Install beta along with production version?

Is it possible to install a Mac beta without overwriting the installed production version? I'd like to be able to check out the beta without risking ending up without a working version.

Sorry if this has been addressed somewhere, I didn't find it in a README in the beta or anywhere obvious in the forums.

Thanks, Doug

 

Unfortunately, the only way to do that is to have a second disk (such as an external firewire disk), install OSX, and try it there. It isn't possible to install two Parallels app versions side by side since the kernel extensions will conflict.

 

I suppose one could get a little crazy if they really wanted and go ahead and move (or rename) kernel extensions manually. A restart of the computer would be required after manually changing up the kernel extensions, so it would still be a bit of a PITA, but it would not require a separate OS install.

Also, I would imagine that if you accidentally try firing up the wrong version of Parallels (the 'wrong' one being the one that does NOT correspond to the kernel extension that has been loaded at the last restart) this might lead to kernel panic or maybe even worse.

However, if your interest is in being able to test a beta with the option of going back if you don't like the beta (as opposed to actively using both versions at the same time), the Parallels uninstaller is quite efficient. If you install the beta and decide you want to go back to the production verision use the uninstaller that came with the beta, then reinstall the production version, restart, and everything will be felicitous.

 

And don't forget to back up your VM before switching versions

 

Thanks for all the advice! My goal was to be able to have one user testing the beta (me) while another could continue to work with a stable version.

We're seeing some "oddities" -- particularly very slow response at times. For example printing a document can result in very long pauses. It's painful enough that we've taken to saving documents as PDFs and then printing them from Mac OS X.

Thanks again, Doug

 

Make a backup copy of the partition you want to duplicate for use. If anything goes wrong, restore it.

 

What I'd hoped to be able to do was to easily go back and forth between versions. Right now 1970 is in production use. We'd been using 1940 and had some issues with it. If they are still in 1970, then I'd like to be able to check out the beta without jeopordizing a production machine or confusing the users . . .

Doug