Where is XP hiding on my Mac?

B

bozobalblo

Bit poster
Apologies if this has been asked many a time before but I tried searching the forums and I failed!

I installed XP Pro on my new Macbook a long time back and wanted to install Vista. However, I wanted to locate exactly where XP is hiding on my Mac (I did not make a separate partition for it).

What do I look for and where will I find it please?
 
The Parallels virtual machine is in a folder in your home directory. Older versions put it in Library/Parallels while newer versions put it in Documents/Parallels. The Parallels folder will contain another folder for each VM and these are named for the virtual machine - often winxp is found there. In that folder is a winxp.hdd file which is the entire Windows virtual machine, and there is a winxp.pvs file which is a text file that tells Parallels some things about the virtual machine. Your version may also have a winxp.mem file, and there will be an icons directory and perhaps other files depending on what configuration choices you have made.

In your version it is not possible to browse the virtual hard disk file (winxp.hdd). Version 3 has an explorer that runs in the Mac that does let you browse the VM.
 
Thanks DKP, I found it were you said in the library/Parallels folder (doh!)

You mentioned in your post that the other virtual machines would be in there if they were installed (eg ubuntu?). Do you know if it possible to install a version of Vista whilst not over-writing XP. I can get a copy of Vista from work but I'm not sure if I want to remove XP as I know my way around that OS...

thanks for the help
 
bozobalblo said:
Thanks DKP, I found it were you said in the library/Parallels folder (doh!)

You mentioned in your post that the other virtual machines would be in there if they were installed (eg ubuntu?). Do you know if it possible to install a version of Vista whilst not over-writing XP. I can get a copy of Vista from work but I'm not sure if I want to remove XP as I know my way around that OS...

thanks for the help
Click to expand...

If you have disk space available and a license for Vista you can create a new virtual machine. I started with the most recent version of 2.X and then upgraded to Version 3.0 of Parallels. I'm not sure about this, but you may want to bring Parallels up to date before working with Vista.

To create a new Virtual machine in versions 2 & 3 of Parallels do the following:
Start Parallels
Select File and then New. After that follow the prompts and you will create a new Virtual Machine. I haven't set up Vista, but this worked for Ubuntu, Windows XP and Windows 2003 server.

You can create as many virtual machine as you need and have licenses for as long as you have space for them. You can also clone existing virtual machines to create backups. You should be able to download the manual in PDF form. Check this url:
http://www.parallels.com/en/products/desktop/documentation/

Good Luck
Sculler
 
Sculler is correct. The only limit is disk space. If you have a very powerful system with lots of ram you can run multiple vm's concurrently and efficiently. I think with Windows XP and Vista you'll be bumping into issues with licensing if you install multiple copies and re-use the same key, but with Linux, Solaris, etc., you can legally run concurrently, no worries.
 
Thanks guys - I've installed the version Vista my employer gave me. No problems there, although I can't seem connect to the internet. It's like Vista can't detect my network hardware.

This is strange as my old XP can. I went into the VM setup and tried to match the configs up(ie bridged ethernet option selected). Not sure if this is the right or wrong thing to do really.

I'm using a 2 ghz Intel Macbook Core Duo, 80gb drive, 2 gb ram, trying to connect with airport
 
bozobalblo said:
Thanks guys - I've installed the version Vista my employer gave me. No problems there, although I can't seem connect to the internet. It's like Vista can't detect my network hardware.

This is strange as my old XP can. I went into the VM setup and tried to match the configs up(ie bridged ethernet option selected). Not sure if this is the right or wrong thing to do really.

I'm using a 2 ghz Intel Macbook Core Duo, 80gb drive, 2 gb ram, trying to connect with airport
Click to expand...

Vista ignores your network hardware. More accurately it is unaware your hardware exists. It sees only the emulated hardware presented to it via Parallels. Did Parallels Tools install properly?
 
Once again, thanks dkp - I had not installed Parallels Tools for Vista (had done it for my XP virtual machine). Once I did, everything works as it should. Much appreciated
 
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