Creating a New Virtual Machine
If you want to create a new virtual machine, use New Virtual Machine Wizard. This wizard can work in three modes:
- Express Windows. Use this mode to create a Windows XP or Windows Vista virtual machine. In this mode, the the guest operating system and Parallels Tools will be installed automatically.
- Typical. Use this mode to create a virtual machine with a typical configuration.
- Custom. Use this mode if you want to customize the virtual machine configuration while creating it.
This guide provides you with the instructions on creating a virtual machine in the Typical mode. For the instructions on creating virtual machines in the Custom or Express Windows modes, refer to Parallels Workstation Extreme User's Guide.
Before creating a virtual machine in the Typical mode, make sure that you have an operating system installation disc or its image.
To create a typical virtual machine:
- Start Parallels Workstation Extreme and launch New Virtual Machine Wizard by choosing New Virtual Machine from the File menu.
- In the Introduction window, click Next to proceed with the virtual machine creation.
- In the Select Operating System Type and Version window, select the operating system you are planning to install inside your virtual machine and click Next.
- In the Virtual Machine Type window, select Typical and click Next.
- In the Name and Location window, define the name and location for your virtual machine:
- Name. Indicate an arbitrary name to be assigned to the virtual machine. By default, the virtual machine gets the same name as the operating system that is planned to be installed inside this virtual machine. If a virtual machine with such a name already exists, you will be prompted to indicate another name. The name must not exceed 50 characters.
- Location. Use the Choose button if you want to change the default location of the virtual machine-related files.

If you click the Advanced button, you can set the number of CPUs, the amount of RAM, and the virtual hard disk capacity to your future virtual machine.
Click Next.
- After the virtual machine is created, in the Prepare to Install Operating System window, specify the source of installation files and click Start. You can use the following types of installation media:

If you do not want to install the guest OS and start the virtual machine, click Done.
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