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General discussion

Easier Switch?

by AndyInTN May 27, 2006 4:59AM PDT

On Download Squad a few days ago they posted a tutorial for backing up your Windows PC to an image that can then be run on a virtual machine, I got to wondering, I wonder if this would be an easy way for someone to backup their current windows set up and then run it on Parallels on their new Mac. The tutorial uses VMware but in theory, you could do this with Parallels. Unfortunately, since I don't have a Mac, I can't try it out. Has anyone done this?

http://tinyurl.com/kfkdz

Discussion is locked

4 Posts
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problems with that
by SantiagoCrespo May 27, 2006 11:32AM PDT

The problem with that approach is that Windows doesn't appreciate being moved. That's why you cannot create an image for an installation and then take it to another computer.
This article
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;nl;314070
expands on the issue. It is a long and fairly complicated process, and even though it CAN be done, I think you'd be better off with a fresh install

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I do agree.
by AndyInTN May 27, 2006 2:11PM PDT

A fresh install is always better. But, I was just thinking this would be good for someone wanting to come over to the Mac without losing all of their Windows stuff. They could simply start up a virtual machine and use that until they were more comfortable, best of all, they wouldn't have to re-install everything.

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Parallels needs it own File format.
by Redhats Q May 27, 2006 2:25PM PDT

It has some merits but parallels needs its own file format, Can't read real drives and generally makes this too hard.

If you had parallels for windows, and Parallels for mac.. maybe.

But IMHO its actually more work than just backing up key data, installing what you need and restoring the data.

Given my pasion for virtualisation you'd think I'ld jmp at this, but from a user point of view it would not be very easy to actualy do it. Its a pretty geeky thing to do right now

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Very True
by AndyInTN May 28, 2006 1:05AM PDT

It is a geeky thing to do right now. I was going to try it out but my trial license of Parallels ran out! Oh well!

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