Backup Windows Image to a DVD?

loper9 · Dec 7, 2007

I don't need any Windows documents backed up, nor do I especially want daily automated, sequential Retrospect (or TimeMachine etc.) backups of my Parallels and XP environment. Now that Parallels+XP is working the way I want, I would like one quick and easy way to revert back to this starting point if something goes wrong. Given Windows updates, etc., I might update this image quarterly, not weekly-- I was hoping I could burn some file to a DVD.

Is there one single data file of Parallels on my Mac that I can archive and then easily restore the Windows environment if something gets corrupted? Is this user>library>parallels folder sufficient or do I need to archive something more?

Do you think I'd need to keep a backup of the appropriate Parallels Build to go along with that archived Windows image? Because if my Parallels software became corrupted after it had been updated to a later build, the current version available online might not open the older (out of sync) Windows image? Thanks.

Alicia · Dec 7, 2007

Hello,

you can make backups of your VM using Snapshots (feature of Parallels Desktop): just create a new snapshot every time you like your machine condition and when you need it. and after that you will be able to revert back to any of your saved good configurations of the VM.
You can back up the .hdd file of your VM from the Mac side every time you need as well.

Best regards,
Alicia.

loper9 · Dec 8, 2007

Thank you, Alicia. I'll try it.

Ephra · Dec 9, 2007

How can I do this when I'm using my BC partition for parallels?

Second question:
I want to ditch the BC-thing. I don't need it and I much prefer to use a feature like snapshot.
But I surely do not want to lose my VM using BC: My Bootcamp.pvs
How can I transport or migrate my VM using BC to a pure VM? Is there easy and step by step documentation?

brkirch · Dec 9, 2007

Ephra said:
How can I do this when I'm using my BC partition for parallels?

Snapshots aren't supported with a Boot Camp partition, so you would need to use another program (I recommendWinClone) to create a backup.

Ephra said:
Second question:
I want to ditch the BC-thing. I don't need it and I much prefer to use a feature like snapshot.
But I surely do not want to lose my VM using BC: My Bootcamp.pvs
How can I transport or migrate my VM using BC to a pure VM? Is there easy and step by step documentation?

Fortunately there is a program included with Parallels that makes this easy: Parallels Transporter. Simply install Parallels Transporter 3.0 for Windows on your Boot Camp partition, and open Parallels Transporter (located in your Parallels Desktop folder) while the Boot Camp VM is still running. Select to do a transfer "From another computer", then select your connection type as "Network Connection". Provided that Parallels Transporter Agent is running on the Boot Camp VM in the background, you should see a source computer available to select and then your Boot Camp partition should be automatically transferred into a virtual disk in a new VM.

Ephra · Dec 9, 2007

Oh, that would be great! -I thougt Transporter did not support BC-partition-
And will all my data and wndows software be intact?

Thanx a lot brkirch

Ephra · Dec 9, 2007

just for my own clearness:
"install transporter for windows on your BC-partition"
You mean boot in with BC and install there or do you mean start my VM using BC and then install?

brkirch · Dec 9, 2007

Ephra said:
Oh, that would be great! -I thougt Transporter did not support BC-partition-

It didn't use to, support for Boot Camp partitions in Transporter was added in build 5582. Although for some reason I was able to get Transporter to work with Boot Camp partitions with much earlier builds, it just wasn't officially supported.

Ephra said:
And will all my data and wndows software be intact?

Yes, the virtual disk will be identical to your current Boot Camp partition, except features like snapshots and Parallels Compressor will be supported.

Ephra said:
Thanx a lot brkirch

No problem, let me know how it works out.

Edit:

Ephra said:
just for my own clearness:
"install transporter for windows on your BC-partition"
You mean boot in with BC and install there or do you mean start my VM using BC and then install?

Just start your Boot Camp VM. It doesn't matter which you install from, but just using the VM will save you some time.

Ephra · Dec 9, 2007

Ok, I'm going to do so and report later! *exited*

Ephra · Dec 9, 2007

o no, there's something wrong. It asks express (recommended) migration mode or advanced.
Chose express. Then chose from another computer. [there was no 'network connection' selection to choose by the way]; Agent was running and then this:

also when I choose the other option

Now what!.. I don't understand, free some space?
I got a imac 2.4, 3GB, 320 HD (56 used) and bc partition 32 GB, half of it is used.

brkirch · Dec 9, 2007

Ephra said:
o no, there's something wrong. It asks express (recommended) migration mode or advanced.
Choose express. Then choose from another computer. Agent is running and then this:

also when I choose the other option

Now what!.. I don't understand, free some space?
I got a imac 2.4, 3GB, 320 HD and bc partition 32 GB, half of it is used.

Don't worry, you simply are using the wrong Parallels Transporter application. There is one on the Mac side in the Parallels Desktop folder. Use that instead of the Parallels Transporter application in Windows (you only needed to install Parallels Transporter in Windows for the Parallels Transporter Agent, don't use the Transporter application itself in Windows).

Ephra · Dec 9, 2007

..O! hahaha!
Will try again on 'the good side'

Ephra · Dec 9, 2007

Did it *hooray!* Took some time; had a few errors during migration, but fixed those. Great! It looks to me this is better/more stable/bit faster, is that usually the case?

Few Q'tions for next or final step(s)
-Are there some configurations settings I have to change now? Like memory? And are there some things I have to think of that are different?

-What are the steps to be taken to ditch the My bootcamp VM and to delete/repare the BC-partition and give my HD the space back/make it one again? What is the best thing to do?

thanks!

brkirch · Dec 9, 2007

Ephra said:
Did it *hooray!* Took some time; had a few errors during migration, but fixed those. Great! It looks to me this is better/more stable/bit faster, is that usually the case?

No idea, I haven't done much with a migrated Boot Camp partition, I've just tried it to see if it could be done.

Ephra said:
Few Q'tions for next or final step(s)
-Are there some configurations settings I have to change now? Like memory? And are there some things I have to think of that are different?

You can just use the same settings as you were using before. The only significant difference between having a migrated Boot Camp VM and actual Boot Camp VM is that with a migrated VM you can take snapshots, suspend, and compact your virtual disk to regain unused space. And you can't boot your computer directly into a VM of course, but I think you knew that already.

Ephra said:
-What are the steps to be taken to ditch the My bootcamp VM and to delete/repare the BC-partition and give my HD the space back/make it one again? What is the best thing to do?

thanks!

Unless you are worried that you might someday want to restore your Boot Camp partition to its current state, you can just open Boot Camp Assistant and choose to delete the partition. If you would like to keep a backup in case you decide later you want restore your Boot Camp partition, just use Winclone.

Ephra · Dec 10, 2007

thanks very much for all yr help!