This review is from Parallels Desktop 11 for Mac - Use Windows Applications alongside your Mac Apps! *Free V12 Upgrade*. Verified Buyer Top 100 Contributor. Rating: 5/5 Ordered but not installed January 3, 2013 Good product no doubt many of you know that already.what I wasn't clear on when I ordered it was the need to do a complete. Parallels Desktop 11 for Mac Download. While Mac computers are equipped with robust applications that make them the machine-of-choice for most designers and programmers, they do lack some of the more common features that make Windows well-loved.

Parallels lets you run many different types of operating systems on your Mac. Because the developers knew that most Mac users will want to install at least a Windows OS, Parallels includes a Windows Express installation option that eliminates the need to babysit a Windows XP or Vista installation.

This guide will take you through the Windows Express installation, which creates a virtual machine on your Mac. We'll stop short of actually installing Windows, because the specific steps depend on whether you're installing Windows XP, Vista, Win 7, or Win 8.

What You Will Need

• Parallels Desktop for Mac v3.0 or later.
• The installation CDs for Windows XP or Vista.
• 20 GB free disk space. You can get by with less (I've performed an installation with as little as 8 GB of available disk space), but you'll appreciate the extra room if you later want to install more Windows applications or store larger Windows files than you originally intended.
• About an hour of free time, for the Windows Express setup and to actually install Windows.

The Parallels OS Installation Assistant

By default, Parallels uses the Windows Express installation option. This option creates a virtual machine with settings that will work just fine for most individuals. You can always customize the virtual machine parameters later if you need to.

The real advantage of Windows Express is that it's fast and easy; it does most of the work for you. It will collect most of the information that Windows needs by asking you some questions. Once you supply the answers, you can leave and then return to a fully installed version of Windows. This is a much more pleasant Windows installation than the standard. The downside is that the Windows Express method doesn't let you directly configure many settings, including type of network, memory, disk space, and other parameters, although you can always tweak these and other settings later.

Using the OS Installation Assistant

1. Launch Parallels, usually located at /Applications/Parallels.
2. Click the ‘New’ button in the Select a Virtual Machine window.
3. Select the installation mode that you want Parallels to use.
   
   • Windows Express (recommended)
   • Typical
   • Custom
4. For this installation, select the Windows Express option and click the ‘Next’ button.

Configuring a Virtual Machine for Windows

Parallels needs to know which operating system you plan to install, so it can set the virtual machine parameters and collect the information necessary to automate the installation process.

Configure the Virtual Machine for Windows

1. Select the OS type by clicking the dropdown menu and choosing Windows from the list.
2. Select the OS version by clicking the dropdown menu and choosing Windows XP or Vista from the list.
3. Click the ‘Next’ button.

Entering Your Windows Product Key and Other Configuration Information

The Parallels Windows Express installation option is ready to collect some of the information it needs to automate the installation process.

Product Key, Name, and Organization

1. Enter your Windows product key, which is usually located on the back of the Windows CD case or inside the Windows envelope. The dashes in the product key are entered automatically, so just enter the alphanumeric characters. Be careful not to lose the product key, because you may need it in the future if you need to reinstall Windows.
2. Enter your name by using the alphanumeric keys and the space key. Do not use any special characters, including apostrophes.
3. Enter your organization's name, if appropriate. This field is optional.
4. Click the ‘Next’ button.

Name That Virtual Machine

It's time to specify a name for the virtual machine that Parallels is about to create. You can choose any name you like, but a descriptive name is usually best, particularly if you have multiple hard drives or partitions.

In addition to naming the virtual machine, you will also choose whether your Mac and the new Windows virtual machine should be able to share files.

