trouble installing windows XP with Parallel software

[buster1]

The thread was moved from "Installation and Configuration in Mac OS" by Xenos

I recently and successfully installed Parallels on my MacBook Pro.
Today, I tried to install Windows XP - but during the process as Parallels said it was going to launch XP, it said there was some error - which I could read because it flipped that message to the other side of the parallels screen too quickly. Something to do with booting the software.
Has anyone seen this - any help please - I was hopeful for a smooth installation process with XP, but I guess its not going to happen this time,
Thanks,
Jeff

[Eru Ithildur]

Did you restart after installing Parallels?
Have you tried installing again?

[buster1]

I will try and reinstall Parallels and then try XP again,
Thanks,
Jeff

[buster1]

Hi, I uninstalled Parallels and then re-installed it succesfully,

but when I tried to install XP again - I initially get an error has occurred with the hard disk boot (this is showing in the Parallels virtual window while loading XP) - then the XP software starts installing and then it just stops a few minutes into it and I am left with a blank black screen that it is trying to boot.

I am at a loss - does anyone know what is going on??

Thanks for your help in advance,
Jeff - NY

[Eru Ithildur]

If you could take a look at this thread: http://forums.parallels.com/showthread.php?t=16741

Then give us a bit more data, perhaps we could help you then.

[buster1]

Thanks for the thread with info. how to provide you with correct data.
My Computer Setup is the following:
Model Name: MacBook Pro 15"
Model Identifier: MacBookPro2,2
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.16 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache (per processor): 4 MB
Memory: 1 GB
Bus Speed: 667 MHz
Boot ROM Version: MBP22.00A5.B01
SMC Version: 1.12f5
Serial Number: W87120ZYX6A
Sudden Motion Sensor:
State: Enabled
NOTE: Although my computer says I have 1GB of memory - I might have 512 - need to open up for sure.

- My problem occurs at the start of installing XP - that there is a hard drive boot problem, then the software installs further - once the installation stops (I am not sure where it is stopping), the parallells software seems to think it can run the virtual machine,

This is what I have in the blackscreen (parallels Desktop):

Paralles (R) VGA-Compatible BIOS Version 2.01

Paralles (R) 2.5 build 3186 (C) 2005-2007 Parallels Software International Inc.

640kb Base Memory
524288 KB Extended Memory
Boot from hard drive... _

Then there is no activity beyond this point.

Regarding what I have installed - I did not install anything custom from the Parallels software - I did an automatic install.

I hope this helps somewhat - please let me know what additional information I can help you with,

Thank you for getting back to me,
Jeff

[buster1]

forgot to mention - I have OS-X - 10.4.10

and that I can hit the start virtual machine button - but nothing happens, only the black screen with info. I typed exactly is in the black screen,

Thanks again - much appreciated,
Jeff H.

[Eru Ithildur]

It sounds like you have not even been able to have any information put into your Windows machines, and therefore do not have anything to lose.

Do a spotlight search for .hdd and delete everything you find that ends with .hdd .
Do a spotlight search for .pvs and delete everything you find that ends with .pvs .
Start up Parallels, it should ask you to create a new virtual machine. See if it installs this time around.

It sounds like you don't have anything overly 'strange' going on. Oh, and down the road you will probably want to add a second GB of RAM.

[buster1]

That is correct - I have not been able to put anything into my virtual machine - I will delete everything you mentioned in spotlight and see how that works - thank you very much,
Thank you,
Jeff H.

[buster1]

Hi Eru:

I erased the files as you suggested and restarted Parallels, then was prompted to install operating system - I ended up with the same issues as before.

Initial comment is Error in booting hard drive - then XP begins to load numerous files, then says starting windows and then I am left with the black window stating the same text I sent in my previous text.

Is there any additional information I can provide you?

Thank you,
Jeff H.

[Alicia]

Hello,

buster1, you may try to install the guest OS using a disc image (http://kb.parallels.com/entry/31/458/0/).
Will it work?

Best regards,
Alicia.

[buster1]

what is the purpose of that - just wanted to understand
Is there someone I can speak to live that can help me with this problem?

Thank you,
JH

[Eru Ithildur]

You can try and get through by calling the Parallels support line found on this page: http://www.parallels.com/en/support/ It costs money though.

Sometimes having the disk as an image helps the installation process, it was an old trick found in the early versions of Parallels.

Come to think of it, is your install disk OEM or boxed copy? Not that OEM will not work sometimes, it just likes to throw fits.

[Alechemist]

I spent the better part of the past 36 hours trying to figure out the XP installation problem, especially issues with Service Pack 2. In searching the forums and a painful day of 5 installation attempts and at least 30 reboots, I found the best answer for me and it was relatively simple.

1) Wipe CD clean. Very clean. You'd be surprised, but this really did cause a problem.

2) Begin VM installation using the "Express" mode.

3) Once installation has started and you can see the WindowsXP screen showing the progress of installation (for an example look at this screenshot http://www.askdavetaylor.com/0-blog-pics/parallels-windows-exciting-new-look.png) STOP the Virtual Machine and:
a) Open the Configuration page
b) Go to Resources tab, then choose Options
c) Click the Advanced tab
d) Change the Acceleration level to "Disabled" (the link in the Knowledge Base http://kb.parallels.com/entry/31/280/ says either "Normal" or "Disabled" but I disabled it so I'm saying what worked)

4) Resume function of the Virtual Machine (hit the green arrow). Windows XP installation should automatically restart.

5) Once WindowsXP is installed, go to Windows Update and get and install all available updates. STOP BEFORE INSTALLING SERVICE PACK 2.

6) Download SP2 to a folder on the Mac. In the lower right corner of Parallels, you have a choice of sharing folders between Mac OS and Windows. Put SP2 (it's something like 225MB) in that folder and make sure it's shared.

7) Launch the SP2 installation executable from that folder while using WindowsXP.

8) Restart WindowsXP after installation is complete.

9) Return to Windows Update and download all remaining updates.

9) Stop the VM.

10) Reverse the change made in Step 3 above (i.e. return the VM accleration to "High")

11) Enjoy using both operating systems side by side.

NOTE: This process is excruciatingly long (it took close to 4 hours total) as you have to download close to a gig of updates (inclusive of SP2) and restart the "computer"/VM several times. But in the end it worked fabulously well and I was able to use the WindowsXP VM without problem, including installing the Windows version of QuickBooks on it. Most of the time is spent downloading updates and installing.

[Eru Ithildur]

Any idea of how long it took if you don't have to download?

[Alechemist]

All told, inclusive of installing SP2 (practically required to use XP in any meaningful way) about 90 minutes.

[Eru Ithildur]

Great, thanks. Your thread is in my bookmarks list now, it might come in handy.

[turcott]

I am attempting to follow Alechemist's instructions provided above in this thread on 1/4/08. I am having issues with XP-SP2 installation as well. See http://tinyurl.com/2dmnzt for image of my XP install screen. The install is getting stuck and doesn't proceed past this page.

Alechemist suggests stopping the VM and "opening the Configuration page" Where is said confirmation page?

Ug, this shouldn't be so hard to run an XP install here. Someone please help or provide an abbreviated set of alternative instructions that doesn't need a rocket-surgeon to install.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[Xenos]

Hello Turcott,

Here it is (http://kb.parallels.com/entry/27/470/0/).

Best regards,
Xenos