User`s guide

Virtual Machine Technology Basics 15
Each virtual machine is stored in Mac OS X as a bundle of files (.pvm) that contains the virtual
machine configuration file (.pvs), the virtual hard disk file (.hdd), and other files of the virtual
machine.
A virtual machine may have the following files:
.pvm
A bundle that contains the virtual machine files.
.pvs
A virtual machine configuration file. It defines hardware and resources
configuration of a virtual machine. The configuration file is generated
when the virtual machine is created.
.sav
A file created when the virtual machine is suspended. It contains the
state of the virtual machine and its applications for the moment the
suspend was invoked.
.mem
A file containing memory dump for the suspended virtual machine. For
a running virtual machine, it is a temporary virtual memory file.
.hdd
A bundle of files that represents a virtual hard disk of a Parallels virtual
machine. When you create a virtual machine, you can create it with a
new virtual hard disk or use an existing one.
.iso/.dmg
Image files of CD or DVD discs. Virtual machines treat ISO and DMG
images as real CD/DVD discs.
.fdd
A floppy disk image file. Virtual machines treat FDD images as real
diskettes.
If you install a Windows guest OS in the Express Windows installation
mode, Parallels Desktop creates the unattended.fdd floppy disk
image file and places it to the virtual machine folder. The file is
required for Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, and Windows Vista
installation.
.txt
Output files for serial and parallel ports. The output .txt files are
generated when a serial or parallel port connected to an output file is
added to the virtual machine configuration.
For a virtual machine that has any of Windows OSs installed (starting from Windows 2000), the
following subfolders are created automatically in the virtual machine folder:
 The Windows Applications folder. This folder contains aliases for the Windows
applications installed in the virtual machine. Aliases are used for supporting the file
extensions transparency.
 The Windows Disks folder. This folder contains aliases for the Windows disks available
in the virtual machine.