How To Use Parallels For Mac

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  1. A virtual remote server can help you to run Windows on Mac. Parallels, the remote application server that gives access to Windows on a Mac system. So today I am reviewing this awesome application called Parallels Desktop and tell you how it helps you access Windows on your Mac PC.
  2. If you want to run Windows in a virtual machine to play games that you can’t play on a Mac, then you’ll want to use Parallels Desktop 7. In my testing, it handily outperformed Fusion.

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Boot Camp is free and pre-installed on every Mac (post 2006). Parallels, on the other hand, charges you $79.99 ($49.99 for upgrade) for its Mac virtualization product. The Good Parallels Desktop 10 runs multiple operating systems simultaneously and seamlessly, and allows you to use Mac OS features from within other environments. The Bad Parallels cannot run the.

  • Parallels Desktop Switch to Mac Edition

Virtualization programs such as Parallels Desktop () are extremely useful for people who need to work with both Macs and PCs, as they allow you to create a virtual machine that works just like an ordinary PC, but which runs on your Mac at the same time as all your normal Mac programs (unlike Apple’s Boot Camp, which requires you to restart and switch back and forth between the Mac and Windows environments).

This can also be useful for people who are switching from a PC to a Mac for the first time, as it provides a kind of halfway-house that allows you to keep your existing Windows software while you get used to the Mac way of doing things.

With that in mind, Parallels has a special version of Parallels Desktop designed specifically for switchers who have bought their first Mac.

How To Use Parallels For Mac

The Parallels Desktop Switch to Mac Edition includes version 4 of Parallels Desktop (it comes with a free upgrade to the latest version of Parallels, version 5) along with a set of video tutorials and a special USB cable that can be used to transfer files from your old PC onto a virtual machine running on the new Mac. However, it costs $100, compared to $80 if you buy Parallels Desktop on its own.

The tutorials are fairly straightforward and quite cleverly presented. They display a picture of the Mac desktop, and when you move the mouse over any item on the desktop (such as the Dock or the Spotlight search tool) the tutorial explains how that feature works, and also compares it to similar features on Windows so that you can see the new Mac features in a familiar context.

The USB cable is also handy. It allows you to connect your PC to your new Mac and (with the aid of a program called Parallels Transporter) transfer everything on the PC’s hard drive straight across to a new virtual machine on your Mac. This allows you to keep working in the familiar PC environment until you’re ready to complete the transition onto the Mac.

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We wouldn’t say the Switch To Mac Edition is an essential item for all first-time Mac users. Many switchers will be happy to explore their new Mac on their own, or to ease their way in using the standard Parallels Desktop software. However, if you’re feeling a little nervous about using Macs for the first time, then the Switch To Mac Edition might well be worth the extra money.

This story, 'Parallels Desktop Switch To Mac' was originally published by Macworld U.K..

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  • Parallels Desktop Switch to Mac Edition

    Pros

    • Useful tutorials and transfer cable
    • Useful tutorials and transfer cable

    Cons

    • Some users may not find the tutorials and transfer cable worth the extra money over the standalone version of Parallels Desktop
    • Some users may not find the tutorials and transfer cable worth the extra money over the standalone version of Parallels Desktop

Parallels lets you run many different types of operating systems on your Mac. Because the developers knew that most Mac users will want to install at least a Windows OS, Parallels includes a Windows Express installation option that eliminates the need to babysit a Windows XP or Vista installation.

This guide will take you through the Windows Express installation, which creates a virtual machine on your Mac. We'll stop short of actually installing Windows, because the specific steps depend on whether you're installing Windows XP, Vista, Win 7, or Win 8.

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What You Will Need

  • Parallels Desktop for Mac v3.0 or later.
  • The installation CDs for Windows XP or Vista.
  • 20 GB free disk space. You can get by with less (I've performed an installation with as little as 8 GB of available disk space), but you'll appreciate the extra room if you later want to install more Windows applications or store larger Windows files than you originally intended.
  • About an hour of free time, for the Windows Express setup and to actually install Windows.

How To Use Parallels Desktop For Mac

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The Parallels OS Installation Assistant

By default, Parallels uses the Windows Express installation option. This option creates a virtual machine with settings that will work just fine for most individuals. You can always customize the virtual machine parameters later if you need to.

