Hi, I'm plan to install Bootcamp and Parallels 7 on my new mac mini, but I just want confirmation that I am doing it properly according to the official PDF instructions on this website. 1) Install Windows on Bootcamp 2) Install anti-virus program 3) Boot into OSX and go with Parallels 7 instructions to load VM from Bootcamp. 4) Follow instructions on importing from Bootcamp. Questions: 1) Will Windows always be synced between PD7 and Bootcamp? -For example, if I go back and install Firefox on Bootcamp AFTER importing from Bootcamp using PD7, would I be able to see Firefox on PD7 virtual machine? 2) This question is off topic, but how do we install windows drivers using PD7? Does Parallels Tools do the job or do I have to go to Microsoft Update manually and install the drivers. Sorry, I'm new to all this. Thanks for your help!
Oops, just realized I posted on the wrong thread. Mod, please move my thread to the WINDOWS as a guest OS thread, thank you!!
You have two options, you can either use the Windows Bootcamp as a Virtual Machine, or transfer (importing) a Windows Bootcamp to a Virtual Machine. The first option uses your bootcamp partition as a VM, so whatever programs you install, whatever files you create copy or delete, it will always in sync between Parallels VM and native bootcamp, because in reality they are both writing and using the same Hard disk 'real' partition. The second option is importing the bootcamp windows installation, this means making a copy of it into a virtual hard disk, and from that moment on you have two distinct windows installations that don't sync with each other. In relation to hardware drivers, on the first option (using a windows bootcamp installation), you should deal with the real (as opposed to virtual) hardware (install, upgrade, remove, add, etc...) drivers natively in bootcamp (restart mac, boot into Windows natively). And the virtual drivers (Parallels Tools, the drivers necessary to smooth the experience while running the VM in Parallels) via Parallels.
are there clear instructions somewhere on how to do option 2, thx! I guess after option 2 is complete, one can blow away the BC partition, yes?
