SmartStart - How to Disable? Security Concern

[DerekS]

I was quite dismayed to discover all of my Mac applications accessible from inside of Windows.

I realize for some folks this is a feature, but for me it's a big problem.

I use Windows to run a couple applications only. I consider Windows an untrustworthy environment, and part of the reason I run it in a VM is to make the whole experience more secure.

I do not want this cross-pollination between Windows and OSX on my system; I just want to be able to run XP safely and drag files into/out of the VM when required.

I tried setting security to high and that didn't change it.

Can someone help?

Edited by Andrew @ Parallels:

Please download latest Parallels Desktop 3.0 Build 4560 update:
http://forum.parallels.com/thread14504.html

It includes many bugfixes and improvements for SmartSelect feature and it is also support SmartSelect disabling option.

[Sir Atilla]

I think the ability to control this feature is necessary. I have office installed on the OSX side and 1 VM with Office Viewers installed. If I start one of the viewers then the next time I launch a say a Powerpoint file on OSX it wants to the launch the viewer. Going through I can delete the alias in "Windows Applications" which resolves it or doing a Get Info on the OSX side and changing the default application. I don't want to have to do this every time I launch a new VM and and applications that may open a file I have on OSX.

I find the lack of control of this quite disturbing. I hope I am over looking something.

Carlin Smith

[dkp]

I was quite dismayed to discover all of my Mac applications accessible from inside of Windows.

I realize for some folks this is a feature, but for me it's a big problem.

I use Windows to run a couple applications only. I consider Windows an untrustworthy environment, and part of the reason I run it in a VM is to make the whole experience more secure.

I do not want this cross-pollination between Windows and OSX on my system; I just want to be able to run XP safely and drag files into/out of the VM when required.

I tried setting security to high and that didn't change it.

Can someone help?

One way is to uninstall Parallels 3.0 and re-install Parallels 2.5. Another way is to uninstall Parallels 3.0 and Install VMWare Fusion. This will probably be my solution if it cannot be shut off.

[Sir Atilla]

The easiest way to shut it off is to do a manual install of Parallels tools and de-select that functionality. Parallels won't do it then. At that point it is totally off but I would prefer that until some fine grain control can be created.

[dkp]

The easiest way to shut it off is to do a manual install of Parallels tools and de-select that functionality. Parallels won't do it then. At that point it is totally off but I would prefer that until some fine grain control can be created.

That didn't work here, so I uninstalled Parallels Tools and re-installed it with all the dangerous stuff unchecked. That didn't work, either, so I shut off Parallels and am going to request a refund. What an idiot thing they've done here.

[Andrew @ Parallels]

dkp,

Could you please clarify your concern with shared Mac applications? What harm can be done from Windows using native Mac applications on Mac side?

PS: Anyway we will add an option to disable it in the nearest update.

PPS: Pity no one from beta testers complained about this.

[SnakeEyes]

I don't see what the concern is. Those links simply allow for the launching and opening of files (there are probably other nice uses I haven't discovered yet) from the Windows Desktop for those that want interoperability. Everything of importance is still being handled on the Mac side so any vunerability would have to already exist on the Mac side and if that is the case you are vunerable with or without Parallels or it's feature.

[dkp]

dkp,

Could you please clarify your concern with shared Mac applications? What harm can be done from Windows using native Mac applications on Mac side?

PS: Anyway we will add an option to disable it in the nearest update.

PPS: Pity no one from beta testers complained about this.

Let's try this: I see from the list of SmartApps that the OS X terminal program is listed. Let's assume one other non-essential thing: Global or local sharing is enabled. Suppose the VM is infected by a well-crafted Windows virus that copies a Linux vm to the user's OS X home directory. Trivial thing to do, I think we can agree. Then suppose that virus uses the OS X terminal to launch that Linux VM. Think of the things that can happen next.

All the security issues of Global sharing are apparently magnified by this new feature, but global sharing is not needed to create mischief.

[Sir Atilla]

While not addressed to me I don't have a concern so much with the applications showing up in the Windows Start Menu - just don't see a value in it either at the moment. I am much more concerned with the VM apps being automatically assigned to open up my native OSX files.

Thanks,
Carlin Smith

dkp,

Could you please clarify your concern with shared Mac applications? What harm can be done from Windows using native Mac applications on Mac side?

PS: Anyway we will add an option to disable it in the nearest update.

PPS: Pity no one from beta testers complained about this.

[dkp]

While not addressed to me I don't have a concern so much with the applications showing up in the Windows Start Menu - just don't see a value in it either at the moment. I am much more concerned with the VM apps being automatically assigned to open up my native OSX files.

Thanks,
Carlin Smith

If you have global sharing enable then Windows has all the same access to your Mac that you have. A Windows virus can copy your VM's to a remote site where they are loadable and executable, for example. Certainly any data you can read is wide open to a Windows virus. This extends to any shares you have attached to your Mac on your local network. If you have only local sharing enabled then the scope is reduced to your account and home directory. With SmartStart the rules change and while this is untested, I don't see why Windows can't start an OS X terminal or any other application including one the virus installs, and feed it a script that can do anything the Mac is capable of.

But you know? I may be wrong. But this article is worth reading:
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2007/02/perils_in_parallels_1.html

[Andrew @ Parallels]

While not addressed to me I don't have a concern so much with the applications showing up in the Windows Start Menu - just don't see a value in it either at the moment. I am much more concerned with the VM apps being automatically assigned to open up my native OSX files.

