Hello All. I am a Mac user, who has not had a windows computer before. My situation is this, my wife has to do some work that requires her to use a windows computer (more specifically IE) so that she may login into a specific website, to do her data entry. My question is can I install "Windows XP Home SP3 OEM" once I have parallels 5 installed. I have been reading that I might have to have a ghost image first, before XP will install, is this correct ? Not really sure how to proceed with this. I have searched your forum, with no luck. So before I purchase Parallels 5 I need to know how to do the installation of Windows XP OEM or is there another option? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
hi can't really answer you're question - but I hope the answer is yes ! I have had to un-install SP3 because it kept crashing Parallels 4. Not sure how to proceed now as I need SP3. Hopefully Parallels 5 is more compatible with SP3 than Parallels 4 was.
I am also a Mac user and have installed multiple versions of Windows in version 5 without issue or any image necessary. The only thing you may run into is driver support depending on the CD install of XP you are working from but otherwise you should be good to go.
hi Just occurred to me - if you only need Windows so your wife can use IE, it may be worth exploring an alternative, which avoids the hassle and expense of installing Parallels and Windows. Firefox can "pretend" to be IE, which has overcome the problem for me in the past where certain websites have been (badly) designed to only work with IE. Jerry
Hi Gnarly and others, we do not guarantee smooth installation and operation of Windows XP OEM in Parallels Desktop virtual environment: http://kb.parallels.com/en/5129 However, you can obtain trial version of Parallels Desktop 5 and try to isntall to install OEM version of Windows XP.
Thanks for the info to all. jsd47 can you give me info on how I change Firefox to emulate IE. Not at my computer right now.
Thanks jsd47 I found what I assume you are talking about with "User Agent Switcher" I will get my wife to try it to see how it works for her. If this works that would save me a bunch of work.
For Parallels Team: What versions of Windows XP do you recommend? Only the OEM version of XP Home Edition is available at the local Micro Center and I hesitate to break the seal until I get some assurance. Cliff M
Hi, yes, its the 'User Agent Switcher'. From memory I think I had to download a free plug-in to get it. Let me know if it works !
