1. Parallels For Mac Install Tools In Toolbar
2. Parallels For Mac Install Tools Vmware
3. Install Windows On Parallels

Symptoms

I am unable to install Parallels Tools automatically through the virtual machine Mac menu: Actions (Virtual Machine in older versions) >Install Parallels Tools.

I’ve been using Parallels Desktop for Mac to run a Debian Linux 6.0 virtual machine. I wanted to install the Parallels Tools in the Debian virtual machine so I could take advantage of better integration between the Linux virtual machine and the Mac OS X host computer.

Resolution (Manual Installation)

Parallels Tools installation and /or updating is always required when you create a new virtual machine or upgrade Parallels Desktop to a newer build or version.

We also recommend reinstalling Parallels Tools when you are troubleshooting host-guest integration issues, such as Coherence, shared applications, shared folders, copy-and-pasting between your Mac and your virtual machine and mouse and keyboard issues.

If automatic installation does not start when expected (e.g., during an update to the Parallels Desktop build), or if you want to install Parallels Tools manually, follow the steps below.

Note: All examples pertain to Windows virtual machines.

Scenrio 1: Simple

1. Start your virtual machine

2. In the Mac menu click on Actions (Virtual Machine in older versions) >Install Parallels Tools (or Reinstall / Update Parallels Tools, if applicable)

3. If the installation does not start, open the Start menu in Windows >Computer > Locate Parallels Tools CD drive. Then double-click on it to launch Parallels Tools installation.

4. If the Parallels Tools installation has not started, right-click on Parallels Tools CD. Then choose Open, locate PTAgent.exe file and double-click on it to launch installation.

Scenario 2: More complicated

If the Parallels Tools disk image file is not mounted inside the virtual machine, meaning you cannot see the Parallels Tools CD in Windows Explorer under the Computermenu - follow these steps:

1. Make sure your virtual machine is running in Window mode. If it is running in Coherence mode, exit Coherence.

2. In Mac the menu click on Devices >CD/DVD >Connect image...

3. In the Open window navigate to Applications >Parallels Desktop >Contents >Resources

4. Inside the Resources folder, go to the Tools folder, and locate the file prl-tools-win.iso. Click on this file, then click the Open button

5. Proceed with a manual Parallels Tools installation starting from Step 3 in Scenario 1, above.

Scenario 3: Most complicated

If the Parallels Tools image cannot be mounted inside Windows, and the steps above do not work (meaning Windows fails to recognize the CD/DVD disk attached to the virtual machine), follow these steps:

1. Shut down your virtual machine.
2. Locate your virtual machine in Finder see KB 117333.

3. Right-click on your virtual machine’s .pvm file, then select Open with > Parallels Mounter.

4. Your virtual machine's Hard Drives will be mounted in Finder:

5. Locate the Windows hard disk containing the Windows installation — it will contain the Windows folder.

6. Open a new Finder window and go to the Applications folder,

7. Locate Parallels Desktop and right-click > Show Package Contents

8. Go to Contents > Resources > Tools.

9. Locate the prl-tools-win.tar.gz file and unarchive it. The resulting prl-tools-win folder will be extracted either to the same Tools folder or to the Downloads folder. You can also use Spotlight to locate the prl-tools-win folder.

10. Copy the prl-tools-win folder to Windows hard drive mounted in Step 5

11. Eject the Windows Hard Disks mounted in Finder

12. Start your Windows virtual machine, open Windows Explorer and go to disk C:

13. Open the prl-tools-win folder and double-click on the setup.exe to start the Parallels Tools installation.

    Optionally you can go to the Data folder, open amd64 or i386 sub-folder according to your Windows architecture (64-bit or 32-bit); and run paralels-tools-amd64.exe or parallels-tools-i386.exe.

14. Follow the Install wizard.

#- INTERNAL -

Text is checked and verified by Mia Lipman Jan 12, 2015.

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 For Mac Install Tools In Toolbar

• 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.

Parallels For Mac Install Tools Vmware

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.

Install Windows On Parallels

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.