Thanks,
Carlin Smith
Sir Atilla,

1. Automatically assigned only those documents which didn't associated with any Mac applications. Such as XLS (if Office for Mac is not installed).

2. Even if you don't like it you can right click on running application in Dock, click SmartSelect and switch all assosiations with Windows applications off.

[Andrew @ Parallels]

Let's try this: I see from the list of SmartApps that the OS X terminal program is listed. Let's assume one other non-essential thing: Global or local sharing is enabled. Suppose the VM is infected by a well-crafted Windows virus that copies a Linux vm to the user's OS X home directory. Trivial thing to do, I think we can agree. Then suppose that virus uses the OS X terminal to launch that Linux VM. Think of the things that can happen next.

All the security issues of Global sharing are apparently magnified by this new feature, but global sharing is not needed to create mischief.
OK. I see it will be able to launch empty Terminal in Mac. But how it will issue any comands to run in this terminal (to run Linux VM for example)?

PS: Anyway thank you for feedback and your position. If it does worry someone we will make an option to disable it in the nearest update.

[dkp]

OK. I see it will be able to launch empty Terminal in Mac. But how it will issue any comands to run in this terminal (to run Linux VM for example)?

PS: Anyway thank you for feedback and your position. If it does worry someone we will make an option to disable it in the nearest update.

Which of the following is wrong:

Using a Windows malware executable program:
1. It is impossible to start an OS X AppleScript file from Windows
2. It is impossible to start an OS X Perl script from Windows
3. It is impossible to start an OS X shell script from Windows
4. It is impossible to start an OS X application and give it a file to load and operate on
5. It is impossible for Windows to install an executable in OS X and launch it
6. It is impossible for Windows to launch scp in OS X and copy entire directory trees to a remote site
7. It is impossible for Windows to install a vm appliance in OS X and launch it

[leaseme177]

Not a techie -

I use parallels infrequently for 1-2 apps. I just installed 3.0 (thought it would be a better user of CPU- it is not - still very slow) - problem - when I try to click on .doc file in OSX Mail - it opens parallels and trys to open word - my computer is so slow - I just want it to open in Word (on the OSX side) - ditto when I am using spotlight - how do I disable this effect - need help quickly!!!:mad: :mad: :mad:

[Andrew @ Parallels]

Which of the following is wrong:

Using a Windows malware executable program:
1. It is impossible to start an OS X AppleScript file from Windows
2. It is impossible to start an OS X Perl script from Windows
3. It is impossible to start an OS X shell script from Windows
4. It is impossible to start an OS X application and give it a file to load and operate on
5. It is impossible for Windows to install an executable in OS X and launch it
6. It is impossible for Windows to launch scp in OS X and copy entire directory trees to a remote site
7. It is impossible for Windows to install a vm appliance in OS X and launch it
To do all of the above you have to open Global or Local sharing. But

1. Using security slider you can disable all kind of sharing (Local, Global, Reverse and so on).
2. By default Mac sharing to Win is disabled.

So malware won't be able to transfer any malicios script to Mac side to execute it there.

PS: And even more - all Mac applications are started from Parallels with current Mac user security permissions. So if current user is not root - it can't do any real harm even if Global sharing is enabled. Mac OS X embedded security will take care of it.

[Andrew @ Parallels]

Not a techie -

I use parallels infrequently for 1-2 apps. I just installed 3.0 (thought it would be a better user of CPU- it is not - still very slow) - problem - when I try to click on .doc file in OSX Mail - it opens parallels and trys to open word - my computer is so slow - I just want it to open in Word (on the OSX side) - ditto when I am using spotlight - how do I disable this effect - need help quickly!!!:mad: :mad: :mad:
Try to click on menu Applications->Reset Windows Applications. It should clear SmartSelect assotiations.

[DerekS]

Can someone confirm or disconfirm that doing the custom install of parallels tools stops this behavior? I have already rolled back to 3188 (and downloaded VMWare, though I don't want to use it.)

To the parallels folks, let me make something very clear:

I never want Windows to have access to my Mac in any way.

Frankly I am shocked this feature made it in without a toggle and security warning; I thought you guys learned from the backlash on global sharing.

As for the comment that nobody in beta complained - clearly the beta program was not wide enough.

[dkp]

To do all of the above you have to open Global or Local sharing. But

1. Using security slider you can disable all kind of sharing (Local, Global, Reverse and so on).
2. By default Mac sharing to Win is disabled.

So malware won't be able to transfer any malicios script to Mac side to execute it there.

PS: And even more - all Mac applications are started from Parallels with current Mac user security permissions. So if current user is not root - it can't do any real harm even if Global sharing is enabled. Mac OS X embedded security will take care of it.

I remember reading something about sharing being disabled by default now. Interesting thread. But maybe now it doesn't matter.

So I wonder if it is true that it is impossible for a malware program in Windows to execute wget or curl or ftp or scp in OS X and download to the OS X file system from the internet a file called UROwned.pl (just a made up name), and then execute Perl in OS X to run that script? I will leave it to the reader's imagination what such a Perl script might do.

If that is impossible then surely it is impossible for a malware program running in Windows to launch something like bash -e "rm -r ~/*" in OS X. But if it could, that would be a pretty interesting thing for it to do, wouldn't you say? Some might think that would be creating real harm.

[DerekS]

I agree. In addition to the security concerns, I just don't want the feature. I don't want automatic, cross-os file associations.

