
Creating a Virtual Machine 57
Overview
The assistant offers several installation modes. You can choose the mode that better fits your
needs or your experience with Parallels Desktop. Regardless of what method you select, you
will be able to change the configuration of the virtual machine later using the Configuration
Editor (page 159).
Windows Express Installation
This installation mode is available only for two guest operating systems: Windows XP and
Windows Vista. OS Installation Assistant not only creates a virtual machine configuration, it
automatically installs the guest OS using some default options. It is the easiest way to get a new
virtual machine. You only need to insert an installation disc with Windows XP or Windows
Vista. See Express Installation (page 58). In this mode, virtual machines are created with typical
configurations (see Typical Configurations (page 55) for details) and placed to the default folder
(see below).
If you have a printer connected to your Macintosh computer which is set as a default printer, OS
Installation Assistant will connect it via parallel port to the virtual machine.
After installing the operating system, the assistant automatically installs Parallels Tools.
Typical Installation
Typical Installation is designed for new users and for fast virtual machine creation. You only
have to specify the type and version of the guest operating system that will be installed, and
where to store the virtual machine files. OS Installation Assistant creates a typical (for the
selected guest OS) virtual machine configuration and starts the installation of the guest OS as
interactive installation. See Typical Installation (page 62).
Custom Installation
Custom installation is intended for experienced users only. It allows the user to create
configurations other than typical ones. In this installation mode, the user is prompted to specify
such options for the basic hardware, as the amount of RAM, a size and format of a virtual hard
disk, and networking option. Additional devices can be added later using the Configuration
Editor (page 159). After OS Installation Assistant creates a virtual machine configuration, it
starts installing the guest OS if such option is selected. See Custom Installation (page 67).
Default Folder for Virtual Machines
By default, Parallels Desktop is configured to place a new virtual machine into home folder of
the user who created it:
/<userName>/Documents/Parallels/,
where <userName> stands for the user's home folder.
However, you can select other folder as a default folder for the virtual machines.
To specify another default destination for saving virtual machines do the following:
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