I have Parallels Desktop 4.0 installed. I also have Windows XP and applications and documents in the virtual machine. My question is, aside from upgrading the Parallels app, how do I go about upgrading the Windows XP to Windows 7 and preserve the apps and documents in this partition? The "magic" of the virtual machine eludes me... A second question would be: is there a way to create a new VM with Windows 7 and access the applications and files I created in the Windows XP VM? With the Mac, installed applications files and folders are maintained through updates,etc. However, I am not familiar with the filing methods in the Windows XP partition and I want to preserve the information contained therein. I do not want to create PROBLEMS for myself!!
well, as for windows, updating windows xp to windows 7 in the virtual machine I believe is impossible but you can make a separate virtual machine for it. but you wont be able to transport applications and stuff without some flash drives or something. Updating the parallels App will leave your virtual machines in the exact state they were in with the previous version. weather you mean versions of desktop v.4, or from v.4 to v6, your VM's will be maintained. if you create a new Virtual Machine running windows 7, you "can" (and i use "can" loosely) access your windows xp VM files. You cannot just directly access them when you start window 7. you must have both windows xp and windows 7 running to access files between them. but do be weary, MOST MAC'S CAN'T SUPPORT MORE THAN 1 VM AT A TIME. I don't know what type of mac you have, but my macbook 2009 13'in can barely support windows vista, let alone xp and 7(windows 7 takes equivalent or even more resources and ram than windows vista)... if you plan to move to windows 7 from xp, i suggest you start your windows XP and copy all the files/program installers you want to save and then move the files to a location on your mac, then turn off windows xp, and start the windows 7 VM, and copy them from the mac to the windows 7 VM. copying direct program appears impossible... I've asked about copying programs from one VM to another, and parallels said that there is no easy way to do it. I do suggest though, you wait for a parallels expert to answer this before you proceed, I'm sure they will tell you a better solution.
