I'm new to using parallels and just have a few general questions. I understand the general installation process and I'm pretty sure I can handle that...but once I have installed Windows, how do I go about installing applications that I will be running while in "Windows mode?" Do I just insert the installation cd and run through the installation wizard? What about installing printer drivers in "windows mode?" Any advice or help is greatly appreciated. (I will be using Corel Draw, a graphics program made only for Windows on my Mac and the printer driver I will need to install will be to a machine used for cutting paper and vinyl.)
Hello, to install any software in Windows, you should open 'Configuration Editor' of your VM ('Edit' -> 'Virtual Machine'), select 'CD/DVD-Rom' tab and set it to 'Use CD/DVD-Rom', then start your VM, insert the installation CD and install the software. Do you use your printer in Mac OS? Best regards, Stacey
Thanks! I thought it would be pretty simple! I have not installed the printer driver on my Mac yet. Do you have to install printer drivers separately for each "mode?" I know that every other time I have hooked up a printer to my Mac, it just detects it-unlike Windows where you have to install the driver. This plotter (cutting machine) that I will be 'printing' to comes with installation instructions for a Mac so I'm guessing it is not as simple as plugging in the USB and waiting for it to pop up.
Hello, you can set up any printer connected to you Macintosh computer for use in the virtual machine. Printer will be available via a virtual machine's parallels port. 1. Open the virtual machine configuration in Configuration Editor. Make sure that theconfiguration includes a parallel port; if necessary, add it. 2. Open the Parallel Port Options tab, and make sure that the Enabled option is selected. Select Connect at startup, if you want the printer to be automatically captured on the virtual machine startup. Select the Use printer option. Click OK to close Configuration Editor. 3. Start the guest operating system. 4. In the guest OS, no matter what type of printer you have, install either the HP Color LaserJet 8500 PS, or Apple Color LW 12/660 PS printer driver. To add a printer in the Windows guest OS: 1. Start the Windows guest operating system and log in as administrator. 2. Open the Windows Start menu, select Settings, then select the Printers and Faxes (or Printers) item. 3 Open the Add Printer wizard. In Windows XP click the Add a printer link. 4 In the Add Printer wizard: - click Next in the wizard's first dialog, - in the Local or Network Printer dialog, click Local printer attached to this computer. 5 Continue the general installation procedure and install either HP Color LaserJet 8500 PS or Apple Color LW 12/660 PS driver. The other solution is: 1. Open the virtual machine configuration in the Configuration Editor, and make sure that the configuration includes a USB controller; if necessary, add it. 2. Open the USB Options tab, and make sure that the Enabled option is selected. Select the Autoconnect at startup if you want the printer to be automatically captured by the virtual machine. Click OK to close Configuration Editor. 3. Start the guest operating system. 4. Plug in the USB printer as a USB device. 5. Install the native driver for the printer in the guest OS. Best regards, Stacey