The main reason I upgraded to this release was to (hopefully) get some relief from the "unexpected shutdown syndrome" of Parallels dying when debugging ASP.NET apps in VS.NET 2005.

[Sir Atilla]

If you have global sharing enable then Windows has all the same access to your Mac that you have. A Windows virus can copy your VM's to a remote site where they are loadable and executable, for example. Certainly any data you can read is wide open to a Windows virus. This extends to any shares you have attached to your Mac on your local network. If you have only local sharing enabled then the scope is reduced to your account and home directory. With SmartStart the rules change and while this is untested, I don't see why Windows can't start an OS X terminal or any other application including one the virus installs, and feed it a script that can do anything the Mac is capable of.

But you know? I may be wrong. But this article is worth reading:
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2007/02/perils_in_parallels_1.html


Correct which is why I never enable global sharing. Now that I have just altered my tools install to turn off shared applications etc I am satisified with the configuration.

[dkp]

Can someone confirm or disconfirm that doing the custom install of parallels tools stops this behavior? I have already rolled back to 3188 (and downloaded VMWare, though I don't want to use it.)

To the parallels folks, let me make something very clear:

I never want Windows to have access to my Mac in any way.

Frankly I am shocked this feature made it in without a toggle and security warning; I thought you guys learned from the backlash on global sharing.

As for the comment that nobody in beta complained - clearly the beta program was not wide enough.

I was unable to defeat it on my system even by removing and re-installing Parallels Tools. I've not tried using the Reset command as suggested by Andrew. I agree - SmartStart does not give me "piece of mind" (see the mis-worded banner at the top of the page :) ).

I have to give Parallels B+ for this upgrade - most of it is excellent stuff but worthless if this feature cannot be disabled. As for the beta testers - I guess I should have applied after all - I'd have raised a ruckus immediately, but it's bad form to implicate the testers vs the internal coders/architects.

[Sir Atilla]

[QUOTE=Andrew @ Parallels]Sir Atilla,

1. Automatically assigned only those documents which didn't associated with any Mac applications. Such as XLS (if Office for Mac is not installed).

This just wasn't the case. For example the Excel viewer when launched assumed the association with Excel files even though Excel 2004 for the Mac was installed. No notification, no asking me, it was automatic.

[dkp]

Correct which is why I never enable global sharing. Now that I have just altered my tools install to turn off shared applications etc I am satisified with the configuration.

How do you know isn't still working? It is turned off in my vm but it still works just fine.

[DerekS]

After reinstalling Tools, I found that the shortcuts to my mac apps were still there, and still functioned. I deleted them and they have not returned.

This tells me the Parallels Tools exe is the true "gatekeeper" of security between the Windows and OSX worlds. I hope it is never exploited via a buffer overrun etc.

[dkp]

I think the presence or lack of links is ultimately meaningless. If the API is remains enabled it's just a matter of time before it's instrumented and sorted out.

[evanhatesspam]

make something very clear:

I never want Windows to have access to my Mac in any way.

Frankly I am shocked this feature made it in without a toggle and security warning; I thought you guys learned from the backlash on global sharing.

As for the comment that nobody in beta complained - clearly the beta program was not wide enough.

Ditto here. Agreed.

[evanhatesspam]

Correct which is why I never enable global sharing. Now that I have just altered my tools install to turn off shared applications etc I am satisified with the configuration.

Question: To do this, do I have to uninstall Parallel Tools from within Windows XP, and then reinstall them?

[DerekS]

No, you can just reinstall them. Then go delete the "Parallels Shared Applications" from the start menu, and the "Shared Applications" folder.

[dkp]

No, you can just reinstall them. Then go delete the "Parallels Shared Applications" from the start menu, and the "Shared Applications" folder.

That, I think, just hides the problem. Andrew suggested above it will be possible to disable this in a future release.

[mcowger]

PS: And even more - all Mac applications are started from Parallels with current Mac user security permissions. So if current user is not root - it can't do any real harm even if Global sharing is enabled. Mac OS X embedded security will take care of it.[/QUOTE]


Any real harm? Are you nuts? It may not bring down the machine, but it could easily delete all files owned by me....which are the ones important to me (incl. my Parallels VM, iTunes, Documents, ~/Library).....that real harm. The rest of the OS doesn't matter - I have a DVD to install that - its my DATA thats at risk here, and not at all protected by your explanation.

Said another way - if it can't do any real harm, let me delete your homedir on your desktop and we'll see how happy you are and if you think 'no real harm' has been done.

[dkp]

No, you can just reinstall them. Then go delete the "Parallels Shared Applications" from the start menu, and the "Shared Applications" folder.

After you've done that what do you see in this folder:

C:\Documents and Settings\dereks\Application Data\Parallels\Shared Applications

Change dereks to your actual Windows account name.

[DerekS]

After you've done that what do you see in this folder:

C:\Documents and Settings\dereks\Application Data\Parallels\Shared Applications

Nothing - that's the folder I deleted. It contained a bunch of .exe stubs for all my OSX apps. I found the whole cross-pollination very creepy and I am glad it's semi-gone.

As you accurately pointed out, it won't be totally gone until they close the API into Parallels Tools...

[Andrew @ Parallels]

Any real harm? Are you nuts? It may not bring down the machine, but it could easily delete all files owned by me....which are the ones important to me (incl. my Parallels VM, iTunes, Documents, ~/Library).....that real harm. The rest of the OS doesn't matter - I have a DVD to install that - its my DATA thats at risk here, and not at all protected by your explanation.

