I would never have expected it; Cortana, Microsoft’s virtual assistant, beat Siri to the Mac. Of course, it isn't Microsoft that brought Cortana to the Mac, but Parallels, which allows Microsoft applications to run alongside OS X native apps. Parallels also offers a host-only option that allows the virtual machine to connect to your Mac and any other virtual machines as though they were connected via a network. But it does not allow.
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I'm considering getting an Apple laptop, but I will continue to use Windows frequently. Dual-booting is a pain, but virtualization has its own issues, so I'd like to keep a foot in both camps if possible. To accomplish this, I'm thinking of installing Windows 7 on a Boot Camp partition, and sharing that partition with either VMware or Parallels (the two main virtualization programs for Mac OS X that I'm aware of), so that I can use Windows in an integrated, virtualized environment from Mac OS X while preserving of option of booting into Windows directly when needed.
Basically, I'd have two use-cases for my single Windows installation: 1) boot into Windows directly using Boot Camp and 2) boot Windows alongside Mac OS X using a virtual machine. I've seen a lot of questions about migrating completely from one to another, but I want to continue to use both in parallel.
I have a few questions regarding this:
- Which program would be better for this, VMware or Parallels?
- How painless would the transition between the different environments be? Would I encounter any problems or annoying chores (i.e. hardware reconfiguration) when I switch from booting via the virtual machine to booting via Boot Camp and vice versa?
- Is the virtualized hardware in a VMware or Parallels environment similar to the hardware on the actual machine?
- Are there any tricks to making this a workable solution?
- Is there any documentation out there to describe how to do this (booting the same partition from Boot Camp and a virtualization solution) in the best way possible (everything I've found concerns one-way migration)?
- Any general remarks about this sort of setup are welcome.
Kaypro II
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3 Answers
Both Parallel and VMWare have wizards that could setup your BootCamp partition to run in the virtual machine.
Compatibility Warnings:
- Make sure you install the system in a multi-core setup (either physically or through a VM) because the Windows installer will choose an incompatible kernel if it can only detect one core.
- If you decide to use a SATA controller in the VM, it must be a model compatible to the real one because Windows cannot detect the changes in the SATA controller early enough to switch the driver.
- Make sure your copy of Windows can be transferred between two systems otherwise you won't pass the Genuine Advantage check when you switch. Parallel support says you clone the MAC address of your real NIC to fool Windows in the virtual machine, but it didn't work for me.
billc.cnbillc.cn
If you google 'Parallels and Boot camp together' or 'parallels and boot camp at the same time' you should find a lot of hits.
This is a popular configuration. The biggest issue I've run into is after booting into Bootcamp Windows and then booting back into OS X, loading up Parallels up will take A LONG TIME. This seems to only seems to happen when I first switch.
And then there are a variety of weird bugs you'll find, mainly in Bootcamp. It's hard to peg them to one category, but I suspect it is because the drivers are subpar. I find running in Parallels is more productive, cause I don't get sucking into a time sink trying to work around some random Bootcamp bug.
As far as any chores, none really. Tricks? Probably a few out there, but I haven't bother to look them up as I have been moving to a Parallels only work flow.
Just remember to install bootcamp first then Parallels. Should be common sense, but I forget not everyone is technically inclined or a troubleshooting champion.
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(1) like all competition, both sides have a great deal to offer. I prefer VMware out of familiarity, but you can do some serious homework and read up on the performance differences here.
(2) The only frustration is the fact you have to reboot to run either OS natively. That's what Boot Camp allows you to do. So you'll have to reboot, hold
(3) No - you're abstracting your hardware when you run the VM system. Performance will not be as good, but convenience is there. Look up one on the difference between type 1 and type 2 hypervisor if you're really interested. The basic rule is it'll be faster to run windows natively if you care.
(4) Make sure to install any OSX drivers in the Windows size of things to make it feel pretty. I love using my two finger scroll in Win7.