The real advantage of Windows Express is that it's fast and easy; it does most of the work for you. It will collect most of the information that Windows needs by asking you some questions. Once you supply the answers, you can leave and then return to a fully installed version of Windows. This is a much more pleasant Windows installation than the standard. The downside is that the Windows Express method doesn't let you directly configure many settings, including type of network, memory, disk space, and other parameters, although you can always tweak these and other settings later.

Using the OS Installation Assistant

  1. Launch Parallels, usually located at /Applications/Parallels.
  2. Click the ‘New’ button in the Select a Virtual Machine window.
  3. Select the installation mode that you want Parallels to use.
    • Windows Express (recommended)
    • Typical
    • Custom
  4. For this installation, select the Windows Express option and click the ‘Next’ button.
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How

Configuring a Virtual Machine for Windows

Parallels needs to know which operating system you plan to install, so it can set the virtual machine parameters and collect the information necessary to automate the installation process.

Configure the Virtual Machine for Windows

  1. Select the OS type by clicking the dropdown menu and choosing Windows from the list.
  2. Select the OS version by clicking the dropdown menu and choosing Windows XP or Vista from the list.
  3. Click the ‘Next’ button.
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Entering Your Windows Product Key and Other Configuration Information

The Parallels Windows Express installation option is ready to collect some of the information it needs to automate the installation process.

Product Key, Name, and Organization

  1. Enter your Windows product key, which is usually located on the back of the Windows CD case or inside the Windows envelope. The dashes in the product key are entered automatically, so just enter the alphanumeric characters. Be careful not to lose the product key, because you may need it in the future if you need to reinstall Windows.
  2. Enter your name by using the alphanumeric keys and the space key. Do not use any special characters, including apostrophes.
  3. Enter your organization's name, if appropriate. This field is optional.
  4. Click the ‘Next’ button.
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Name That Virtual Machine

How To Use Parallels For Mac

It's time to specify a name for the virtual machine that Parallels is about to create. You can choose any name you like, but a descriptive name is usually best, particularly if you have multiple hard drives or partitions.

In addition to naming the virtual machine, you will also choose whether your Mac and the new Windows virtual machine should be able to share files.

Pick a Name and Make a Decision About Sharing Files

  1. Enter a name for Parallels to use for this virtual machine.
  2. Enable file sharing, if desired, by placing a check mark next to the 'Enable file sharing' option. This will let you share files in your Mac's home folder with your Windows virtual machine.
  3. Enable user profile sharing, if desired, by placing a check mark next to the ‘Enable user profile sharing’ option. Enabling this option allows the Windows virtual machine to access the files on your Mac desktop and in your Mac user folder. It's best to leave this file unchecked and manually create shared folders later on. This provides more protection for your files​ and lets you make file sharing decisions on a folder-by-folder basis.​
  4. Click the ‘Next’ button.

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Performance: Should Windows or OS X Get Top Billing?

At this point in the configuration process, you can decide whether to optimize the virtual machine you're about to create for speed and performance or allow applications to have dibs on your Mac's processor.

Decide How to Optimize Performance

  1. Select an optimization method.
    • Virtual Machine. Choose this option for the best performance of the Windows virtual machine you're about to create.
    • Mac OS X applications. Choose this option if you prefer your Mac applications to take precedence over Windows.
  2. Make your selection. I prefer the first option, to give the virtual machine the best performance possible, but the choice is yours. You can change your mind later if you decide that you made the wrong choice.
  3. Click the ‘Next’ button.

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How To Use Parallels 12 On Mac

Start the Windows Installation

All of the options for the virtual machine have been configured, and you've supplied your Windows product key and your name, so you're ready to install Windows. I'll tell you how to start the Windows installation process below, and cover the rest of the process in another step-by-step guide.

Begin the Windows Installation

  1. Insert the Windows Install CD into your Mac's optical drive.
  2. Click the ‘Finish’ button.

How To Use Parallels 13 On Mac

Parallels will start the installation process by opening the new virtual machine you created, and booting it from the Windows Install CD. Follow the onscreen instructions to install Windows.