How to transfer a PC onto virtual machine

This must be a frequent question but I can't find an answer. I have a working (but old) Dell PC running Windows NT and a few apps (especially Quickbooks and an oldish version of AutoCAD, all legally owned). I want to install Parallels on an iMac and move the PC, lock, stock, and operating system, over to the Mac. What I want to avoid is reinstalling Windows and the applications and move all the user data (which is lord-knows-where on the old machine).

I know exactly how to do this kind of thing on a Mac but am getting no simple answers for a Windows installation.

 

MoeR,

You can import your data using one of the following:

* Parallels USB cable: If you have Parallels Desktop 7 Switch to Mac Editionâ„¢, you can use the included Parallels USB cable. This is the simplest way to import your data. The Windows PC and your Mac must be close to one another.
* Network: If both the Windows PC and your Mac are connected to a network, you can import your data over the network.
* External storage device: You can transfer the data from a Windows PC to an external storage device, such as an external hard drive. Then, you can connect the device to your Mac and import your data into Parallels Desktop.

Taken from the user guide:

http://download.parallels.com/deskt...n_US/Parallels Desktop User's Guide/33020.htm

I think you will find the answer there.

 

Hello,

I have PD 8, followed the guide using parallels transporter on the PC, then following the steps to 'migrate windows from a PC' doing it over network, the copy process finished (it didn't ask for a windows CD at any stage) when it finished.. all I got was a DOS window complaining it had no OS to boot up.

As far as I have read there is nothing about what to do if you get a DOS screen with an error instead it only says it will boot up windows then you install parallels tools..

I mean you cant really stuff up the wizard, it asks questions and you just press next, next...

The only option I changed is that I de-selected the D drive of the PC that is a second physical HDD i didn't want the data from. The main boot drive was ticked..

It's like it copied all my data over to a VM but with no OS to boot the VM with.

I mean I can while it has the DOS screen up mount a Windows disc or image to the VM and it will boot the setup but I get an option to 'upgrade' which of course wont let you, it asks you to remove the disc, image and reboot so it boots off the HDD but then i'm back to the DOS screen where i started, or 'custom' which of course trys to install Windows 7 fresh and wipes all data..

Any ideas?

All the guides seems to suggest it just works but my first attempt did not, i'm trying again now, The PC has Windows 7.. It has not asked for a Windows cd at all yet, its copying data like last time.. It seems as though its copying data to a VM with no OS again so I feel it will do the same thing as last time...

edit: Tried again, this time making sure antivirus is off on Windows 7 PC etc, exact same thing, copies everything and when it goes to boot the VM it gets a dos screen 'no boot device is available' and VM doesn't boot. It never asked for a Windows cd at any stage, dammit