run parallels/windows from an external hard drive?

Discussion in 'Installation and Configuration of Parallels Desktop' started by hobbesocrates, Jul 9, 2009.

  1. joevt

    joevt Forum Maven

    Messages:
    1,229
    The hdd name doesn't matter except for the file extension.

    Macs don't come with write access to NTFS partitions. For that you need a third party NTFS file system driver for Mac. I don't know how well the performance will compare to having the hdd image on an HFS partition though.

    I don't see how reinstalling Windows and Office would help you, since you don't have any hard drive space to install them too.
     
  2. HarleyD2014

    HarleyD2014 Bit poster

    Messages:
    1
    Remember that a copy paste doesn't work with NTFS via mac. THere's a process that can get you double your pleasure if you do it right. First, Download XXCOPY, the personal version is free and it runs in winxp to win8. Now it's time to format a drive... ...On the mac. You'll need to start by formatting the drive with ParaWinXp as NTFS, then look up how to copy and backup the MBR to another location in Unix (doing it on the mac). Now take that MBR and paste it to a usb drive. Now you can reformat the drive with mac, as NTFS with GUID partition table (this does not contain MBR). Now copy your backed up MBR to the drive and place it correctly (using the mac and unix). Now you can connect it to parallels, and use XXCopy the virtual drive to the external. Now you can boot the external for your mac, or use it for your parallels to run concurrent. You'll need to find and download the XP drivers for your mac. You can install them using parallels. XXCopy should also copy the boot sector and boot manager for your XP if there is one. However, XP doesn't usually use a boot manager.


    my siggy,
    I may not use the software on a daily basis, but the people who pay me probably use it once every few minutes. You don't have to own it to really own it... You just have to be good at your job.
     

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