Parallels help!!! Can't run Mac applications

[TheLazyC]

After installing Parallels, it has completely taken over everything, it has changed all the file associations with all my Mac programs.

I need help. I am trying to install a Mac program and it cranked up my Windows 7 desktop, closed it and closed Parallels and when I try to run the application it will not start, says it cannot run DOS application.

 

[megavolt17]

The only time installing or running something should start Parallels is if the program is associated with Windows. Typically .exe and things like that can't run on the Mac so it starts Parallels for you. On occasion I've saved PDF files from a program and somehow they became associated with Adobe Reader (which I don't use on the Mac side). Double clicking would start Parallels, Windows then Adobe Reader.

If you right click on the item in question (or click it and then or use the menu) you can select what you want the program to open with. This way you could use Preview to open a file that insists on using Adobe Reader to open it.

You can also select "Get Info" and see the attributes of the file. Here you can see what will be used to open/run it if you double click it. You can then change the program associated with it, or the program associated with that file type (change all).