Persistent difficulty installing guest OS in VM

Hi,

I just bought a copy of Parallels Desktop for Mac, and I'm having absolutely no luck setting up the guest OS. I want to install Windows XP Home edition from a CD-ROM (pre-service pack 2). I've gone over the instructions in the quick start guide as well as the Parallels User Manual, but every time I attempt to install Windows (right after creating and configuring the virtual machine) the screen grays out and I get the following message:

"You need to restart your computer. Hold down the power button for several seconds or press the restart button."

I looked a the FAQs, and as far as I can tell there's nothing wrong with my iMac's DVD/CD-ROM combo drive. And the Windows XP bootable CD is a legit copy I got with a PC I bought a few years ago.

I even tried the alternate approach - using an .iso image file - but that got me right back to the same problem where I am left with absolutely no choice but to manually shut off the computer.

I would greatly appreciate some help with this because I have no idea where to go from here and would like to get started with the Parallels software as soon as possible. The computer I bought Parallels for is an Intel dual core iMac.

This is the first time installing software on a Mac for me; I just recently decided to switch to an iMac.

Thanx. I appreciate the replies.

dargaez

 

This is the Mac's screen going dark?

A few qeustions: what version of Parallels are you running? The verison in the box is quite old... The current stable is version 1970, while the bleeding edge is the latest RC. You can get the RC at the stickey post at the top of this forum. Older versions then 1970 (i.e. what is in the box) won't work on core2 duo machines.

 

persistent os installation problem in vm

Hi,

Thanks for the feedback.

I tried downlading an update to my version of parallels but I'm still where I started - nowhere basically.

Yes, the screen does fade to black everytime I try to power on the vm and proceed with the Windows XP set up. I also get the same message to manually shut down the computer as I described in my post.

My version of Parallels Desktop for Mac: Build 1842.2 (June 26, 2006). Is not current enough for the intel dual core iMacs then?

What are the latest RC and bleeding edge?

Still not sure how to proceed.

Thanx

Diego

 

Download 1970 from the update within Parallels, install it and you'll be fine. Anything later is beta and not for anyone who doesn't want to be a beta tester. Beta testing is best left to experienced folks who can handle the inevitable bugs.

 

Installed 1970 within parallels


Tried installing Windows XP in the vm after downloading the 1970 update, but I still get the same damn blacked out screen and message to manually shut down the computer.

How do I know if I properly installed the update? Is it done by rerunning the parallels installation
package right after downloading the update???

Still confused as heck; is Parallels Desktop for Mac not supposed to be used on intel dual core iMacs???

dargaez

 

I got the 1970 update, but I'm having the same problem - blacked out screen + no choice but to shut down; any other ideas?

 

bump bump bump

 

Do you get the black screen on your Mac when you try to install XP in your virtual session?

 

Yes, that's right. Do I need a driver for the Windos XP install CD? After looking at the quick start guide and the complete manual, I'm at a loss as to what's missing...

Thanx. replies appreciated.

 

bump bump bump

 

uninstall Parallels, reboot, then reinstall at least 1970 if not the new 3186