Install Windows on a partition via Parallels

[AstouS]

Hello all!

I would to install Windows 8 on my MacBook Pro. I know that if I use Parallels, Windows will be running on a virtual machine. However I already have a partition for Windows on my Mac and I would like to install Windows on that partiton. I wanted to know how to do so using Parallel. Is there a way I can get Parallels to install Windows 8 on my existing partition instead of running it on a VM, or do I have to use another tool. Or is it possible to install Parallels on that separate partition and run Windows from there? Thank you for your help.

 

[Kathleen R]

Is that a Bootcamp partition?

If it is a Bootcamp partition & you want to use it you can install Windows in the Bootcamp partition. You should then be able to set up Bootcamp as a VM in Parallels. I did that w Win 7 in Bootcamp & using it as a VM in Parallels 5. But probably NOT a good idea to try to have Parallels install Windows in a partition. You may not need the partition & may be able to use Bootcamp Asst to remove the partition & just set it up as a VM using Parallels.

I have now upgraded to Mountain Lion so needed to upgrade Parallels so purchased & installed Parallels 8. But this time around I do not need to run Windows 7 native so I used Bootcamp Asst to remove Bootcamp partition & reformat that part of the drive. & I am preparing to set up a new VM by installing Windows 7 directly in Parallels using the Parallels Wizard.

I'm assuming this should work the same w Win8.

Do you need to run Windows native? 1 drawback w having it in Bootcamp is that the partition is fixed & mine was set up 50 50. Since I wasn't ever using Windows that much I didn't need to give Windows that much space.

I originally needed to run Windows native since I was dealing w co tech support that said they didn't support Mac. & they didn't guarantee it would run on a Mac. So I figured the best chance of dealing w that was to run it native.

I no longer need that as the co has gone to web based, platform independent programs. So I will just be using it as a virtual machine.

So I'm not a techie,but while there are certain things where having Windows installed natively in Bootcamp (as though it was installed on a Windows computer), probably for most situations you don't need that & can just run it as a VM in Parallels. At least that is my understanding. & apparently Parallels has additional functionality if it is done that way according to some of their tech people who helped as I was considering the purchase of the upgrade & just how to do it all.