Q: Upgrade Windows 7 to Windows 10 and keep both OS?

Since 2011 I have used Parallels for Mac to run Windows 7 Pro on my MacBook Pro. Now I would like to upgrade this virtual machine to Windows 10 yet keep a copy Windows 7 for backward compatibility with older software that I use. I have already upgraded to Parallels 11. What is the best way to do this?

 

Simply clone your Windows 7 VM before doing the upgrade. I have renamed the clone to "Windows 10" and upgraded this copy. The original Windows 7 is still alive.

 

yep, VM clone is great solution.
Also the Parallels Desktop 10 and 11 have an option to create a Windows XP, 7, 8 VM. You will be able to use the Windows during 90 days (just for test for example).
In order to create it you can use Modern IE option on the installation window

 

Thanks for the advice on cloning my exist Windiws 7 Pro VM. Got road blocked last night trying to cone it. crashed after some time attempting cone and got message to submit an automated report to Parallels. Problem appears to be my VM is 143 Gb and not enough free space on my Crucial 500 GB SSD. Ordered a new Crucial 1 Tb SSD today and will attempt cloning then (perhaps). Or maybe just install clean (not bloated) Windows 7 from my licensed DVD first then try cone for Windows 10 Upgrade.

 

Well, consider my case CLOSED. Successfully cloned Windows 7 into a Windows 10 virtual machine, *after* I got enough disk space for the 134 Gb image...by upgrading my existing 500 GB SSD to a 1 TB one. Thanks for the help!

 

Glad to know, that the issue has been resolved. Please reach us any time if you need help.