Creating a New Virtual Machine
If you want to create a new Parallels virtual machine, use New Virtual Machine Assistant. This assistant can work in four modes:
- Default. In this mode, you insert an operating system installation disk into the CD/DVD-ROM of your Mac, and Parallels Desktop creates a virtual machine and installs this operating system in it.
- Express Windows. In this mode, the assistant creates a Windows XP, Windows 2003, or Windows Vista virtual machine, installs the guest operating system in it, and launches the Parallels Tools installation.
- Typical. In this mode, Parallels Desktop creates a virtual machine with a typical configuration.
- Custom. In this mode, you can customize the virtual machine configuration while you create it.
This guide provides you with the instructions on creating a virtual machine in the Default mode. For the instructions on creating virtual machines in Typical, Custom, or Express Windows modes, refer to Parallels Desktop User's Guide.
Before creating a virtual machine in the Default mode, make sure that you have an operating system installation disc or its image.
Note: Parallels Desktop doesn't provide you with the operating system installation discs and their images. You should purchase the installation disk or its image if you do not have any.
To create a new virtual machine:
- When you opened Parallels Desktop for the first time, you can launch New Virtual Machine Assistant from the welcome window by clicking the Run Windows on your Mac or Start using Parallels Desktop buttons. Afterwards, you will be able to launch it from the menu by choosing File > New Virtual Machine or from Virtual Machines Directory by clicking the Add button
. - In the Introduction window, click Continue to proceed with the virtual machine creation.
- Parallels Desktop will try to automatically determine the type and version of your operating system. In the Operating System Detection window, specify the source of installation files and click Continue. You can specify the following types of installation media:
If you click Skip Detection, you will be prompted to choose between the Express Windows, Typical, and Custom modes of creating a virtual machine.
- In the Detected System window, specify the information necessary for the installation of the detected operating system.
If you click the Advanced button, you can set the number of CPUs and the amount of RAM of your future virtual machine. Click Continue.
- In the next step, you should define the main parameters for your virtual machine:
- Name. Indicate the name to be assigned to the virtual machine. By default, the virtual machine gets the name of the operating system that you selected to be installed in this virtual machine. If a virtual machine with this name already exists, you will be prompted to specify another name. The name must not exceed 50 characters.
- Select the Enable file sharing option if you want to have access to your Mac home folder from your Windows virtual machine. In this case the Mac home folder will appear in the My Computer window as an independent folder.
- Select the Enable user profile sharing option if you want to access Mac desktop objects from the virtual machine's Windows desktop. With this option enabled, Windows folders and icons will be substituted with Mac desktop folders and icons, thus, allowing you to access them from both desktops.
Note: 1. These two options are available for virtual machines with Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows Server 2008 operating systems. These settings come into effect after you install Parallels Tools in your virtual machine.
2. A number of Windows-specific icons (such as the Recycle Bin and Shared Folders icon) always remain on the Windows desktop.
To specify additional settings, expand the More Options area.
- Create icon on Desktop. Select this option if you want to create an alias for the virtual machine file on the Mac OS X Desktop.
- Share virtual machine with other Mac users. Select this option if you want to share this virtual machine with other users of your Mac. In this case the virtual machine file (PVM file) will be saved in the
\Users\Shared folder on your Mac.Note: If you don't select this option, the virtual machine file will be saved in your home folder: /<UserName>/Documents/Parallels/.
This option also allows you to share the following Mac OS X user folders to your Windows virtual machine: Documents, Pictures, and Music.
If you click the Advanced button, you can set the number of CPUs and the amount of RAM of your future virtual machine. Click Create.
- After the virtual machine is created, in the Prepare to Install Operating System window, click Start to begin the installation.
If you decide to install another operating system, you can specify the source of new installation files in the Boot Options section:
- Real CD/DVD-ROM Drive. Select this option to use a disc inserted into the CD/DVD drive of your Mac. Choose the drive to use from the Drive list.
- CD/DVD Image. Select this option to use a CD/DVD disc image connected to the virtual machine's CD/DVD drive. Type the path to the file in the File field or use the Choose button to locate the file.
Note: If your copy of Parallels Desktop is not activated, you will be prompted to activate it when you click Start. For more information about the activation, see Activating Parallels Desktop.
When the operating system is installed in the virtual machine, you can install Parallels Tools in it - this will enhance your work with the virtual machine. To launch the Parallels Tools installation, choose Install Parallels Tools from the Virtual Machine menu. For more detailed information about Parallels Tools and their installation, refer to the Installing Parallels Tools section in Parallels Desktop for Mac User's Guide.
The newly created virtual machine will be accessible through Parallels Virtual Machine Directory that allows you to easily manage your virtual machines.
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