Running parallels

I have a MacBook Pro and I was thinking about partitioning it and installing Win7 so I could play some of my old games that I like. Anybody else do this? What do I need to have to do it, besides Win7?

 

You'll really want to run Bootcamp and set that up FIRST as a 'dual boot'.
Base the partition size on how much you really plan to use Windows.

THEN buy and install Parallels - it will automatically detect and integrate into your
Bootcamp installation, and will allow access to Windows programs while in OSX
(although a LOT slower than rebooting into Windows). You can set the system
resources (RAM) that Parallels uses when running Windows software. If you just
install under Parallels, you can't "dual boot" into Windows - some programs simply
won't run under a VM - I have several programs that won't so I often reboot into
Windows to run them.

Be warned however... Windows and Office installed under Bootcamp and registered,
will NOT be 'registered' under Parallels! You'll have to wait the 90 days until the
license key is removed from MS or call MS on the phone and deal with lots of red
tape getting them to free the key up since it is the same computer. I just waited
the 90 days and then hit 'activate' - the phone route went no where.

Good luck - I run XP and Linux in Bootcamp as well as Parallels on my MacBook and
all works quite well.

Jedi

 

+1

100% agree with your reasoning, and way to do it - But, given his "specs", does he even need Parallels? "Old games" are probably gonna run better in BC than a VM.....?

OTOH, Parallels does list a bunch of games that supposedly run "great" in their VM - Maybe check their site and see if your preferred games appear?

Also, is Win7 the best choice of OS for gaming? [I'll happily defer to others here ]

What are you running? - My old core duo MBP with Parallels 4 is "OK" - I haven't tried 5 yet btw....?

Cheers,
Ian

 

Hi Ian,

Just stuff like Publisher for Windows... kinda clunky with Parallels. I did notice on
a plane a couple days ago, that if I let Parallels STAY RUNNING that things work better
than when I try to launch something "on the fly". That might be it... I get annoyed
waiting for it all to get sorted, that I'd rather just reboot into XP and be done with it.
I'll start trying to let Parallels just 'run' - and see if it's any better. Note that it's not bad,
just clunkier than when in "native" XP mode.

My MacBook is a dual core, 13.3" 1.83 GHz 2GB RAM - nothing all that fancy. I'm sure a newer
Mac would work much better I'm sure. I think I have Parallels 5 - just bought it a few
months ago at Office Depot, and I'm quite sure it's the new version.

Linux under Parallels is a scream, speedwize, however.

Jedi

 

I don't think games are going to work very well in Parallels - native mode only
via Bootcamp I think would be best. I've tried Diablo II LOD in both modes -
native is MUCH MUCH better than Parallels. But I'm not a big gamer...

Jedi

 

So basically I just run bootcamp and can choose which OS to run at startup?

 

Yup. Hold down "option" when you turn it on ... you'll get an OS choice at that time.

Of course, you have to have a valid copy of Windows to do the Bootcamp bit...

That's about it. Parallels is a VM platform - run the other OS from within
OSX... with limitations. If you've done Bootcamp and then buy Parallels, Parallels
will find the Bootcamp partition and offer that as a choice when you're in OSX.

Jedi

 

What he said!

The unanswered Q remains, should the choice be Win7 or XP?..... [I don't do games at all, so have no skin in this game btw ]

Cheers,
Ian

 

Oh yeah! - It seems "happiest" if started and forgotten about - Then come back to it and start your Windows stuff - Then swap back but leave it running and a "restart" is much faster IME.

On the "old" H/W we're using (2G max, core duo ), OSX is noticeably slower as well, but not intolerably so - It was rebooting between the two that pissed me off more.....]

Cheers.
Ian

 

XP Pro... but I'm conservative. Haven't trusted MS much in the last few years...

Jedi

 

i have windows 7 ultimate edition running on two different macs. one has the windows 7 running in boot camp. the other machine runs it within vmware fusion. the advantage of using vmware fusion is that it allows both snow leopard and windows 7 to run concurrently, without having to reboot.