Installing problems

Just bought my first Apple, MacBook Pro.
I bought it because I was tired of all the PC problems but I still need some PC applications.

I can't get the guest OS (Windows XP) installed. When I get to the setup screen it asks me to hit ENTER, when I do nothing happens. I have tried for the last 3 hours and I am ready to throw this laptop and the software out the window.

If anyone can help please email me at [email protected]

Thanks

 

Dou you click inside the window where there guess OS is running? You need to click the VM window to switch focus to it, then your keyboard entries will be registered.

 

Closer but no cigar!

I tried again and clicked inside the VM window.
I was able to get all the way to I ACCEPT (License) page where it says if you accept press F8
I pressed F8 and again it did nothing like the keyboard was dead again. Then I am stuck, no mouse to close out of the software so I have to hard shut down or wahtever that is called.

Can you help?

God I hope so, this kind of stuff makes me nuts

 

On the Macbook Pro you have to hold the fn key to activate the F* keys as function keys, instead of their normal function. So hold the fn key (lower left of the keyboard) and click th F8 key.

 

Thanks very much

I feel pretty stupid.....
I cannot thank you enough, everything is working and I will sleep tonight.

 

another newbie

Don't know if this is a proper thread for me to join, but here goes:
I just bought a Mac mini with 2 gigs memory and 120 GB HDD. Am very confused by many OS 10.4.7 functions or lack of, but my biggest problem is not being able to install my old 98SE in a VM. The only reason I got the Mac was to be able to use 98SE, which is all that properly supports my obsolete Micrografx Picture Publisher 8 editing software. I get the "no boot device available, press Enter to continue" and can go no further. At the store where I bought the Parallels CD the tech guys connected an external floppy drive with the proper startup disk - still "no boot etc." So we tried to install ME - same thing, then tried XP - still the same, and ME and XP don't require a floppy. I've tried to get help from Parallels online, but just got a couple of one-sentence replies saying I need a floppy to install 98 - now they don't even answer, and I can't afford to spend $30 on a phone call to speak to a techie. I am deeply disgusted with my whole Parallels and Mac experience so far (the Mac tech support just tells me Parallels is a third-party vendor, and the two techies I've spoken to don't even know what Parallels is! (While the Apple website promotes the product!!!) If I can't get this solved soon, I am going to chuck the whole idea of VM's and buy Photoshop Elements with the refund, but I love my old editing program's easy interface, and dislike Adobe's very much. But that seems my only option if I can't use 98SE in a VM.

Heartfelt thanks to whoever takes the time to advise me.

 

Don,

Not sure if you saw the post above but once a VM starts up you have to click your mouse in it to make it active. Then you can press enter.

Until you have XP installed and Parallels tools you will not be able to get back out to Mac OS without doing CTRL+ALT which will deselect the mouse and keyboard and take you back to Mac OS.

Once XP is installed, run and install the Parallels tools (VM -> Install Parallels tools menu) and after that is done your mouse will be seamless and can move between Mac OS and windows automatically.

Mark

 

SE requires a floppy to boot. The floppy needs to be an image, including boot code, on your OSX disk, connected to your VM, and your VM boot order must be set to floppy first.

I've never installed 98, having gone from 3.11 directly to NT, then Win2k, but others have installed 98, and even 95 on Parallels. I would suggest, however, that if Win2k or XP will support your application, that you use one of those because the tools support is much better, and the OS is MUCH more stable.

The Win2k CD has boot files for making boot floppies, and if the 98SE disk has them as well, you can just copy them with the Finder, attach them one at a time (if there's more than one) and install that way.

If that doesn't work, google freedos, download the image, and boot from that. It has CD support so you can find the install program on the 98SE CD and run it. I'd be more specific, but I've never seen a 98SE disk.

Good luck.

 

Mylar,

Someone here has done a Win98 install. I know I've seen it. I would suggest you post a PRIMARY thread with the subject HELP on Win98SE install and see if you can capture the eye of the person that did it.

I'm sorry your favorite program stopped being supported. I hate it when that happens. On the flip side I left Win98 as soon as the shrink wrap was put on WinNT/WinXP... I hated 98 as it did some very bizarre things for me.

 

Thanks, Mark and joem - I'll pursue these possibilities with the Mac tech guy at the comp store tommorow night. At least I wont get myself frantic if nothing works, because I'm resigned to having to learn Photoshop eventually. If it has to be now, so be it.
Thanks again.
(actually, WinXP doesn't support the quick-view feature that I love in the old editing program - that's why I need 98....)

 

I just got a long set of instructions from Parallels support - it paid off to re-submit my questions. This time I got a tech guy who was willing to help, not like the first, who provided one vague sentence. Too bad good or bad support always boils down to the skills and courtesy of the person with whom we connect!

 

It's amazing how what you learn on always seems to be the "right" format - 98 made me weep in frustration many times, but since I've been using it for eight years, I feel bound to it. Time to break that bond, except maybe for editing...