If your only copy of WINDOWS is one that came installed on a PC (i.e., you have both a PC and a Mac), what ways are there to get a copy of WINDOWS that can be used as a virtual machine within Parallels on the Mac? Thanks.
Hello RK77, If you have a Windows PC, and you want to migrate it, along with all its content, to a Parallels Desktop for Mac virtual machine follow steps suggested at http://kb.parallels.com/115007 and prior to this please refer http://kb.parallels.com/119172
Thanks. I had seen those articles. What wasn't clear was whether there is an option to migrate only the operating system and no other files. That is, can Parallels be instructed to migrate only Windows (including all supporting files necessary to make Windows run properly) but nothing else?
Hello Rk77 Before proceeding with migration, you can choose whether you want to migrate all your files and data or only Windows applications.You can also click Customize and select which Windows volumes to migrate. This information is mentioned at http://kb.parallels.com/115007 please refer it.
Thanks but I think you are still not understanding my question. It wasn't about moving Windows 'applications' or 'volumes.' I wanted to know only whether the necessary 'operating system' files to run Windows in a Parallels VM on a Mac can be designated for migration (i.e., the OS and not anything else). I don't believe the article you referred to makes that clear. So my question is whether Parallels can be told to migrate the OS (only) and then do that automatically. If it were necessary for me to choose which files to include in such a migration I would not have any idea how to do that. Again, I only want to migrate Windows (the OS only) from a PC to a Mac because I have no standalone copy of Windows from which to create a VM. I have only the copy that's on the PC. Thanks.
Hello, I know this topic is a bit old but I am in the same situation as OP. I might buy Parallels for my MacBook Pro but I wanted to know : if I migrate my Windows OS to Parallels, will I be able to use my PC after ? Thanks
Hello JeanD2, Migrating your Windows PC to Parallels Desktop will not affect any of your setup in the real PC. You can continue using your real PC as well.
Hi RK77, Windows OS alone cannot be migrated, migration process includes all the installed programs and user data. Customization option is only for user data (Choose whether you want to migrate all your files and data or only Windows applications)
