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17 Replies Last post: Jan 22, 2009 5:11 PM by KPO'M 1 2 Previous Next

seoulstomper

3 posts since
Jan 5, 2009

Jan 5, 2009 8:58 AM

Windows 7 on VMWare Fusion

Just curious whether anyone has managed to get Windows 7 Beta installed using VMWare Fusion (or Parallels 4). I tried using an .iso I downloaded of build 6801 and I felt like it almost made it... till it said: "Windows cannot be configured to run on this hardware."

I configured the virtual machine to use 1GB, changed the disk from SCSI to IDE... basically did everything this guy did, but to no avail.

Here are my full specs:

Hardware Overview:

Model Name: MacBook
Model Identifier: MacBook2,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 4 MB
Memory: 2 GB
Bus Speed: 667 MHz
Boot ROM Version: MB21.00A5.B07
SMC Version: 1.13f3

Anyone have better luck, or better yet, tips on how they did it?

Reply Tags: windows_7, windows, vmware, fusion, parallels, mac, macbook

seoulstomper

3 posts since
Jan 5, 2009

1. Jan 5, 2009 8:17 PM

in response to: seoulstomper

Re: Windows 7 on VMWare Fusion

Ha! I did it with build 7000 I downloaded here, and activated it with this patch. It worked flawlessly, even installing VMWare Tools without a hitch!

It's exactly like Vista, only faster, and the resource load is even less than Windows XP. I recommend it if, like me, you need to run Internet Explorer to access certain websites that require IE and IE only. I will definitely buy it when it is released out of beta.

Here is a screenshot of the System Properties screen:

Leto_Parallels

26 posts since
Oct 30, 2008

2. Jan 6, 2009 8:10 AM

in response to: seoulstomper

Re: Windows 7 on VMWare Fusion

As of our latest build release (3810) yes, Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac has support for Windows 7 as well as Snow Leopard. Until either of these operating systems are released, however, it falls under the category of "experimental".

The latest patch notes for this build are HERE off of our product download and support page, if anyone is interested.

Sean Gibbons - Official Blogger for www.Parallels.com

KPO'M

1,851 posts since
Nov 29, 2001

3. Jan 8, 2009 1:36 PM

in response to: seoulstomper

Re: Windows 7 on VMWare Fusion

Is anyone else planning to try the Windows 7 Beta in Fusion or Parallels? For those of you who have it running already, how well does it work? I have XP for my main virtual client right now.

Leto_Parallels

26 posts since
Oct 30, 2008

4. Jan 8, 2009 2:35 PM

in response to: KPO'M

Re: Windows 7 on VMWare Fusion

KPO'M wrote:Is anyone else planning to try the Windows 7 Beta in Fusion or Parallels? For those of you who have it running already, how well does it work? I have XP for my main virtual client right now.

Wouldn't mind hearing on this myself if people are trying it out. As Microsoft updates their beta, it's important to Parallels to get as much feedback as possible.

Sean Gibbons - Official Blogger for www.Parallels.com

nwatts

47 posts since
Jun 7, 2007

5. Jan 9, 2009 5:00 AM

in response to: Leto_Parallels

Re: Windows 7 on VMWare Fusion

I'm going to try it out when it's released later today with Parallels. I had a look at the preview material and I'm pretty keen on checking it out. If it's as fast as everyone around the internet claims it is I'd welcome it as a replacement to XP, even if I only use it seriously once every couple of weeks.

KPO'M

1,851 posts since
Nov 29, 2001

6. Jan 9, 2009 9:02 PM

in response to: Leto_Parallels

Re: Windows 7 on VMWare Fusion

Despite the overwhelming demand that crashed Microsoft's servers, I did manage to download a copy of the 64-bit version of Windows 7 and installed the "Business" edition from a direct link posted by Wired magazine. Since it was the 64-bit version, I couldn't install it from the 32-bit Windows Vista that I have running under Fusion, and thus I had to create a new virtual machine. It seemed to install OK, however. It's a 3.15GB download (2.43GB for the 32-bit version).

I'll need to install some software on it to really test it out, but it seems quite a bit faster than Vista once you get things started. It took about 1.5 hours to download, and about another 45 minutes or so to install.

I'll still try again through the official channels, since the current download I have is only valid for 30 days. However, Windows 7 looks like a winner. It's what Vista should have been. Not quite like OS X, but certainly a worthy successor to XP.

In case you are wondering, I have Windows 7 set up with 1GB RAM and dual-cores on my MacBook Air (new version with SSD). I don't have Parallels, but I'm running it having set up the VM as a "Windows Server 2008 x64 edition." Note that I have noticed in Fusion that running Vista 32-bit under a 64-bit VM appears a bit faster, though that could just be perception.

