Installing Parallels and XP on external HDD

[gstephens]

Can Parallels and Windows XP both be installed on a portable external harddrive (USB)? Are there any disadvantages of doing this assuming that it is possible?

Thanks!

 

[constant]

.
Parallels is tied to the OS with kernel hooks, so this is not possible. Unless you have the whole host OS on the external drive as well.

You could have XP in a virtual disk on the external. However you would need parallels installed on each mahine you plug it into.
.

 

[gstephens]

Thanks - just to clarify are you saying that I need Parallels on the same drive as OSX, but that I can put Windows on the external?

 

[constant]

.
That's correct. On install, you are asked to provide a location for the virtual hard disk to install Windwoes into. Just select the external drive.
.