Installing a Guest Operating System on a Virtual Machine

Before starting guest operating system installation, the Virtual Machine should be configured and the guest OS distributive should be connected to it. In addition to installation from real disks (CD/DVD or floppy), the guest OS distributive may reside in image file(s) (an .iso image of CD/DVD or an .fdd image of a floppy disk). Note that CD/DVD and floppy images can be made using the Parallels Image Tool included in Parallels Workstation distribution. See the Using the Parallels Image Tool chapter.

Note: To install a guest OS from any physical disk when running Linux primary OS, you should have system privileges to access the corresponding device of your host computer. Otherwise you will not be able to connect CD/DVD-ROM or floppy drive of your Virtual Machine to proper physical device.

General Steps:

1. Start Parallels Workstation.
2. Open or create a Virtual Machine configuration intended for installing guest OS.

To install from a physical CD/DVD or CD/DVD .iso image:

1. Select CD/DVD-ROM drive and open its options tab.

   On the Virtual Machine property page click on the desired CD/DVD-ROM drive to open its CD/DVD-ROM Options in Configuration Editor. Make sure that the Enabled and the Connect at startup options are selected.

2. Connect the CD/DVD-ROM drive to the guest OS distribution.

   If you install from a real CD/DVD:

   Select the Use real CD/DVD-ROM and specify which real drive to connect to the virtual device in the CD/DVD-ROM Drives list.

   Insert the CD/DVD disk with the operating system distribution into the appropriate drive of your computer.

   If you install from an .iso image file:

   Check the Use image file option and specify the path to the .iso distribution file in the Image File field.

3. Specify the IDE slot for the virtual CD/DVD-ROM. In the Connect to list select 0:1.
4. Save the Virtual Machine configuration. See Saving Virtual Machine Configuration subtopic in the Editing Virtual Machine Configuration topic.
5. Start Virtual Machine by clicking Power On on the toolbar. Follow the installation instructions for the operating system.

To install from a physical floppy disk or an .fdd floppy image:

1. Select floppy drive and open its options tab.

   On the Virtual Machine property page click on the Floppy resource to open Floppy Options in Configuration Editor. On the options tab make sure that the Enabled and the Connect at startup options are selected.

2. Connect the floppy drive with the guest OS distribution.

   If you install from a real floppy disk:

   Select the Use real floppy option and specify which real drive to connect to the virtual device in the Floppy Drives list.

   Insert the floppy disk with the operating system distribution into the appropriate drive of your computer.

   If you install from an .fdd image file:

   Check the Use image file option and specify the path to the .fdd distribution file in the Image File field.

3. Save the Virtual Machine configuration. See Saving Virtual Machine Configuration subtopic in the Editing Virtual Machine Configuration topic.
4. Start the Virtual Machine by clicking Power On on the toolbar. Follow the installation instructions for the operating system.

When Installing on Non-empty Hard Disk

If you install a guest operating system onto a hard disk where guest OS was installed previously, you have to change booting sequence when configuring Virtual Machine for installation.

• On the Booting Options tab of the General Options set boot sequence to CD-ROM, Hard Disk, Floppy or Floppy, Hard Disk, CD-ROM, if you install from CD/DVD or floppy media respectively.

During installation when guest OS will be going to reboot for the first time, return boot sequence to booting from hard disk.

• When Virtual Machine is off, set Hard Disk, Floppy, CD-ROM sequence, save settings and start the guest OS.