Parallels

[mcooper]

MacBook Pro (Intel Duo) newly upgraded by doing a fresh install of OSX 10.5.4.
Licensed version of Parallels, Build 5608.
I had been using a VM of Windows XP Professional on Tiger, and I moved the .hdd over to the new installation, created a new VM, told it to use the old .hdd (same build of Parallels on the Tiger), and then unchecked the "start installation" box. The VM works fine (except for the problems that I had on Tiger before, like the double mouse, etc.).

Problem:

When I look at "About Parallels Desktop" and then click "More info...", under "Virtual Machine Features," it reads "Virtualization Mode: Off". When I look at the settings for the WinXP virtual machine, under Options -> Advanced, "Enable Intel VT-x support" is checked.

The VM seems to run slower than it did before (on Tiger). So am I getting Intel VM support or not?

 

[John@Parallels]

When VM is just starting and passing BIOS and guest bootloader it works in "Software mode 0". And only after 3-4 seconds it switches to "Intel VT-x".

It happens because Intel doesn't support VT-x for real CPU mode and we are bound to pass real mode in software virtualization mode. Once guest OS is switches to protected CPU mode VM switches to "Intel VT-x" mode.

Bottom line: during first 3-4 seconds after VM start you could see "Software mode 0" in About even if VT is enabled. In that case just wait a little and check About again.

PS: For real mode OSes like MS-DOS VT-x won't switches at all.