Said another way - if it can't do any real harm, let me delete your homedir on your desktop and we'll see how happy you are and if you think 'no real harm' has been done.
Set security to Medium-high (deafault) or High level. In both cases all sharing Mac to Windows will be disabled.

[unused_user_name]

I think what would be useful in the future is an option in the Parallels Tools installation for either secure (i.e. total security, no sharing at all) or insecure (with all the useful features turned on).

This in conjunction with the security slider (which IMHO needs to have a better discription of what it does) would do worlds of good.

[Andrew @ Parallels]

Parallels Tools Center - is just an application. It is Parallels application who grants it permissions to communicate with host part if security policy is allowed.

[Sir Atilla]

How do you know isn't still working? It is turned off in my vm but it still works just fine.

Well in the parallels OSX menus no longer will see you "applications" as even an option and it stops creating associations on the OSX side.

[dkp]

Well in the parallels OSX menus no longer will see you "applications" as even an option and it stops creating associations on the OSX side.

What do you see in this folder?
C:\Documents and Settings\atilla\Application Data\Parallels\Shared Applications

Replace atilla with your actual Windows account name.

If it is not empty then you should be able to launch any OS X application you see there.

[dkp]

OK. I see it will be able to launch empty Terminal in Mac. But how it will issue any comands to run in this terminal (to run Linux VM for example)?

PS: Anyway thank you for feedback and your position. If it does worry someone we will make an option to disable it in the nearest update.

My cut/paste didn't complete correctly in the previous reply so I'll continue here and expand on the points - Recall that the Terminal app uses bash, and that bash uses .bashrc rather like the old DOS autoexec.bat script. Anything in the bashrc file is executed when bash is run. What this means is if user, local, or global sharing is enabled, Windows, which runs as the local user, could in fact tack malicious code onto the .basrc script or replace it entirely, or even create it if it does not exist, and then do anything it likes within the constraints of the user account privileges. If it is the case that people are as careful as I am and never turn on global, local, or user sharing then this is less of a problem. But what happens when a hacker reverse engineers the executables that Parallels uses to launch OS X applications from within Windows? That will take what, an hour? Then it is a trivial thing for a malicious application to run anything on the OS X side of the system at will. I don't think such programs are going to run for the benefit of the system's owner. Such programs are bad things as I'm sure you will agree. If I were Parallels I'd go ahead and get to work on making this an option that is off by default.

Hey - maybe I'll have a proof of concept agent ready for an ad hoc break-out session at WWDC. That would be an eye opener.

[SnakeEyes]

Any real harm? Are you nuts? It may not bring down the machine, but it could easily delete all files owned by me....which are the ones important to me (incl. my Parallels VM, iTunes, Documents, ~/Library).....that real harm. The rest of the OS doesn't matter - I have a DVD to install that - its my DATA thats at risk here, and not at all protected by your explanation.

Said another way - if it can't do any real harm, let me delete your homedir on your desktop and we'll see how happy you are and if you think 'no real harm' has been done.

You normally operate as root?

[SnakeEyes]

Hey - maybe I'll have a proof of concept agent ready for an ad hoc break-out session at WWDC. That would be an eye opener.

Cool, lets see it.

[frogywill]

I just wanna make sure.... Am I going to see Windows Application popping up under "open with" inside OSX as well ?

[Andrew @ Parallels]

I just wanna make sure.... Am I going to see Windows Application popping up under "open with" inside OSX as well ?
Yes it is.

[DerekS]

Originally Posted by frogywill
I just wanna make sure.... Am I going to see Windows Application popping up under "open with" inside OSX as well ?

For my end, I really don't want to see that either. I want Windows to be Windows and OSX to be OSX.

[Andrew @ Parallels]

For my end, I really don't want to see that either. I want Windows to be Windows and OSX to be OSX.
We will make an option to disable it in nearest update.

[DerekS]

We will make an option to disable it in nearest update.

Thanks Andrew!

[frogywill]

How do I turn it off now if I can't wait for the next release ?

Thanks

[dkp]

How do I turn it off now if I can't wait for the next release ?

Thanks

Here's what I did that seemed to work:

1. Uninstall Parallels 3.0.
2. Install Fusion Beta 4
3. Migrate Parallels VM to Fusion

No more SmartStart.

[DerekS]

I was going to try that, but how did you migrate the VM from Parallels to Fusion?

[SnakeEyes]

How do I turn it off now if I can't wait for the next release ?

Thanks

Set security to Medium-high (deafault) or High level. In both cases all sharing Mac to Windows will be disabled.

[dkp]

I was going to try that, but how did you migrate the VM from Parallels to Fusion?

Follow the instructions on their Beta bbs page.

[dmgwork]

Not a techie -

I use parallels infrequently for 1-2 apps. I just installed 3.0 (thought it would be a better user of CPU- it is not - still very slow) - problem - when I try to click on .doc file in OSX Mail - it opens parallels and trys to open word - my computer is so slow - I just want it to open in Word (on the OSX side) - ditto when I am using spotlight - how do I disable this effect - need help quickly!!!:mad: :mad: :mad:
I have the same problem is there a solution for this

[hazmat]

Agreed -- this "feature" is pretty craptastic. Imagine my surprise when I tried to open a CSV file on my Mac, and my Mac noted that I was opening Notepad for the first time, and did I want to proceed.

