Couple newbie questions on importing Windows XP to my mac

[StevenMiles]

Hi,

I want to run Windows XP on my MacBook, so I can stop using my old IBM Thinkpad. First of all, if I import Windows XP onto my Mac, don't I now have two Windows XP installations? Do I need another Windows license? Do I buy another Windows XP installation disk?

Also, I'm confused, in browsing the information, whether I need BootCamp in order to run Parallels. I thought Parallels would allow me both OS's, and I can just leave BootCamp alone if I'm purchasing Parallels.

In Finder, or Windows Explorer, can I see the files in the *other* OS's area of the disk, to easily move files from the Mac area to the Windows area, and vice versa?

I promise I looked for answers to these, but didn't find. Thanks.
--Steve

 

[joevt]

Read the license agreement to find out if you're allowed to install Windows to more than one computer. I think Parallels is usually used so you can get rid of the old computer.

You only need Boot Camp if you don't have Parallels or if you want to boot your Mac into Windows for better performance with more usable RAM and better graphics.

You can open your virtual machine with Parallels Mounter (right click the virtual machine and select "Open With") to access the virtual machine's hard disk in the Finder. Parallels has an option to do that automatically when the virtual machine is running. Use the Parallels Shared Folder feature to use Mac files in Windows.

Use the Parallels Desktop help menu to get more info. The same documentation is available at http://www.parallels.com/products/desktop/technical-documentation/ in PDF form. The User Guide is also available in HTML form at http://download.parallels.com/desktop/v6/docs/en/Parallels_Desktop_Users_Guide/