How to migrate a laptop running Windows 11 into Parallels Desktop running on Mac Studio on M2 Ultra?

G

GezaG

Hi everyone.

I have to physical machines, a Dell laptop running Windows 11 and a new Mac Studio running on the M2 Ultra chip. I would like to use only the new Mac Studio with a Windows VM on it but with all the programs and settings I currently have on the Dell laptop. Direct migration is not possible, but how would one keep all the settings and purchased programs on the Dell laptop inside a VM running on Parallels inside the Mac Studio?
I read that from https://kb.parallels.com/123929 that migrating a machine into Parallels running Apple Chip is not possible.

How would you migrate the system settings and all the programs from the laptop into a VM on Parallels? I also have all the licenses for WIndows and MS Office, Adobe etc on my Laptop.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
You're right that direct migration from a Windows PC to a Parallels VM on an M2 chip isn't supported. However, you can manually transfer your important files and settings. Start by backing up your data from the Dell laptop using external storage or cloud services. For your programs, you'll need to reinstall them on the VM and use your licenses to activate them again. Make sure to keep a list of your activation keys handy!
 
Hi GezaG,

Migrating your Windows 11 setup from your Dell laptop to a Parallels VM on your Mac Studio is a bit tricky, but there are a couple of ways to approach it.

Since direct migration from physical to virtual machines isn't possible on Apple Silicon chips, you might want to start by creating a fresh Windows 11 VM in Parallels for your Mac Studio. Once that's set up, you can use tools like the Windows Backup & Restore feature or a third-party solution like Macrium Reflect to transfer your files and settings.

For installed programs, unfortunately, due to the hardware differences between your laptop and the M2 chip, you may need to reinstall them inside the VM. However, since you already have the licenses for Windows, MS Office, and Adobe, the reinstallation process should be smoother. Just make sure to deactivate the software on the Dell before you reinstall them in the VM to avoid license issues.

I'd also recommend checking the Parallels documentation on migration and Windows virtual machines, as they may have more detailed steps specific to your setup.

Good luck with the migration, and let us know if you need further help!
 
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