I got rid of this annoyance by running Parallels Tools as someone suggested above -- choose "Custom" and then deselect the shared apps. I also reset the shared apps from the Parallels Desktop menu.

[dan]

Agreed -- this "feature" is pretty craptastic. Imagine my surprise when I tried to open a CSV file on my Mac, and my Mac noted that I was opening Notepad for the first time, and did I want to proceed.

I got rid of this annoyance by running Parallels Tools as someone suggested above -- choose "Custom" and then deselect the shared apps. I also reset the shared apps from the Parallels Desktop menu.

BTW, unrelated, but this banner is awesome ... "piece of mind" is what you get with Snapshots.
]
An easier fix for your problem with the mistaken application launching would have been to select "Reset Windows Applications" from the Applications menu in Parallels.

That said, however, I would like to add my thanks to the Parallels team for including an option for disabling this new function. I, too, would just as soon not see a listing of Windows apps on the OS X side although it is fairly trivial bit of clutter; nor am I particularly excited at the prospect of using the Start menu as an OS X application launcher. I will welcome having the option of turning this off.

As for the rest of this thread, I don't see what the big deal is. If you have turned off Local and Global sharing, the most "harm" a piece of Windows malware could do would be to open an OS X application. That's no harm at all.

Of course, if you turn on sharing, then it would become possible to run malicious scripts on the OS X side. That's a pretty significant "if".

[hazmat]

An easier fix for your problem with the mistaken application launching would have been to select "Reset Windows Applications" from the Applications menu in Parallels.

I did, in fact, do the "Reset Windows Applications." Today, however, I had to do it again. Not only that, but my Word and Excel icons in OS X are now blank document icons, even though they're correctly associated with Word and Excel for Mac.

I tried re-launching the Finder to no avail -- still blank document icons.

So, the "big deal" is that I don't want frakking Windows or, by extension, Parallels jacking around with stuff unnecessarily on the Mac OS.

[Pharrett]

some of you people are really quick to jump on parallels folks. They've said they're going to add what you ask for in the next release. They said there is currently a way to disable sharing between OSs. What are you guys going to do when VMWare comes up with a feature you don't like? Jump ship before giving them a chance to respond?

[dmgwork]

is there any way to stop all doc files from Mac email from being opened in word for windows.

[Andrew @ Parallels]

is there any way to stop all doc files from Mac email from being opened in word for windows.
Run Word in Windows, right click on its icon in Mac dock, click on SmartSelect menu and choose DOC documents to be opened in Mac.

[drapsag]

How is this function even useful? If I have a document created in Excel on my Mac, why would I even want to open it with Excel on my PC? I have Office on my Mac and yet when I open a document on my Mac created by Word on that Mac, Word on my PC opens. That's retarded. I can work around it but I still question how this "feature" is useful. If I want to open a Mac Excel document with Excel on my PC, what's wrong with simple file sharing to accomplish this?

[frogywill]

Set security to Medium-high (deafault) or High level. In both cases all sharing Mac to Windows will be disabled.

FYI That doesn't work. SmartSelect still comes back on even after clearing the openWith database. I can still drag and drop files too... (not sure if that's falls under "sharing").

Not installing SmartSelect in the tools doesn't not stop associations in OS X either....

:(

I guess I'll live with it until an upgrade.

[mikemike]

Andrew: you stated that "Automatically assigned only those documents which didn't associated with any Mac applications. Such as XLS (if Office for Mac is not installed)."

I wonder if there is a bug in the implementation. I have Office 2004 for Mac installed, including Microsoft Word. Then I installed Parallels. Parallels now opens as the default application for all my Word documents, to the contrary of your assertion above.

But never mind. And let's forget for a moment about a Windows app that launches a shell script that deletes my home directory. Let's talk about pretty icons instead. As per your recommendation, I right-clicked and turned the SmartWhateverSomething feature off. What happens now is that even though my Word documents are back to Mac Word 2004 as the default application, the icons are blank. Can you let us know if there is a workaround or a fix to get the Mac Office icons back?

I'd just like to add that I am gobsmacked at the degree of arrogance to assume that Macintosh users with Mac Office installed might wish to have Parallels open as the default for these documents. It's a great feature, I agree, but offer it as an option that is turned off by default and that users can choose to turn on. People enjoy the Macintosh platform and are passionate about it precisely because there is a culture of respect by Macintosh developers both for user's intelligence and their preferences that is often lacking on Windows - where applications just take things over and do as they wish.

[mcowger]

You normally operate as root?


Um, no, I dont. Thats my point - operating as ME (regular user) and doing an "rm -rf ~" still causes damage.

[Gwizz]

Andrew: you stated that "Automatically assigned only those documents which didn't associated with any Mac applications. Such as XLS (if Office for Mac is not installed)."

I wonder if there is a bug in the implementation. I have Office 2004 for Mac installed, including Microsoft Word. Then I installed Parallels. Parallels now opens as the default application for all my Word documents, to the contrary of your assertion above.

But never mind. And let's forget for a moment about a Windows app that launches a shell script that deletes my home directory. Let's talk about pretty icons instead. As per your recommendation, I right-clicked and turned the SmartWhateverSomething feature off. What happens now is that even though my Word documents are back to Mac Word 2004 as the default application, the icons are blank. Can you let us know if there is a workaround or a fix to get the Mac Office icons back?

