I’ve wrote an article about install Windows Vista on Mac OS X through Parallels Desktop as virtual machine software. Now, I will write about customizing Parallels Desktop configurations so that Windows Vista/XP which runs above it can run smoother.
I configure it on my Macbook that has memory 1 GB, Hard drive 80GB so if you Mac has more memory you can customize with yours. I just write configuration points which have to get your attention.
1. To setting Parallels Desktop virtual machine you have to open it first and it Stop mode, if your virtual machine in Suspend mode, press Stop button first.

2. To open Configuration Editor window, you can click on items in Configuration section (if you’re looking my picture below, click area is inside red rectangle) or go to Edit – Virtual Machine menu.

3. In Configurations Editor, click Resource: Options, click Advanced tab and then make sure Acceleration level set to High and Enable Intel VT-x support is checked.

4. Next, click Resource: Shared Applications. I suggest you disable Share Windows application to Mac and Share Mac applications to Windows with uncheck their checkboxes. Although they are great features, but if you enable them, Parallels Desktop will create many shortcuts and actually you will use shortcuts rarely or even you’ll never use them.

5. Next, click Resource: Shared Profile. The decision is in your hands. But I was choosing to disable it, because it will make you confuse and make your Windows be slower. And in my experience, I got some errors with it.

6. In fact, Parallels Desktop support 3D application ran on its virtual machine but it optimized for Mac products which have dedicated 3D card such as Macbook Pro and iMac. But you can optimize the configurations so that Parallels Desktop permits its virtual machine support Direct X. To enable the option, click Resource: Video and check Enable DirectX support checkbox so as you can run Direct X applications.

7. To configure memory amount of virtual machine, click Resource: Memory. If you run Windows XP on it set memory to 384 MB and Vista to 512 MB. This setting is important because if you configure the amount too large, you Mac OS X will run very slowly. In my experiment, I’ve set Video Memory to 16MB if I ran Windows XP and 32MB to Windows Vista.

8. In Resource: Floppy, sure I disable the Floppy because I don’t see its benefit.

9. In Resource: Hard Disk, you can find an important button here. Parallels Desktop has two mode of its Virtual Hard Disk. Expanding Hard disk and Plan Hard disk. In Expanding hard disk your virtual hard disk has flexible size as your Windows XP/Vista needs. Contrary with Expanding hard disk, Plain hard drive has consistent of file size. And Parallels Desktop set to Expanding mode by default. Unfortunately, sometimes Expanding hard disk has larger file size than the actual used. So, if you feel your virtual hard disk file size is too big, go to Resource: Hard Disk, click Advanced tab and click Compact button to reduce your virtual hard disk file.

10. In Resource: USB Controller, I suggest you choose Ask me what to do option. So, every time you plug your USB device, you’ll ask by system. Mac OS X or Parallels Desktop virtual machine that will use it.

OK, we’ve discussed Parallels Desktop configurations which must get attention. And don’t forget Parallels Desktop also install its tools which calls Parallels Tools Center in its virtual machine. For example, on Windows Vista you can open it by double click its icon in systray or you can open it through Start – All Programs – Parallels Tools menu.

You can compact your hard disk in this tool/Parallels Tools Center. Click Tool: Disk Compacting, check Execute all stages at once then click Start button and it will takes 30-90 minutes. And you can find the others Tool inside it.

(article no:0116)