5. Importing Operating Systems

In addition to creating VMs by directly installing operating systems, Parallels lets you import real and virtual systems from the PC Parallels is running on or from other PCs. Real systems imports include Boot Camp installations and normally installed operating systems running on other PCs. On the virtual systems side, in addition to Parallels VMs from other computers, you can import VMware and Virtual PC VMs. Some imports are accomplished using the Custom option on the Parallels OS Installation Assistant (see screen capture above) others are done using a tool that comes with Parallels, Parallels Transporter.

Parallels Tools - Coherence Is The Best

Parallels comes with a set of tools to enhance you use of the VM system. Parallels' Coherence is part of Parallels Tools. Coherence puts a Windows Start button in the lower left corner of your OS X screen. The start button works just like the Windows Start button. With Coherence it seems like the two operating systems have been blended into one. You can access programs in XP while working in OS X. Coherence supplies the wow factor in Parallels.

Click the image for larger version.

Other Parallels Tools include:

Clipboard Synchronization Tool - allows you to cut and paste objects from (to) the primary OS or guest VMs Drag-and-Drop Tool -supports drag-and-drop file copying between guest operating systems and Mac OS X (only for Windows 2000/2003/XP/Vista guest OSes ) Disk Compacting Tool - for certain types of virtual disks Favorite Applications Tool - lets you put applications running in a virtual machine into the OS X Applications menu where you can easily launch them (only for Windows 2000/2003/XP/Vista guest OSes ) Mouse Synchronization Tool - supports automatic capture and release of the mouse by host and guest systems Network Adapters and Drivers - provides drivers for virtual Ethernet adapters Resolution Changing Tool - allows you to work with dynamic resolution. Shared Folders Tool - allows a guest OS to view shared folders Sound Driver - an AC'97 sound driver for those guest operating systems that do not have a standard AC'97 driver Time Synchronization Tool - allows guest operating systems to keep the same system time as the primary OS Video Driver - provides resolution and color modes above 640x480 and 16-colors