Automatically start Windows XP

Discussion in 'Windows Virtual Machine' started by jhdiscenza, Jul 10, 2008.

  1. jhdiscenza

    jhdiscenza Junior Member

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    How does one set Parallels for Mac 3.0 so that Windows XP will start automatically?
     
  2. Specimen

    Specimen Product Expert

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    3,236
    Add the VM alias to the login items (System Preferences > Accounts).
     
  3. jhdiscenza

    jhdiscenza Junior Member

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    11
    VM Alias?

    Which file needs to be aliased? I do not find anything like that.
     
  4. Specimen

    Specimen Product Expert

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    It doesn't have to be an alias, really, it only has to point to the VM .pvs file alias or directly, so, since that when you create a VM Parallels generates an alias (shortcut) to the .pvs file right on the desktop, I thought it would be simpler to point you to that.

    What's a .pvs/alias file, you ask.
    It's the damn thing that starts the VM when you click on it.
     
  5. jhdiscenza

    jhdiscenza Junior Member

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    11
    Thanks, that's clear now. However, I notice that the original file is in ~/Documents/Parallels and not in /Applications. so how about another user on the system? Can I just move that Parallels folder to /Applications?
     
  6. John@Parallels

    John@Parallels Forum Maven

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    No, it is link(original file) which associated with Application/Parallels, if you move this to
     
  7. jhdiscenza

    jhdiscenza Junior Member

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    Your reply was terminated after "move this to..."
     
  8. John@Parallels

    John@Parallels Forum Maven

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    No, it is link(original file) which associated with Application/Parallels, but Parallels folders in Documents is placeholder for Virtual machines, and it is predetermined place,
     
  9. Specimen

    Specimen Product Expert

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    You can move the Parallels folder to /Users/Shared (which is accessible to everyone) and then set the 'Default folder for virtual machines' (in Parallels>Preferences>General) to the new location, you can (and should) later tighten the security of Parallels folder by removing read and write support to 'everyone' and add users individually (using Finder's 'Get Info').
     
  10. jhdiscenza

    jhdiscenza Junior Member

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    11
    That worked. Interestingly, it actually copied the Parallels folder to Shared.
     
  11. jhdiscenza

    jhdiscenza Junior Member

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    11
    Startup alert

    I now get a startup alert telling me that not all the drivers have started and I should wait. That is unacceptable, since (1) this is a real time system and (2) I am using a touch screen and since the touch screen drivers are also not installed, I can't even press the OK button. Any ideas?

    Joe
     
  12. John@Parallels

    John@Parallels Forum Maven

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    Remove alias from desktop, it is corrupted and drag Applications/Parallels/Parallels Desktop in Dock
     
  13. Specimen

    Specimen Product Expert

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    3,236
  14. jhdiscenza

    jhdiscenza Junior Member

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    auto-start

    At 2 GHZ, everything is real time. However, that's not the point. This is supposed to be a system that operates like a kiosk: if the system experiences a power failure, it's supposed to come back up running. That can't happen if there's some alert that has to be answered (especially if there's no keyboard!).

    Still, any ideas?
     
  15. Specimen

    Specimen Product Expert

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    The technical definition of Real-Time isn't about CPU speed it's about delivering results at the expected time, so be careful when using terms like that, specially in a virtualized environment which would be the worst for Real-Time or 'apparent' Real-Time.

    Running a kiosk on a virtual machine?? And considering there's no Apple branded hardware with touchscreens (except the iPhone and the iTouch) seems even more puzzling. It begs to ask, why not run Windows natively on this odd hardware, it seems OS X in this situation is just a layer of lard.
     
  16. John@Parallels

    John@Parallels Forum Maven

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    Did you perform my suggestions?
     
  17. jhdiscenza

    jhdiscenza Junior Member

    Messages:
    11
    Startup Issues

    The Parallels alias is not on the desktop of the default user but is in the dock.

    The alert says, "Parallels Desktop is unable to operate properly since it cannot communicate with one of its drivers. Try to restart the application to overcome this issue. If restart doesn't help, re-install Parallels Desktop. Note that Parallels drivers require a short time to be properly started and initialized. So you may need to wait a minute before trying to start the application."

    This indicates to me that it may not be practical to make Parallels a login application at all. I may just forget about auto-start and concentrate on overcoming the communications problem that requires Windows in the first place. That's probably the best answer.

    Joe
     
  18. John@Parallels

    John@Parallels Forum Maven

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    Remove this from Dock, and put pvs file in dock from Virtual Machine folder, or Parallels Desktop Application
     
  19. jhdiscenza

    jhdiscenza Junior Member

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    11
    Success!

    That fixed the auto start problem -- Thank you.
     

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