Importing VMware machine to Parallels?

I would suggest you take this question up in Parallels' forums:

http://forum.parallels.com/

You'll be more likely to get useful advice there.

Regards.

From what I've read, you'll probably want to work with a copy of your VM file. The recommendations I've seen have said that you should remove the VMware tools from the VM file before you try to open it with Parallels, and then you'll need to install the Parallels Tools during it's first boot.

In the Parallels configuration I'd probably lower or turn off settings for different hardware's etc so that the VM comes up and installs the Parallels Tools automatically.

For my purposes, I'd just create a new fresh install of Windows on a Parallels VM and transfer the user files from one VM to another.

Essentially, you are trying to transfer Windows to a new computer with a new motherboard, Video card, sound, etc. The VM programs are the 'Machine' that windows set's itself up for. In the real world, with real hardware, this is already a mess and really never works right due to the Windows hardware checks, driver conflicts, etc. If it did work, then a VM program wouldn't be necessary on Windows machines, but that's why Microsoft bought Connectix.

In short, I wouldn't go the easy way you are trying to use as their really isn't a whole lot of support for each version of a VMware VM file to work with each version of Parallels. The same could be said for going the other way. When problems pop up you won't know if it's left over code from VMware, a bug in Parallels, or just Windows foolishness - or all three. Doesn't really sound stable enough for real work.

Good luck with that. 🙂

I've been using Parallels since v2 (now version 5). I've had to pay for a couple of upgrades ($39 - $49) both due to new features like better USB device management, and better performance with Snow Leopard (early versions didn't allow me to assign multiple CPU's). I need to be able to look at sites with Internet Explorer on a regular basis, and I need to help some clients with menu's with the different versions of Windows in current use and I've found a few archive file types that work better when opened on Windows.

I don't need to play video games or other programs that really push the hardware so the improvements for DirectX or the changes in Windows7 don't really mean much to me. Neither company's constant upgrades for better video frame rates matter at all for me. If I really needed a PC full time, I'd use one of the machines I've got sitting around here.

I'm very comfortable with the 'instant' backup ability provided by just copying the VM file to my NAS on occasion. SuperDuper makes a weekly backup of the files, also, so I have excluded the VM files for several Windows OS's from Time Machine. I don't see a need for me to change to VMware no matter the cost, because I don't see any real benefit for me.

What features or press release has made you decide to change your VM program? I really don't keep up with all of the latest press releases about these two programs.

Kirk D wrote:
I just hoped I could do a quick conversion and be able to evaluate Parallels. When I first started with Mac, the reviews that I read convinced me that VMWare was the choice to use for Virtalization, lately, I have read reviews that make lead me to Parallels. Time to buy the new version now that Snow Leopard is out and a cross grade is the same price so I thought I would look at it.

The only difference I've seen is that people who use Parallels tend to consider both products about equal in quality where as VMWare people tend to just trash Parallels. I even fell for it once myself. That is how I wound up with a copy of VMWare that I never use. I've never had the slightest problem with Parallels and I'm quite happy with it. From what I've seen of VMWare, that is a fine product too.

I was able to convert a Parallels VM for use in VMWare. It wasn't easy though. I suggest making a copy of the VMWare VM and use Windows to remove VMWare tools. Then try it. If it works, you may have to go through endless questions from Windows about changes to hardware and you may have to re-activate. It's a pain, that's for sure.