I'd just like to add that I am gobsmacked at the degree of arrogance to assume that Macintosh users with Mac Office installed might wish to have Parallels open as the default for these documents. It's a great feature, I agree, but offer it as an option that is turned off by default and that users can choose to turn on. People enjoy the Macintosh platform and are passionate about it precisely because there is a culture of respect by Macintosh developers both for user's intelligence and their preferences that is often lacking on Windows - where applications just take things over and do as they wish.

I concur with this. My Word files (yes installed on OSX) are suddenly associated with wordpad... What's the logic in that??? This is absulutely stupid and to get this fixed on my machines costst me more (productivity loss * hourly rate) than purchasing Parallels. The assumption should be that users see and use Windows as a Sandbox unless a specific choice is made (and explained first!) before you blur the bounderies and start integrating things. Even reading trough all these posts is getting confusing (what works and what not and where are thes buttons?) and too time consuming. I demand from Parallels a "how to" or "walk through" that solves all these sharing "features" and restores it the way things were before the upgrade. Step by step, with clear indications on what buttuns to press and where to find them. Should be easy for you and solves us a lot of trouble.

I like Parallels so far and won't complain about paying for the software. For the basic functions it is worth it but this sharing aps stuf is a disaster.

[rudovskypaul]

Sir Atilla,

1. Automatically assigned only those documents which didn't associated with any Mac applications. Such as XLS (if Office for Mac is not installed).

2. Even if you don't like it you can right click on running application in Dock, click SmartSelect and switch all assosiations with Windows applications off.


Andrew--

The opening of Parrellels and Windows when I go to open an excel file (for some reason it only happens to me on excel, not on word files) is a big pain. Appreciate your comment #2, but I do not find Smart Select when i right clivk excel in my dock (when excel is open). How do i do this? thanks

Paul

[Andrew @ Parallels]

rudovskypaul,

You should right click on Excel icon in dock (Show application in dock option in Preferences should be on) and click on SmartSelect in dock menu.

PS: We got a lot of feedback on SmartSelect feature and now working very hard on improving its usability. Update with redesigned SmartSelect will be released very soon. Possibility to switch SmartSelect off and undo all associations also will be included into this update.

[w7ox]

Sir Atilla,

1. Automatically assigned only those documents which didn't associated with any Mac applications. Such as XLS (if Office for Mac is not installed).

2. Even if you don't like it you can right click on running application in Dock, click SmartSelect and switch all assosiations with Windows applications off.

Not true completely. With PD 3 stopped I tried to edit a Word file and it went to Word 2003. I've since changes that by file assns.

PowerPoint and Excel files open the Mac apps.

Phil

[w7ox]

rudovskypaul,

You should right click on Excel icon in dock (Show application in dock option in Preferences should be on) and click on SmartSelect in dock menu.

PS: We got a lot of feedback on SmartSelect feature and now working very hard on improving its usability. Update with redesigned SmartSelect will be released very soon. Possibility to switch SmartSelect off and undo all associations also will be included into this update.

Good idea, Andrew.

Phil

[jorge.buitrago]

Thank God!!!!!! I love this software but I guess they haven't end inventing it!!! I guess SmartSelect its not that Smart yet!

[kion]

The easiest way to shut it off is to do a manual install of Parallels tools and de-select that functionality. Parallels won't do it then. At that point it is totally off but I would prefer that until some fine grain control can be created.

This is a valuable information. Thanks for not indulging in the Parallels-bashing and posting a useful hint instead.

[dkp]

This is a valuable information. hanks for not indulging in the flame war and posting a useful hint.

That doesn't actually shut it off - that only prevents the installation of the Mac application stub files. Those can still be installed from a command line option, and the pathway for executing them is still open.

[cookieme]

Here's what I did that seemed to work:

1. Uninstall Parallels 3.0.
2. Install Fusion Beta 4
3. Migrate Parallels VM to Fusion

No more SmartStart.

Hi dkp,

I've been using parallels for a few months and just recently upgraded to 3.0 4128. I'am very concerned with the features they have added including the smartselect and how my mac and windows OS's are no longer isolated from each other. Of course I want to be able to share files between the two and go online in both, but windows is windows and unfortunately I have to use it for online banking and my CAD app. These are the only two things I have windows for and I want to maintain the integrity of my mac os. I haven't used VMware Fusion beta 4 or any of their other versions, but it seems as if Parallels might be the popular option at the moment since it is no longer beta.

I read that you removed parallels and decided to use VMware Fusion. I'm thinking of doing the same and would like to ask you what your experience has been so far with regards to stability, usability etc.

Sorry for my long message. Thank you.

[garden gnome]

rudovskypaul,

You should right click on Excel icon in dock (Show application in dock option in Preferences should be on) and click on SmartSelect in dock menu.

PS: We got a lot of feedback on SmartSelect feature and now working very hard on improving its usability. Update with redesigned SmartSelect will be released very soon. Possibility to switch SmartSelect off and undo all associations also will be included into this update.


Two points:

I should be able to undo an action that any feature creates unless it is fully disclaimed and in my face otherwise. In this case, SmartSelect is not able to be undone without dark magic under the hood. Very bad form.

Pervasive features added to a successful package need to tread lightly. SmartSelect is one of those useless Marketing gimicks that some folks may want but others hate. My suggestion would be for this type of 'feature' is to have the user pro-actively opt-in to this behavior instead of assuming it. As with the earlier point, make sure users can reverse it.

I grew comfortable with 2.5. 3D support was a benefit. Do not mess up a good thing by getting cute with the feature set.

Companies that do not heed this product management advice will find their base wane.

