New user installation: I get two separate VMs and neither with my data

I was able to install Windows XP from its original CD onto my Mavericks system successfully. I (presumably) successfully migrated my data from my PC and have this on an external HD. Desktop 9 now however gives me TWO VMs, one called Windows XP and the other Windows XP (1). The former works but has none of my programs or data. The latter hangs up during upgrading / configuring, saying no boot device is available and that I will need to log in to Windows and perhaps run the Setup.exe from the CD, but I can see no way to do this. I have tried several things, including rebooting, reinstalling Parallel Desktop 9, reinstalling Windows, and renaming the .pvm file.

When I was copying my PC data to the external HD, there was a crash and I had to restart, and perhaps these files are corrupted, but the whole migration procedure took 3 days with my wheezy old PC so I hope not to have to do that again. It seems to me that I am doing something simple wrong. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Ed

 

I did get a bit further, changing the boot order and putting the CD first, but the installation now asks further on for an additional "Windows XP Professional CD-ROM" which I thought was what I had already loaded, but apparently not. Can anyone tell me what is likely missing, so that perhaps I might get it on the web.

Ed

 

Edward, did you use the parallels transporter to migrate your old machine to your Mac?

 

Mike, I did use parallels transporter.

 

The machine you used transporter on will be the VM that has your apps and data all in one. I would suggest that you look at the config of the VM that you "transported" and check the boot order. You can move the items up an down in the list. The boot order setting can be found in configure>hardware>boot order Make sure your hard drive is checked. Make sure that you also install parallels tools in the vm. That is available from the menu bar when the vm is running. Worse case you can do a repair install on the transported vm.

The other VM was created when you set it up using the windows CD.

 

I believe I did all of what you suggested. Right now I am re-transporting the VM, which will take probably a day more. I am thinking something may have become corrupted in my prior migration. I will let you know. I really appreciate the help.

Ed

 

Ed, that is a possibility. I had that issue transporting a Toshiba tablet (2002 vintage) to parallels, but I finally got it done, and yes it took a long time. Let me know how else I can help.

Mike

 

Finally re-did the migration, and it actually is working!! It is slow like my Windows had become on the PC, but much of it is working. I am missing various drivers which I may or may not be able to get, and have had to reactivate several programs with their own keys, but I am basically quite happy with the result.

I'd like to thank you again for the technical and moral support. I assume I can remove the earlier VM from the Windows CD.

Ed

 

Ed, re-install the parallels tools and I suggest you get malwarebytes and malwarebytes.org and run a scan on your computer, you could have some crapware that is slowing it down. Glad you finally got it converted over.

 

Mike,

Back from a few days away. I had used Adaware and Sybot both on the XP computer. I think that I just have too many programs and the like. Parallels does seem to be running faster now -- there are only a few Windows programs I need to use anyway.

To ask again, I am assuming it is OK to delete the earlier VM, the one from the Windows CD.

Regards,

Ed

 

Hi Ed:

Yes, the earlier machine you can trash it. Number of programs should not impact performance, ram and cpu speed will. My XP machine was converted from a 98SE and it now rocks on parallels. Imagine about 10+ years of accumulation of software and data to go with it.