Installation Recommendation

I am new to Parallels Desktop. I have a Macbook Air running Yosemite. This computer has a 250gb drive of which 207gb has free space. I have a licensed copy of PD 10 and I am at the screen to create a New Virtual Machine. I would like to install Windows 8.1 as my Windows OS choice.

1. Do I install Windows 8 first then upgrade to 8.1?

2. How much free space do I allocate to Windows OS? Obviously, I don't want the Windows OS to take up all of the space.

3. When I start my Mac, I would like Yosemite to be the startup OS not Windows. Can I configure the startup OS?

 

Hi Philip,
1. You can either install Windows 8 first and then you can upgrade to Windows 8.1 or you can purchase the Windows 8.1 in a DVD or as an .iso image file
and then you can install it on your Parallels Desktop by following the steps as suggested at : http://kb.parallels.com/4729
2. Your Windows Virtual Machine will be allocated with a 64 GB by default and if wish or if you want to expand the size of your Windows Virtual Machine, you can expand it any time by following steps as given at : http://kb.parallels.com/113972
3. Since you are running your Windows as Virtual Machine in Parallels Desktop, whenever you boot your Mac it will first load Yosemite in it.
You can set Parallels Desktop to open as soon as you boot your Mac computer. If not, you can launch your Parallels Desktop and the Virtual Machine when required.