[Andrew @ Parallels]

Hi dkp,

I've been using parallels for a few months and just recently upgraded to 3.0 4128. I'am very concerned with the features they have added including the smartselect and how my mac and windows OS's are no longer isolated from each other. Of course I want to be able to share files between the two and go online in both, but windows is windows and unfortunately I have to use it for online banking and my CAD app. These are the only two things I have windows for and I want to maintain the integrity of my mac os. I haven't used VMware Fusion beta 4 or any of their other versions, but it seems as if Parallels might be the popular option at the moment since it is no longer beta.

I read that you removed parallels and decided to use VMware Fusion. I'm thinking of doing the same and would like to ask you what your experience has been so far with regards to stability, usability etc.

Sorry for my long message. Thank you.
cookieme,

Please do remember that this is Parallels forums. Please do not use it to discuss VMware features. VMware has its own forums for such things. Thank you in advance.

[Andrew @ Parallels]

Two points:

I should be able to undo an action that any feature creates unless it is fully disclaimed and in my face otherwise. In this case, SmartSelect is not able to be undone without dark magic under the hood. Very bad form.

Pervasive features added to a successful package need to tread lightly. SmartSelect is one of those useless Marketing gimicks that some folks may want but others hate. My suggestion would be for this type of 'feature' is to have the user pro-actively opt-in to this behavior instead of assuming it. As with the earlier point, make sure users can reverse it.

I grew comfortable with 2.5. 3D support was a benefit. Do not mess up a good thing by getting cute with the feature set.

Companies that do not heed this product management advice will find their base wane.
garden gnome,

All your requests about SmartSelect feature is already implemented in upcoming update which will be released soon.

[kay]

is the any date on this release yet?

Thanks

[Andrew @ Parallels]

is the any date on this release yet?

Thanks
kay,
Can't give you exact date, but it will be very soon.

[Stevamundo]

kay,
Can't give you exact date, but it will be very soon.

I hope that it's VERY VERY SOON. I hate to say this but, the more that I work with build 4128 the more I dislike it. The DirectX IS VERY INCOMPATIBLE with other just the basic Windows features. Like watching DVDs or playing simple games.

Also like I said before in other threads in Vista, the video quality is plain crap except in QuickTime for some reason. It's more like watching slideshows instead of videos. Also I have the Vista's memory to 1GB where it's recommended by Microsoft.

[dzurn]

kay,
Can't give you exact date, but it will be very soon.
Thank you for addressing these security concerns quickly. I need //s to access Windows applications to work on some network files, I don't need it to muck about with my Mac files at all. I never enabled the sharing, either local or global, and always told //s "no" when it "offered" to let Windows run freely through my Mac files!

Windows plays far too fast and loose with security, it makes me very nervous that Windows might be able to mess up or delete any of my Mac files.

[w7ox]

I concur with this. My Word files (yes installed on OSX) are suddenly associated with wordpad... What's the logic in that??? .

Odder still, I was in OS X and had a Word file open in Acrobat (installed in the WinXP OS): Most odd.

I like my OS X and WinXP stuff decoupled, too; I only want Windows to run for specific needs I have .. and none of those relate to Office. I've taken my best shot by running the security slider all the way up and still occasionally do Reset Windows Applications in Parallels.

It will be good to have the promised change to let us control this feature directly.

Phil

[dragonkat]

ANDREW

Would it be possible to have smartslect/cohearance without global sharing in your Internet connection? Just have the Internet accessible from osx on all windows applications? I would like to use this feature. I like to be able to use certain applications cross platform.

[gsbrain]

Andrew,

Your advice,

"Reset Windows Applications" from the Applications menu in Parallels.

worked great. Thank you! I too was put off initially by this behavior, but thanks for making an easy way to reverse it.

[Andrew @ Parallels]

Please download latest Parallels Desktop 3.0 Build 4560 update:
http://forum.parallels.com/thread14504.html

It includes many bugfixes and improvements for SmartSelect feature and it is also support SmartSelect disabling option.

[Brian C. Stradale]

What have you done to my Mac!!

I've installed the latest... 3.0.4560.

I disabled that stupid SmartSelect stuff.

But I still can't run the Mac version of Office.
Even if I click directly on them, they bounce
once in the doc and then stop.

This is KILLING me... I need my apps back!


And I have to second the prior poster...

Why on earth would you think that somebody who bought a Mac would want you to override Mac software with the Windows version of that software. That makes absolutely NO SENSE!
This has got to be the stupidest "feature" I've heard of in a long time.

I love the ability... but you should choose to "install the Windows app as a Mac app"... it shouldn't just override whatever was there.


WORSE, when you turn that shite off, it should undo the changes it made to OS X... but it doesn't. Now that its turned off, I just can't invoke it at all!!!!

So, if I uninstall Parallels, will it undo the changes that prevent me from running Mac Office apps??? Or am I going to need to wipe my OS X disk and start over??

[Andrew @ Parallels]

Brian,

In build 4560 you can reset all file associations to default using menu Applications->SmartSelect->Set to Default. It should fix your problem.

PS: If it won't help try to locate your VM folder in ~/Documents/Parallels/<VM name> and remove "Windows Applications" folder there.

[Brian C. Stradale]

Well, based on other threads, I tried deleting that folder. No fix.

I went to try your suggestion... but I no longer have an Applications menu to try the "Set to Default" command. (I didn't try that before, as I assumed that meant to set it to YOUR defaults, not to the original system defaults.)

