RAM settings for Windows 7

Hi:

I'm using Parallels 4 on a Macbook with 2GB RAM at 2GHz running Leopard 10.5.8. I want to set up a Windows 7 Professional Virtual Machine, but have a couple of questions:

1. Should I use the 32-bit or the 64-bit version? I have the disks for both, but thought since the amount of memory isn't huge I might be better off with 32 bit.

2. How do I allocate the RAM for the Virtual Machine. Since I'm uncertain about using Boot Camp to boot directly into Windows 7 (because it's apparently not supported in this version of Boot Camp) I think I'll have to share RAM between the two OSes, right? Or can I just assign all of the RAM to the VM? What would be optimum?

3. Are there any other outstanding issues related to 7 Pro VMs? Can I get by with assigning 60 GB disk space. I think that's about all I can afford on a 250 GB drive, but I might be able to clear a little more space.

 

This completely depends on the Mac OS configuration. From what you have provided, I would also suggest a 32-bit one.
However, you can actually try both of them.

As long as you run Windows through Parallels (which means - from the Mac OS side), the RAm would have to be shared.
Check the documentation on how to set up the memory:
http://download.parallels.com/desktop/v4/docs/en/Parallels_Desktop_Users_Guide/22626.htm
And make sure that some RAM is left for the Mac OS to work properly.

Just make sure that the virtual hard disk is expanding:
http://download.parallels.com/desktop/v4/docs/en/Parallels_Desktop_Users_Guide/22437.htm
This will make it possible to increase it later if would be needed.

 

Thanks. It is expanding. Some odd stuff happened during the installation, but seems to be working OK. For some reason in hung up when I entered my product key. After trying it several times I just erased it and hit "next" and it just went on with the installation. Not sure why that happened.