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HDS File - What is an .hds file and how do I open it?
Learn about .HDS files and view a list of programs that open them.
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Overview
What is an HDS file? An HDS file is a partial or whole hard disk created by Parallels Desktop for Mac virtualization software. It stores the contents of a virtual machine's (VM) hard drive and is mounted by Parallels when opening the VM. HDS files may be one of multiple HDS files that comprise the total hard drive ( .HDD file).
More Information You can find HDS files within an HDD hard drive file, which itself is saved inside the .PVM or .MACVM VM file. To view the files within an HDS file, you must mount its enclosing HDD file with Parallels Mounter, a program included with Parallels Desktop. You can accomplish this by following these instructions: Open the associated PVM file by right-clicking it and choosing "Show Package Contents." Locate the main HDD file for the VM (bears the same filename prefix as the PVM file). Right-click the HDD file and choose Open With → Parallels Mounter.app . If you do not see the Parallels Mounter.app in the list of programs to open the HDD file, you can find it in the /Library/Parallels/ directory on your hard drive.
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DeveloperMicrosoft
Popularity3.3 | 8 Votes
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.HDS File Extension
2 file types use the .hds file extension.
Parallels Desktop Hard Disk File
| Developer | Parallels |
| Popularity |
3.8 | 13 Votes |
What is an HDS file?
An HDS file is a partial or whole hard disk created by Parallels Desktop for Mac virtualization software. It stores the contents of a virtual machine's (VM) hard drive and is mounted by Parallels when opening the VM. HDS files may be one of multiple HDS files that comprise the total hard drive ( .HDD file).
More Information
You can find HDS files within an HDD hard drive file, which itself is saved inside the .PVM or .MACVM VM file. To view the files within an HDS file, you must mount its enclosing HDD file with Parallels Mounter, a program included with Parallels Desktop. You can accomplish this by following these instructions:
If you do not see the Parallels Mounter.app in the list of programs to open the HDD file, you can find it in the /Library/Parallels/ directory on your hard drive.
How to open an HDS file
You should not attempt to open HDS files. Instead, Parallels Desktop for Mac loads HDS files automatically when loading an operating system.
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Programs that open or reference HDS files
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Mac
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Category: Disk Image Files
Updated: September 14, 2023
Microsoft PlayReady Data File
| Developer | Microsoft |
| Popularity |
3.3 | 8 Votes |
File used by Microsoft PlayReady, a Digital Rights Management (DRM) program used for streaming online video; named mspr.hds (Microsoft PlayReady HDS file) and stored in the C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\PlayReady\ directory in Windows or /Library/Application Support/Microsoft/PlayReady/ in Mac OS X.
More Information
HDS files are most commonly encountered when upgrading Microsoft Silverlight software, which can cause Netflix streaming to malfunction. Many users have successfully fixed this issue by shutting down all programs, deleting mspr.hds or renaming it to mspr.hds.bak , and then restarting Netflix. Upon restart, Netflix will create a new copy of the mspr.hds file, which fixes the streaming problem.
Programs that open or reference HDS files
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Microsoft PlayReady
Paid
Category: Data Files
Updated: May 9, 2012