(5) If you define 'this' clearly, there could be documentation out there for it. I think we've explained all you need to figure out in here - now it's time to implement and use it.
(6) I think your approach is wise. Use a VM for simple tasks that are just not compatible with OSX, or boot natively into Windows as necessary. I prefer 95% of the time to live in OSX, but that 5% is pretty damn important.
(2) The only frustration is the fact you have to reboot to run either OS natively. That's what Boot Camp allows you to do. So you'll have to reboot, hold
Option
and choose the OS you want to use. I use rEFIt or else I often forgot to hold the button at boot up.(3) No - you're abstracting your hardware when you run the VM system. Performance will not be as good, but convenience is there. Look up one on the difference between type 1 and type 2 hypervisor if you're really interested. The basic rule is it'll be faster to run windows natively if you care.
(4) Make sure to install any OSX drivers in the Windows size of things to make it feel pretty. I love using my two finger scroll in Win7.
(5) If you define 'this' clearly, there could be documentation out there for it. I think we've explained all you need to figure out in here - now it's time to implement and use it.
(6) I think your approach is wise. Use a VM for simple tasks that are just not compatible with OSX, or boot natively into Windows as necessary. I prefer 95% of the time to live in OSX, but that 5% is pretty damn important.
good luck, mjb
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One key aspect of development is being able to test code, but more importantly testing code in a controlled environment. While this is most commonly managed by the IT department via their delegation of certain machines as a Dev, QA, and even Stage environments, the same concept may be easily applied to a developer’s own cycle through the use of a local Virtual Machine.
As I’ve begun my foray into the world of Mac and iOS development the first task I’ve taken on is the setup of my personal Mac OS X virtual machine. There are many tutorials out there describing the process, but many are short, incomplete, and out of date. I will outline every step I took to ensure a fully functioning install of a virtual machine using OS X Mountain Lion, VMWare, Parallels, and VirtualBox (Currently there’s an issue with Mac OS X Mountain Lion and VirtualBox with regards to a hypervisor).
There a various ways to create a Virtual Machine using the virtualizing applications. Each can be classified as “App or Disk Image”, “Recovery Partition”, “Bootable USB”. An App or Disk image installation is the easiest of the installation options but requires the space for the OS X Disk Image. The Recovery Partition option requires no extra download (up-front) but can take longer and requires an internet connection to verify the OS install with Apple as well as a re-download of the OS itself that will be placed on the Virtual Machine. A Bootable USB installation would ensure that a backup of the OS X Disk Image is made as well as less disk space being used as the Disk Image and/or App is no longer required to be kept on the Host machine; but requires a USB Drive of at least 5 GB to create a said Bootable USB. (Note: not every Virtualization Application offers each creation scheme. The only install that is guaranteed is App/Disk Image)
If installing via a Bootable USB is not needed, and the software in question has already been obtained, you may skip to the creation steps for each Virtualization Application, VMWare, Parallels, or VirtualBox
Obtaining Software
Mac OS X Mountain Lion
To get an install image of OS X Mountain Lion one must purchase and download the OS from Apple’s App Store.
Parallels Desktop for Mac
One can download a 30 day trial or purchase the full version.
VMWare Fusion
One can download a 30 day trial or purchase the full version.
VirtualBox
Currently VirtualBox.org is experiencing technical difficulties and to download the application one may utilize Oracle’s download site
Generate Max OS X Bootable USB Drive
Now that the Mountain Lion installer is downloaded from the App Store we need to extract the image from the .app file. Open a finder window select Applications and find the “Install OS X Mountain Lion.app” Right click on the app and select “Show package contents”
The disk image will be located at “/Contents/SharedSupport/InstallESD.dmg” Keep this window open for the next step
The disk image will be located at “/Contents/SharedSupport/InstallESD.dmg” Keep this window open for the next step
Open Disk Utility (Command + Space then search for Disk Utility and it should be a top hit) and drag the ImageESD.dmg into the window.
