Install on external HD?

I got a MBP (256 GB SSD) and an external HD (500 GB) with USB connection. What I want to do is creating a virtual machine on that hard disk to run Windows there. What I don't want is sacrifying space at my precious SSD for Windows.

So I downloaded the trial of P8, but the setup doesn't let me choose a volume. Isn't it possible to install the container on another drive? I thought Parallels kinda works like virtual box.

 

You need to install Parallels Desktop application on your SSD (in will take 780.3 MB) and then you can create a virtual machine on the external HD.
Please refer the 'How to install Windows virtual machine' article: http://kb.parallels.com/4729
(you can select the location of the virtual machine in the point #5).

 

I have the same situation. I want the windows VM off my SSD but I have already installed it. How can I move the VM to an external HD after I have already installed it on my SSD?
Thanks

 

just move the VM to the drive you want. and open it from there. i run most of my VMs from an external drive. parallels doesn't care where the VM itself it located.

1. shut down parallels if it's currently running.
2. locate the virtual machine.
a. open the virtual machines list (Window Menu Bar Item -> Virtual Machines List)
b. right-click (control+click) the virtual machine
c. select "Show In Finder"
3. Drag the .pvm virtual machine file to the new location
4. Double-click the .pvm file.
5. If it asks if the virtual machine was moved or copied, select "Moved"

You can set the default location for new Virtual Machines in parallels preferences.

 

Thanks so much.

Joseph