Windows can't access Mac applications via Parallels

I've installed Parallels 10 for Mac on Yosemite. I then installed Windows 8. The system does not access all the Microsoft (or any other applications) that are installed on my Mac. When I follow instructions to (hopefully) change this under settings in Parallels under 'applications', I see a yellow band that says something like: "Some of these settings will not be accessible while Parallels is running". I cannot find a way of 'not running' Parallels once I've started it, and if I don't start it (i.e. I have quit it and not reopened it), there's no way of accessing the settings (as far as I can tell). The 'application' settings do however indicate that all Mac apps are shared and that all Windows apps are shared. It just does not work.

 

Hi HeinrichD,
In order to have this worked out well lets make sure your Windows Virtual Machine is not in coherence mode(on the top of your Mac screen, click on Parallels icon and then click on View->exit coherence)
Please shut down your Virtual Machine properly and then open Parallels Desktop control center.
Click on the gear icon -> security -> uncheck- isolate windows from Mac
Please let us know if this helps.

 

Hi Dishant,
Thanks for the advice above! I meanwhile realised I'd installed the 32-bit version of Windows, and subsequently installed the 64-bit version. I can now access the Mac applications from the Windows desktop. Also the system does not seem to be in coherence mode, as the option is greyed out.
Everything seems to be under control.
Thanks again!
Heinrich

 

Perfect! Glad that it helped