Express Windows Mode

Before creating a virtual machine in the Express Windows 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 disc or its image if you do not have any.

To start New Virtual Machine Assistant, click the New button in the Parallels Virtual Machines list.

To create a new virtual machine:

1. Parallels Desktop will try to automatically determine the type and version of your operating system. In the Operating System Detection window, select the Installation CD/DVD option, specify the source of installation files, and click Continue . You can specify the following types of installation media:
   • A real CD/DVD drive. Click the Installation CD/DVD field, and select the real CD/DVD drive name from the list if you inserted the installation disc into the optical drive of your Mac. Click Continue , and go to Step 6.
   • A CD/DVD image file. Click the Installation CD/DVD field, and select the installation disc image from the list, or click Choose an image file , and locate the file on your Mac. Click Continue , and go to Step 6.

     Note: Parallels Desktop supports the following types of image files: ISO, CUE, CCD, and DMG.

   You can provide the OS installation disk later after the virtual machine creation. In this case, click Skip Detection , and go to the next step.

   If you have the Boot Camp partition in your Mac and select the Boot Camp Partition option in this window, the assistant will proceed with the Boot Camp virtual machine creation. For detailed information, see Creating a Virtual Machine for the Boot Camp Partition .

   

2. If you clicked Skip Detection on the previous step, select the type and version of the operating system you would like to install in the virtual machine in the Select Operating System Type and Version window. To proceed with the Express Windows mode, select the Windows type and one of the following versions: Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003. Click Continue .
3. In the Virtual Machine Type window, select the Express Windows mode.
4. In this window, specify the information necessary for the Windows guest OS installation.

   

   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 .

5. In this step, you should define the main parameters for your virtual machine:
6. In this step, 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.
   • Let other Mac users access this virtual machine. 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.
   • Location . In this field, specify the virtual machine files location.
   • Sharing . Use this field to configure access to the disks and folders on the physical computer from inside the virtual machine. After the virtual machine creation, you can edit these settings in the Shared Folders pane of the Virtual Machine Configuration.If you click the Advanced button, you can set the number of CPUs and the amount of RAM of your future virtual machine.

   If you click the Advanced button, you can set the number of CPUs and the amount of RAM of your future virtual machine.

   

   When finished, click Create . The assistant will create a blank virtual machine.

7. In the Boot Options section of the Prepare to Install Operating System window, provide the Windows installation disc or CD/DVD image if you have not done it yet. You can specify the following types of installation media:
   • A real CD/DVD drive. Click the CD/DVD field and select the real CD/DVD drive name from the list if you inserted the installation disc into the optical drive of your Mac.
   • A CD/DVD image file. Click the CD/DVD field and select the installation disc image from the list, or click Choose an image file and locate the file on your Mac.

   Click Start to start the guest operating system installation.

   If you have already provided the Windows installation files, you can change the source of installation files in this window.

   

   New Virtual Machine Assistant will install the guest operating system and Parallels Tools in your new virtual machine.

   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 .

The newly created virtual machine will be accessible through the Parallels Virtual Machines list that allows you to easily manage your virtual machines.

During the unattended installation, Parallels Desktop creates an administrator account with a blank password. When the guest OS installation is complete, we recommend that you change the password in order to protect the safety of your data.

Changing the Administrator Password

To change the administrator password in Windows Vista, click the Start menu, then select Control Panel > User Accounts and Family Safety > Change your Windows password .

To change the administrator password in Windows XP (Professional Edition):

1. Click the Start menu, then select Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Computer Management .
2. In the Computer Management window, open System Tools > Local Users and Groups > Users . Right-click the Administrator account and choose Set Password from the context menu.

For changing the password in other versions of Windows, refer to the Microsoft Windows Help: Start > Help and support.