Deleting a VM: does it also delete the OS?

A

Argelius

Junior Member
I need to start from scratch with my OS (WINXP) running in Parallels, due to an intractable spyware problem :mad:

This isn't a big deal for me, since I have little installed in Windows and have no data or anything I need to save.

My question: if I delete my Virtual Machine, does that also take the OS along with it (which is what I'm hoping)?

Thanks!
 
A little added hint: Since you will probably have to activate again to prove you aren't a criminal in Microsoft's eyes, when you get XP installed, immediately update it using Windows update, then make a copy of your .hdd file (which contains your virtual hard disk). Then the next time you have to trash the VM, just replace the .hdd file with a copy of your copy and you'll be back where you started with activation intact, and no need to spend time installing and updating.
 
joem said:
A little added hint: Since you will probably have to activate again to prove you aren't a criminal in Microsoft's eyes, when you get XP installed, immediately update it using Windows update, then make a copy of your .hdd file (which contains your virtual hard disk). Then the next time you have to trash the VM, just replace the .hdd file with a copy of your copy and you'll be back where you started with activation intact, and no need to spend time installing and updating.
Click to expand...

This is such an important truth that it should be a check box on the vm install, and it should be pre-checked.

dp
 
Could not agree more.

Before I do ANYTHING major, like installing operating system upgrades, new software, compacting disk etc.

I always close down Windows and copy my whole Parallels VM to my backup disk so I can restore simply by copying it back.

In fact I make a backup copy this way every weekend and keep at least 4 copies going back 4 weeks 'just in case'.

The I have lost count of the number of times this saved me when I was running VPC.

Robin
 
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