Pick a Name and Make a Decision About Sharing Files

1. Enter a name for Parallels to use for this virtual machine.
2. Enable file sharing, if desired, by placing a check mark next to the 'Enable file sharing' option. This will let you share files in your Mac's home folder with your Windows virtual machine.
3. Enable user profile sharing, if desired, by placing a check mark next to the ‘Enable user profile sharing’ option. Enabling this option allows the Windows virtual machine to access the files on your Mac desktop and in your Mac user folder. It's best to leave this file unchecked and manually create shared folders later on. This provides more protection for your files​ and lets you make file sharing decisions on a folder-by-folder basis.​
4. Click the ‘Next’ button.

Performance: Should Windows or OS X Get Top Billing?

At this point in the configuration process, you can decide whether to optimize the virtual machine you're about to create for speed and performance or allow applications to have dibs on your Mac's processor.

Decide How to Optimize Performance

1. Select an optimization method.
   • Virtual Machine. Choose this option for the best performance of the Windows virtual machine you're about to create.
   • Mac OS X applications. Choose this option if you prefer your Mac applications to take precedence over Windows.
2. Make your selection. I prefer the first option, to give the virtual machine the best performance possible, but the choice is yours. You can change your mind later if you decide that you made the wrong choice.
3. Click the ‘Next’ button.

Start the Windows Installation

All of the options for the virtual machine have been configured, and you've supplied your Windows product key and your name, so you're ready to install Windows. I'll tell you how to start the Windows installation process below, and cover the rest of the process in another step-by-step guide.

Begin the Windows Installation

1. Insert the Windows Install CD into your Mac's optical drive.
2. Click the ‘Finish’ button.

Parallels will start the installation process by opening the new virtual machine you created, and booting it from the Windows Install CD. Follow the onscreen instructions to install Windows.

Registration

Once you start a virtual machine in Parallels Desktop for Mac for the first time, it will prompt you to create or sign in to a Parallels account. The Parallels account allows you to store your license keys in one place, contact the Parallels support team, get information about critical updates, manage your subscriptions, and more.

If you don't have a Parallels account, select the option I am a new user and click Create Account, then follow the onscreen instructions. If you have an account, select I have a password and enter your account credentials. The activation key you will enter in the next step will be registered under the account you signed in to.

If you would like to change the account you are signed in to, click on the Parallels Desktop menu and select Account & License. In the new window, click on the account email address and choose Sign Out.

You can also register a license online at my.parallels.com in the Register Key window.

Activation

To activate Parallels Desktop, you need to connect your Mac to the Internet.

Once you have signed in to your Parallels account, Parallels Desktop will prompt you to activate the application.

• To activate Parallels Desktop with a full license, you only need a license key for the version you are installing.
• To activate Parallels Desktop with an upgrade license, you need two keys: the upgrade key for the version you are installing, and a key for one of previous versions.
  Note: An upgrade license key cannot be used for activation after using a trial version, to extend an expired subscription or if there is no license key from a previous version available. In such cases, please visit the Parallels Online Store to purchase a full license for Parallels Desktop for Mac.

Enter your license for the current version. If you are activating an upgrade copy, enter your key for one the previous versions. Click Activate.
Note for current Parallels Desktop subscription owners

If you have a subscription for Parallels Desktop for Mac Home or Pro Edition, you can upgrade Parallels Desktop to the latest version with the license you own. Just download and install the latest Parallels Desktop version. A subscription allows you to upgrade to the latest version at no additional charge as long as the subscription is valid.

Activation after trial

If you activated a trial version of Parallels Desktop for Mac, you can reactivate it with a commercial license at any time.

Parallels Desktop 11 For Mac

1. Click on Parallels Desktop from the application menu bar on top of the screen; you may click on your Control Center window to see it. Select Account & License from the drop-down menu.
2. Click Enter a key.
3. Enter your license for the current version. If you are activating an upgrade copy, enter your key for the previous version. Click Activate.

Parallels Desktop 11 For Mac Jansen

Activation after reinstallation

Parallels Desktop 11 For Mac Torrent

When Parallels Desktop prompts you to sign in, sign in to the account which contains your activation keys. After signing in, you will see the list of your license keys. Double-click on the license you would like to use for activation.