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Question

Help on deleting parallels

Feb 26, 2012 5:09AM PST

After buying a new MacBook Pro with Lion OS, I was advised to download Parallels program and install Windows XP since I also need that program for work. I did so, and have had numerous problems with Windows XP running on the "virtual machine."

After 5 hours of tech support from Parallels - even being advanced to "level 2 tech support," they cannot solve the problems. Now I am advised to get rid of Parallels and create a dedicated partition using BootCamp and install Windows XP on that. I am willing to do this.

To prepare for this, is it simply a matter of erasing Parallels and then erasing Windows XP and then I can begin again, or are there more steps I should be taking to get things back to a clean start?

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
Even when it was supported it was XP SP2 or later.
Feb 26, 2012 8:40AM PST

However Virtual Box works for me and does support "XP".

Remember that I can't guess which XP you have. To add more confusion, you must have the real RETAIL VERSION. Most OEM versions fail for a long list of issues.
Bob

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Answer
The beauty here
Feb 26, 2012 8:15AM PST

The beauty here is that as far as installing Windows via BootCamp goes, it doesn't matter what you do about Parallels. Leave it, delete it, doesn't matter. BootCamp is basically a dual boot system for running Windows on a Mac natively. There's very little in the way of overlay software, unlike with Parallels where you're basically running an OS inside a program.

So you can just go ahead and install Windows via BootCamp and then deal with Parallels later. However, I do kind of question whether or not XP is going to work any better via BootCamp. Simple fact is, XP is about 10 years old at this point, and so unless Apple has been updating the drivers for newer models (which seems unlikely given XP is basically on life support at this point), you're just going to have an even harder time cleaning up the resulting mess.

First thing I'd do, is call Apple tech support and make sure that BootCamp actually supports XP on the newer MBPs, because I would bet it doesn't. They should be able to answer at least that much, but that's going to likely be the limits of the support you can expect from Apple on this. If XP isn't supported on your model, then Parallels would have actually been the better bet to get it working, and so if Parallels is coughing up a hairball, BootCamp will probably be many times worse. You'll then need to move on to either Vista or 7. If you go with Windows 7, you can make life really fun with the XP Mode, which would be a virtual machine, inside a virtual machine (if using Parallels).

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Windows XP is not supported by Boot Camp under LION
Feb 26, 2012 8:32AM PST

Windows 7, not the starter edition, is required. XP is not only not supported, it will not install.

I know because I got caught there.

P