Next attach a USB Drive with at least 4.5GB of space total. (Note ‘total’ and not ‘available’ as both this partitioning step and then also the Restore step will erase contents of the drive.) Select the newly attached drive and then select the Partition tab on the right. The current OS X size is roughly 4.4 GB so ensure you select a patitioning scheme that allows for that (select 1, 2, 3, etc Partition(s) from the “Partition Layout” menu). Change the format from “FAT” to “Mac OS Extended (Journaled).” Press the Options… button at the bottom of the Partition Layout section and select GUID Partition Table. Once configurations of partitions have been finished press the Apply button followed by the Partition button on the popup.
Now that the USB Drive is partitioned the security settings on the USB Drive needs to be altered. Open a Finder window and scroll the sidebar to the bottom to find the newly created USB Drive Partition.
On the info window, unlock the settings and uncheck the “Ignore ownership of this volume” option and close the window.
Select the ImageESD.dmg drive within the Dick Utility application followed by the Restore tab. The Source: item should show “ImageESD.dmg and have an empty Destination. Now select the partition you created on the USB Drive (the subitems depict partitions the main item represents the physical hardware itself) and drag it onto the Destination textbox. Now Simply click Restore followed by Erase from the popup. Note: depending on the speed of the flash drive the time will vary for the restoration process.
VMWare Virtual Machine
Mac Virtual Machine For Windows
App or Disk Image
From the “+” Dropdown Menu select “New” followed by “Continue without disc.” Next select “Use operating system installation disk” (should default to this option) and followed by “Choose a disc or disc image…” from the dropdown menu. In the new dialog find the “Install OS X Mountain Lion.app” or the ImageESD.dmg and open. This will proceed with the installation of the OS.
![Never Never](/uploads/1/2/6/6/126610758/351803986.jpg)
Bootable USB
From the “+” Dropdown Menu select “New” followed by “Continue without disc.” Next choose “Create a custom virtual machine” and define what OS and Version one is installing. Customize the Virtual Machine as desired and then click “Finish.” This will bring up a gray screen that will show erros when readon the SCSI Harddrive and CDROM then continue on to the Network boot. Wait for this screen to disappear showing a black screen that end with “Shell>”. Once at this screen select the “Virtual Machine” menu and attach the USB device containing the bootable Mountain Lion OS. (Note: To remove focus from the GuestOS press Control + Command) Once the USB Device has attached give focus back to the GuestOS and then type “exit” and Enter, taking you out of the EFI bios. This new screen will consist of three options “Continue”, “Boot Manager”, and “Boot Maintenance Manager”. Select “Boot Manager” followed by “EFI USB Device.” This will boot into the USB Drive and proceed with the installation of the OS
Recovery Partition
Currently there is no way to install the Mountain Lion OS from the built in Recovery partition os the Mac.
Parallels Virtual Machine
App or Disk Image
To begin this process simply open Parallels and select the first option, “Install Windows or another OS from DVD or image file.” In the drop down menu select “Choose an image file…” and then find the “Install OS X Mountain Lion.app” file or “ImageESD.dmg” file. Select Continue and then follow the normal processes for creating a Virtual Machine through Parallels.
Bootable USB
Currently there is no way to install the Mountain Lion OS from a Bootable USB drive.
Running Mac On Windows
Recovery Partition
When creating a new Virtual Machine simply select the “Install OS X Mountain Lion Using the Recovery Partition”. Select Continue and then follow the normal processes for creating a Virtual Machine through Parallels.
VirtualBox Virtual Machine
Currently there is a bug with VirtualBox and handling another Virtualization Application on the same machine which prevents a VirtualBox Virtual Machine from booting. Once this bug is fixed this post will be updated to explain steps for each of the following features.
App and Disk Image
Bootable USB
Recovery Partition
Run Mac On Windows Virtual Machine
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