.

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