Installing Parallels, Updating and Installing Windows

[mcmaiering]

I have bought parallels for my macbook. OSX 10.5.4, 4GB RAM, 2.4GHz... I have successfully installed parallels but ran into problems when trying to install XP. I get to the last stage and it does not read the disk. It was suggested to me that I should update parallels first but when i open the program it wants to set up the VM and will not let me check for updates... No idea what I should do and would welcome any help provided.

 

[John@Parallels]

What is build version?
What is error?
Did you perform installation of Windows XP?

 

[mcmaiering]

I found out how to do it... The trick was not to use the windows express, but the full installation setting. I now have windows XP running on my mac! Fantastic!

 

[mcmaiering]

New question. How do I install Parallels Tools in windows XP?

 

[John@Parallels]

Parallels Desktop for Mac user guide from http://www.parallels.com/en/download/file/doc/Parallels_Desktop_for_Mac_User_Guide.pdf on page 89

 

[mcmaiering]

Ok... New problem... My parents bought me windows Vista... Its an upgrade version and complains that my computer is not ACPI compliant and i need a bios update... I would also like to know why i cant make my virtual hard disk any bigger than 30GB... help??

 

[John@Parallels]

Parallels Desktop -Actions - Prepare Windows Upgrade

 

[mcmaiering]

thanks... much appreciated...

 

[mcmaiering]

Smaller problem... vista is complaining bout my video card not supporting hardware acceleration... can i turn this on somehow?? also still wondering about how to make my virtual hard disk bigger because there is definately more space on the physical hard disk...

 

[Parallels User]

You can turn on 'DirectX Shaders' support in the Preferences of your VM, in the 'Video' section, but not all hardware accelerated functions will be available, more specifically, the Aero Glass effects will not be possible under Parallels (it requires Pixel Shader 2.0 support from Parallels Video Drivers).