Running Windows 11 ARM via Parallels on my M4 MacBook Pro. Non-compatible app issues

It might be worth posting the question on one or more of the Parallels forums (forums.parallels.com). It is not impossible that somebody there has found a way round it, or can make useful suggestions.

You can install UTM and run an Intel version of Win11 with UTM, but it will probably be sluggish on performance and will not use any GPU hardware acceleration.

https://mac.getutm.app/

Otherwise you will need to keep using your 2015 MBPro, or just get a Windows laptop to run that specialized Windows only software.

jillb1966 wrote:

The medical device I need to run windows for is a radiation detector. The Base Unit is not ARM compatible. In my older parallels set-up, the device is not added as a bluetooth device. I turn the unit on, use a bluetooth dongle, and the software, RaySafe View, detects the ion chamber base unit via a bluetooth signal and receives information that is exported to an excel workbook. With ARM, the software searches but cannot locate the base unit.

Unfortunately I cannot find any information about this device other than the very limited details on the RaySafe website.

That is the only thing I do on Windows-receive a signal with data and export to excel so it don't think that would be a gpu issue (?)

No, the GPU is not an issue.

I would still need to use the bluetooth dongle to be able to use bluetooth on the windows side. Is UTM difficult to install?

I don't know, but I don't think so....I've never used it. They have an option to download it through the App Store or you can download it from the developer's website.

Do you know if I could use the dongle with Windows 11 (Intel)?

No idea. Since UTM is free, you can easily try it out. If it was working with Parallels on an Intel Mac, then theoretically it should.

Just curious if you actually tried the RaySafe View software using Win11 in Parallels on your M4 MBPro? Theoretically Windows ARM is supposed to support running Intel versions of Windows software.

jillb1966 wrote:

No, Windows Arm does not support Intel processors in Parallels Mac. The RaySafe software is not compatible with Window ARM. :(

It is Windows ARM that operates Intel versions of Windows apps, not Parallels. However, some Intel Windows apps....especially any that install drivers are less likely to work with Windows ARM.

Parallels on an M-series Mac cannot use the Intel version of Windows. There is a difference here, unless of course Microsoft has it where the Intel emulation feature of Windows ARM is disabled when used within Parallels. I've never seen that mentioned though.

Those are your options. If Parallels & UTM do not work out, then you will need to either use your old Intel Mac, or purchase a standard Windows 11 laptop to run the software natively on a real Windows Intel PC.