By the way, the VM settings with 4560 do NOT stick... I keep changing the Shared Folders from my custom folder to All Mac Disks... and it soon returns to the old setting. Similar is true of the security setting... often reverts to Medium... I've set it back to Medium-High several times. The Shared Apps setting keeps coming back on. The only setting that seems to stick reliably is the Coherence setting where I checked Use multiple displays... that has yet to revert.

Ugh.

Is it possible to revert to 2.5?

[jorge.buitrago]

Brian,

In build 4560 you can reset all file associations to default using menu Applications->SmartSelect->Set to Default. It should fix your problem.

PS: If it won't help try to locate your VM folder in ~/Documents/Parallels/<VM name> and remove "Windows Applications" folder there.

Andrew @ Parallels,

I already updated my machine to build 4560, and used menu Applications->SmartSelect->Set to Default. It seems it fixed Mac OS associations problems, but I still have problems with Windows File Associations.

I use Parallels @ work so I'm able to use Microsoft Office on Windows. My Word files associations are OK, but my Excel and Powerpoint are messed up. When I go to Windows Explorer, and I look the type column for an Excel or Powerpoint file, it appears and extension named "xls_auto_file" or "ppt_auto_file, respectively. It should appear "Microsoft Excel Document" or "Microsoft Powerpoint Document", as for my Word files which are working OK. Files do open OK on Excel and PowerPoint, but that particular characteristic, hampers my normal use of Excel and PowerPoint (e.g. moving between worksheets with keyboard shortcuts, using a Third Party software based on Excel, etc.).
Please Help!!!! I waited all the way for build 4560, and it hasn't solved my problem so far.
All this is getting on my nerves, is pretty frustrating. I will appreciate any aid ASAP!!!!!!

[wonder_mice]

Hi jorge.buitrago,
You can try to Uninstall and then install Microsoft Office - this can help (Office must create new valid file extension descriptions)

[MartyMcr]

dkp,

Could you please clarify your concern with shared Mac applications? What harm can be done from Windows using native Mac applications on Mac side?

PS: Anyway we will add an option to disable it in the nearest update.

PPS: Pity no one from beta testers complained about this.


I was rather annoyed by this message Andrew - the beta test was something of a farce - you released the product when the beta had hardly started and gave virtually zero feedback. It ended just as abruptly.

[jorge.buitrago]

wonder_mice

I tried what you suggested (unistalling and then installing again Microsoft Office), and it didn't solve the problem (besides two hours wait to install and download again all office updates). By the way, this is the third alternative suggested by Parallels Suppor Team that hasn't worked.

I hope that you guys, as developers of the software, reach to a succcesful solution... I'm tired of looking for solutions on the forum and writing support requirements.

Thank you.

[sheathe]

I want to be able to launch a Windows EXE in a Parallels VM from Finder... is this possible?

[dkp]

Please download latest Parallels Desktop 3.0 Build 4560 update:
http://forum.parallels.com/thread14504.html

It includes many bugfixes and improvements for SmartSelect feature and it is also support SmartSelect disabling option.

Does that mean the connectivity layer between Windows and OS X is disabled? Currently it is possible to re-establish associations using Windows command line tools provided by Parallels - are these tools disabled in 4560? Just removing the stubs is not enough if it remains possible to recreate and execute them from within Windows.

[brkirch]

Does that mean the connectivity layer between Windows and OS X is disabled? Currently it is possible to re-establish associations using Windows command line tools provided by Parallels - are these tools disabled in 4560? Just removing the stubs is not enough if it remains possible to recreate and execute them from within Windows.

The ability to execute Mac applications from Windows can be fully disabled, I've tested this by keeping a copy of the Mac application launchers that were created within Windows, disabling shared applications, and then trying to use the application launchers. The application launchers were unable to launch the Mac applications. I also don't see any way to re-enable shared applications from within Windows, so it would seem that any potential for a security breach is no longer there.

[Andrew @ Parallels]

Does that mean the connectivity layer between Windows and OS X is disabled? Currently it is possible to re-establish associations using Windows command line tools provided by Parallels - are these tools disabled in 4560? Just removing the stubs is not enough if it remains possible to recreate and execute them from within Windows.
If you have application sharing disabled in your VM configuration that means your communication channel is also disabled of course.

[dkp]

If you have application sharing disabled in your VM configuration that means your communication channel is also disabled of course.

Thanks, Andrew. I can re-install now :)

[stewarsh]

Hi all,

You might want to checkout http://www.rubicode.com/Software/RCDefaultApp/. It's a freeware control panel that lets you specify what program can open what file either by extension, type, or URL code. You can search by file or by program. It's quite useful for resetting a lot of the stuff that smartselect changed.

[D. Alan Stewart]

It interfers with Microsoft SharePoint web sites. SharePoint has a feature that allows editing a file on the web site in place. I'm expected to be able edit certain Excel files on the company Sharepoint web site in this way. When the first version of Parallels that supported application sharing came out, I started getting an error that a SharePoint-compatible application is not available to edit the file. When I disabled application sharing and the error went away.

Unfortunately build 5160 seems to have a bug preventing disabling application sharing. I've reinstalled Parallels Tools with this feature left out. Now Windows no longer shows Mac applications in the "Open With" dialog. However, SharePoint is still broken.

This is a BIG issue because I'm expected to use this SharePoint site on a daily basis.

[alexg]

Hi Alan,

Could you please describe the error exactly as it appears on your screen or provide us the screenshot with that error.

Alexander