[species5618]

Hello folks, my kids are having problems running Sims2 within Parallels. I installed it and it starts Windows XP Pro (no service packs) fine. When they put in the Sims CD, and try to run the program, it tells them that it can't find an installation of DirectX 9, but offers to install it. They tried that. No soap.

I went to Microsoft's web site. Downloaded what I thought was a DX9 installer. Launched that. No change.

Any ideas here on what could be going wrong? Thanks in advance!

[smax013]

species5618 said:

Hello folks, my kids are having problems running Sims2 within Parallels. I installed it and it starts Windows XP Pro (no service packs) fine. When they put in the Sims CD, and try to run the program, it tells them that it can't find an installation of DirectX 9, but offers to install it. They tried that. No soap.

I went to Microsoft's web site. Downloaded what I thought was a DX9 installer. Launched that. No change.

Any ideas here on what could be going wrong? Thanks in advance!

I am not sure that Parallels supports DirectX 9 or not. To my knowledge, there is no official word...the only official word is that DirectX 8.1 is what is supported. But, it appears some people have tried games that require DirectX 9 and gotten them to work...kind of. If they do work, they are very slow.



End result is that if you want to use a game with DirectX 9 then use BootCamp. It should definitely work and should work MUCH better that what you could get to work in Parallels if you get it to work. Gaming is the one area where Parallels is not really a viable option at this time.

[species5618]

Thank you. If I'd known that Boot Camp was part of 10.5, I'd never have ordered Parallels (which comes with a rebate) from MacMall when I ordered my wife's new Macbook last week. I just discovered that when looking at Apple's web site. Ugh. Installing XP now, only I need to get SP2. Not sure how to acquire that, but I have Windows friends.

Thanks man.

[species5618]

Does Boot Camp only like XPSP2 discs? I only got an XP disc. No SPs. What's a man to do?

[smax013]

species5618 said:

Thank you. If I'd known that Boot Camp was part of 10.5, I'd never have ordered Parallels (which comes with a rebate) from MacMall when I ordered my wife's new Macbook last week. I just discovered that when looking at Apple's web site. Ugh. Installing XP now, only I need to get SP2. Not sure how to acquire that, but I have Windows friends.

Thanks man.

If you have a current Windoze XP install disk that is prior to SP2, then you can "slimstream" SP2 and create a new bootable install disk with SP2 inlcuded. Just do a Google search on "slipstreaming XP SP2" and you will find a bunch of sites that help in that area. You will also need the SP2 patch, which you can download here.



Be careful about using someone else's disks. I am pretty sure that Windoze XP licenses keys are tied to both versions (i.e. Home, Pro, Media Center), License type (i.e. OEM, Retail, and Upgrade), AND SP version (i.e. original, SP1, SP2, SP2b, and SP2c...not that there is not technical difference between SP2, SP2b and SP2c...they just had to "reprint" to create more license keys). In otherwords, if you borrow a friend's Retail XP Home SP2b disk and your version is an OEM XP Home SP1, then I am pretty sure that your license key will NOT work with your friend's install disk...you would thus have to use your friend's license key, which would then result in a license violation (unless your friend is no longer using their license for XP and gives it to you, which is not likely). Thus, if I am correct, even if you can find a friend with the same overall version and license type as your install disks, since the SP will be different, your license key will not work, I believe. If you don't want to violate a license, then your best option is to slipstream SP2 or just go out and buy a new license (you can get an OEM XP Home SP2b or SP2c from NewEgg for about $90...not that OEM versions entitle you to zippola in terms of support from Micro$oft...support is the "system builder's" responsibility under the OEM license, which would be you).

[smax013]

species5618 said:

Does Boot Camp only like XPSP2 discs? I only got an XP disc. No SPs. What's a man to do?

Yep...only SP2 or newer. See the post that I was just typing and just came up when you posted this.

[species5618]

Thanks for your time. I'm going to see if a) I can get an updated install disc from MS, since I own a legitimate copy of XP Pro, or b) I need to buy a copy of XP Home SP2. I tried to slipstream the thing, but I need Nero. That's almost as much as a brand new SP2'd install disc.

Thanks man.

[Typhoon14]

Just download the trial version of Nero. It's a fully-functional 30-day trial. I have done exactly what you are trying to do using the Nero trial, and it works just fine.

[species5618]

Downloading the trial version of Nero 8 on my wife's Macbook as I type this. If this all works, I'm giving you guys the best rating I can. Even so, I gotta give you some credit for pointing me in the general direction.

[species5618]

Great suggestions folks. I'm gonna see if I can give everyone here a great rating. But for some reason now, Parallels is no longer loading Windows up properly. Says one of the files might be corrupt. I'm starting to hate this process. I'm gonna see if MS will give me an updated disc. If not, I'll purchase one and do all this through Boot Camp. When that's done, I'm trashing Parallels. Good thing we got a rebate on that dopey program.

[smax013]

species5618 said:

Great suggestions folks. I'm gonna see if I can give everyone here a great rating. But for some reason now, Parallels is no longer loading Windows up properly. Says one of the files might be corrupt. I'm starting to hate this process. I'm gonna see if MS will give me an updated disc. If not, I'll purchase one and do all this through Boot Camp. When that's done, I'm trashing Parallels. Good thing we got a rebate on that dopey program.

I seriously doubt that Micro$oft will give you an updated disc, but they will send you an SP2 update disk (i.e. updates an already installed version of Windoze XP). Been there...done that. The SP2 disk is still sitting around here somewhere. If you cannot get slipstreaming to work, then your best bet is to purchase a new license. Technically, if your old XP license came with a computer (i.e. it is an OEM license), then you technically are not permitted per the license to move it from the old computer to another computer (I am pretty sure that OEM licenses are technically "tied" to the one computer...does not mean it is physically possible or that you will ever get "caught", but would be against the license, I believe).



As to Parallels, it is a darn good program...as long as you understand its limitations. It is NOT for gaming at this time. But, works great for Windoze programs that are not graphically intensive. Works great for my structural engineering programs that are Windoze only. Allows me to use them on my Mac and I DO NOT have to reboot to use them. Means I don't have to buy another Windoze laptop again and if Apple ever does a decent mid-range tower, then I could also kiss off Windoze desktops (although it is kind of fun building a Windoze tower...but I won't buy another brand name Windoze computer ever again most likely).

[species5618]

Thanks for all the information Smax, you've been great.

Yes, I called MS this afternoon and the only way they'd send me a full install SP2 disc would if my original was defective. I figure XP Home SP2 will be just fine for my wife. We were trying to save a little moolah by using my XP copy (since it's not being used by any other machine in the house), but $90 for a new install disc is not bank-breaking.

As for Parallels... I dunno man. The Windows system in there got messed up somehow. Not sure what caused it, but the install was just maybe a week ago and at least one of the system files was corrupted.

Booting up separately will be a bit annoying, but it won't be the end of the world if it works. This will be a $90 gamble. I hope there isn't some other reason why Boot Camp was crapping out during my several install attempts.

Thanks man.