hdd migration to Workstation 2.2 possible?

Hello!

My tried and tested iMac 24" with a couple of Parallels virtual machines in Parallels Desktop for Mac 3.0 will be replaced by a Windows PC. Therefore I would like to know if I can transfer .hdd files to the Parallels Windows Workstation product and continue using them there.

If yes, I d happily buy the Parallels Windows Workstation 2.2 and continue using my .hdd files without much hassle.

If not, I have to use some transfer-technology like ghost or p2vm or the like to migrate the mac .hdd images to (most likely) VMware free server.

Any info will be helpful,

Regards

 

Hello Philipp,

You should uninstall Parallels Tools on your Parallels Desktop VM, then convert the .hdd with Image Tool. For PD 2.0 you would not even have to convert the virtual hard disk - it could be used in Workstation directly.

Best regards,
Xenos

 

Hello Xenos!

This is good news. I just checked, in Image Tool there is an option to convert to the old format - I think you refered to this functionality.

When the Windows box arrives I'll download the Windows Trial and give it a try.

Thank you,

Regards

 

Hello!

> When the Windows box arrives I'll download the Windows Trial and give it a try.

Well my new pc did arrive, and using the method of 1) uninstalling parallels tools 2) converting .hdd back to old image format 3) transfer to Windows version 2.2 4) install parallels tools again my transfered images (Windows XP SP2, and a Windows 2000 Visual Studio Testbed) worked for about 2 days.

Then right after adding 2 more monitors to my box - now I have 3 here, with 2 graphics cards inside, that were there already Parallels Workstation 2.2 has stopped working. Launching the application works, but when I start it I get an error from Vista saying "Parallels Workstation 2.2 doesnt work any longer. The program was closed due to some problem and you will be notified upon a solution when available".

Since unplugging the 2 monitors didnt help I ended up with 2 non working vm's. :-(

Luckily I still have the iMac around, so I could install the VMWare Converter in these vm's and thus transfer the images to the free VMWare Server 1.05 on this pc here, where they work fine now after installing the VMWare Tools.

I'm still in the trial period of Workstation 2.2, do you have an idea why after adding 2 monitors and extending the desktop to them Parallels Workstation 2.2 stopped working?

I know from experience after about 50 Free-VMServer installs in my company that it works fine for servers but that USB/Firewire support etc. is all very limited. Since this is my desktop pc I would also would like to have a desktop virtualization product, where plugging in a digital camera, usb stick, harddisk and cellphone and usb headset for VoiP is common.

Regards

 

Hello Philipp,

Parallels Workstation video memory is currently limited by 8 MB only. That is why you encounter the issue with two monitors. Please sorry for the inconvenience caused.

Our server (the beta is available) supports 32 MB of video memory.
In the new version of Workstation the video memory size will be increased too.

Best regards,
Xenos