KPO'M

1,851 posts since
Nov 29, 2001

7. Jan 10, 2009 8:29 AM

in response to: KPO'M

Re: Windows 7 on VMWare Fusion

I've noticed that Chrome and Firefox don't appear compatible with Windows 7 64-bit. I did manage to get a 32-bit key now so I might try to download the 32-bit version. McAfee Antivirus installed just fine, as did VMWare Tools.

My first reaction is that the new "taskbar" replacement is a little odd. It's sort of like the Dock, except that you can't tell the difference between an active application icon and a shortcut (I expect this will change in the final version if Microsoft gets a lot of complaints about it). The Start menu and Explorer boxes definitely open up more quickly than on Vista. It runs quite acceptably on the 1GB RAM I have allocated it (about as well as XP), and doesn't heat up the processor anywhere near as fast as Vista.

Update: I did find a purported workaround for Chrome online. I'll try it when I'm back at my Mac running Windows 7.

hoffo

2 posts since
Jan 12, 2009

8. Jan 12, 2009 10:55 PM

in response to: seoulstomper

Re: Windows 7 on VMWare Fusion

i tried it with vm fusion as well the 7000 build and it installed perfectly...im actually still in shock to tell you the truth. I have a macbook pro bought in in march. vm for some reason when you install it, it installs it as vista but when it loads up later its windows 7. So no worries.

nwatts

47 posts since
Jun 7, 2007

9. Jan 13, 2009 4:18 AM

in response to: Leto_Parallels

Re: Windows 7 on VMWare Fusion

Leto_Parallels wrote:
Wouldn't mind hearing on this myself if people are trying it out. As Microsoft updates their beta, it's important to Parallels to get as much feedback as possible.

Hi Mr Parallels,

I installed Windows 7 (32 bit) on my early 2008 MacBook Pro under OS X 10.5.6 with Parallels 4.0 and everything has run very smoothly. The only issue so far has been when I shut down the Windows 7 virtual machine. Either the virtual machine crashes while it's shutting down, freezing the screen. Or it'll crash all of Parallels and I'll do a force quit. Bit strange, but overall a fairly minor problem.

Windows 7 is pretty nice, much faster than Vista, much prettier looking than XP. The new little dock it has is quite welcome too.

seoulstomper

3 posts since
Jan 5, 2009

10. Jan 13, 2009 7:45 AM

in response to: seoulstomper

Re: Windows 7 on VMWare Fusion

Update: I have deleted Windows 7 VM. Sadly, I don't think it's quite ready for primetime. It installed fine, but upon resuming absolutely c-r-a-w-l-e-d. I thought tis might be an MS beta glitch so I dumped it and reinstalled it... and the same thing happened. The odd thing was Windoze 7's System Monitor showed minimal CPU usage, but my VM, set to use a single core, was paralyzing both. Thus I suspect the problem is with VMWare, so I will wait until they officially support it before trying again.

For the record I use Fusion instead of Parallels because they supported ActiveX first and thus allowed me to finally trash my old HP laptop and do my Korean internet banking via a VM... and I still appreciate that!

haygun

4 posts since
Jan 17, 2009

11. Jan 17, 2009 5:09 PM

in response to: seoulstomper

Re: Windows 7 on VMWare Fusion

If I am wanting to do this, what do I select when VM Ware asks me to "Choose Operating System" (see below)

KPO'M

1,851 posts since
Nov 29, 2001

12. Jan 17, 2009 5:30 PM

in response to: haygun

Re: Windows 7 on VMWare Fusion

I selected Windows Vista and it worked fine. Others have used Windows 2008 Server. Be sure to match up the 32-bit vs. 64-bit depending on the beta that you download.

haygun

4 posts since
Jan 17, 2009

13. Jan 17, 2009 7:04 PM

in response to: KPO'M

Re: Windows 7 on VMWare Fusion

Am I correct in saying that Aero doesn't work in VMWare Fusion 2.0.1? Is there any way to fix this?

KPO'M

1,851 posts since
Nov 29, 2001

14. Jan 17, 2009 7:34 PM

in response to: haygun

Re: Windows 7 on VMWare Fusion

haygun wrote:
Am I correct in saying that Aero doesn't work in VMWare Fusion 2.0.1? Is there any way to fix this?

3D acceleration should be turned off in the VM settings. However, you do get the Aero effects (at least I do in my MacBook Air setup). Be sure to install the VMWare Tools. They install just as they would for Vista and do include drivers to make Windows 7 display emulate an SVGA display. In full-screen mode, it should have the same resolution as OS X.

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This Question is Answered

Jan 5, 2009 8:58 AM

Windows 7 on VMWare Fusion

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