The three new Toolbox Packs for Parallels on Mac and Windows include Parallels Toolbox Presentation Pack, Parallels Toolbox Screen and Video Pack, and Parallels Toolbox Disk and System Pack. Parallels PD14-RL1-1Y-OEM-OWC-NA Desktop 14 for Mac - The #1 choice of Mac users to run Windows on Mac! Run Windows and Mac apps side-by-side with no rebooting. Optimized for Windows 10 & macOS Mojave. 1 Year License, Digital Download. Parallels Desktop 12 for Mac Pro-Edition. After updating to Parallels 12 for Desktop, whenever I entered the virtual screen and clicked on an item, anything, the mouse pointer disappeared. I could get it back with certain keystrokes, but it would disappear again with first mouse click.
- Parallels For Mac Full Screen
- Parallels For Mac How To Exit Fill Screen
- Parallels For Mac Screen Resolution
- Parallels For Mac Home
- Parallels For Mac Desktop 10
- Pros
Fast performance in testing. Tight integration with guest OSes. Effortless installation. Flexible file and folder tools. Options for opening Mac files in Windows apps. Can install macOS virtual machines directly from the Mac recovery partition.
- Cons
Some Mac-integration features can be confusing or impractical until you turn them off. Only runs on a Mac, so you can't share guest machines with Windows or Linux users.
- Bottom Line
Parallels Desktop is an excellent way to run Windows apps on MacOS, especially for ordinary users. It's fast in testing, offers tight integration between Macs and guest systems, and supports many other OSes, too.
Parallels Desktop is the fastest and friendliest way to run Windows apps on a Mac for the majority of users who are likely to want to do so. IT pros may prefer VMware Fusion; expert users who want no-cost apps will prefer the open-source VirtualBox. Hardcore gamers may prefer Apple's Boot Camp, which lets users boot directly into Windows, with the added bonus of native graphics card support. For most ordinary Mac users who prefer Windows versions of apps like Microsoft Office or AutoCAD, however, or who use Windows-only apps like CorelDraw or WordPerfect Office, Parallels Desktop is the clear first choice for virtualization software.
- $79.99
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- $139.99
Platforms and Pricing
Parallels Desktop supports all Windows versions since Windows 2000, all Intel-based macOS versions (with some exceptions for licensing reasons), many flavors of Linux, BSD, Solaris, and a few other OSes. VMware Fusion and VirtualBox are even more flexible, and can run historical curiosities like OS/2 and NeXTSTEP. Also, unlike Parallels Desktop, VMware Fusion and VirtualBox have versions that run on Windows and Linux machines, while Parallels Desktop is Mac-only.
There's one other important difference: Parallels Desktop is a subscription-only product, so you'll have to pay $79.99 per year for the home-and-student version or $99.99 for the Pro Edition. VMware Fusion has a one-time cost (a model some consumers may prefer) of $79.99 for its standard version and $159.99 for its Pro version. VirtualBox is free for personal use and $50 for corporate use, but you get far fewer convenience features out of the box with this open-source product.
Get Started With Parallels
Parallels starts up with a menu for creating a new virtual machine or opening an existing one. This is where Parallels' focus on ordinary end users shines best. Unlike all other virtualization apps, Parallels doesn't expect you to have a Windows or Linux installer disk or disk image ready when you start it up, although it can use that image if you have one. Instead, Parallel's user-helpful menu lets you buy a Windows 10 download directly from Microsoft, or simply download a Windows 10 installer if you already have a license key.
Another set of options lets you install a Parallels system-export utility on your Windows PC, and export it to Parallels via a network (slowly) or an external drive. A scrolling list at the foot of the menu lets you download specific versions of Linux or Android, install a virtual copy of macOS from your Mac's hidden recovery partition, or install Windows from a Boot Camp partition if you have one.
Like VMware and VirtualBox, Parallels supports a Snapshot feature that lets you save a guest system in one or more configurations that you know works well, and then restore a saved configuration after making changes in the system that you don't want to preserve. However, Parallels is unique in supplementing this feature with a Rollback option that automatically discards all changes to a system when you shut it down, so it works like a kiosk system, returning to its pristine condition every time you power it up. This feature can be invaluable in testing, or in environments like schools where users are liable to leave systems a lot messier than they found them. If you used Microsoft's long-abandoned VirtualPC app, you'll remember this feature, and will welcome its return in Parallels.
Parallel's Performance
Compared to VMware, Parallels starts up Windows at top speed in testing. On my vintage 2015 MacBook Pro, Parallels boots Windows 10 to the desktop in 35 seconds, compared to 60 seconds for VMware. VirtualBox matches Parallels' boot speed, but it performs far fewer integration tasks while booting up. For example, VirtualBox doesn't provide printer integration and the ability to open Windows files with Mac apps and vice versa.
One reason for Parallels' bootup speed advantage is that Parallels uses an emulated PC BIOS that supports the Fast Startup option, and the others don't. The speed difference isn't nearly as obvious when running Windows apps after the OS starts up, however. Parallels feels slightly faster than its rivals, but not drastically so. Fast as it is, Parallels won't satisfy hard-core gamers because Parallels, like VMware Fusion, only supports DirectX 10, while VirtualBox only supports DirectX 9. There's nothing that Parallels can do about this limitation, which is the result of the Mac's limited support for OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) features.
By default when Parallels runs a Windows system, any files on your Mac desktop will also appear on your Windows desktop. This may sound convenient, but it's a feature that I always to turn off in Parallels' settings dialog. One reason I turn it off is that it leaves the Windows desktop cluttered. Another is that much of what I keep on my Mac desktop—like folders and apps—simply won't work when I click on them in Parallels' Windows desktop. Parallels tends to go overboard with integration features, turning them on by default whether you want them or not.
Another way Parallels goes overboard with its integration is its tendency to clutter up its dialogs and your Mac system with icons and folders that you probably don't want. For example, by default, it adds a folder full of Windows application to your Mac's dock, and a Parallels menu to Mac's menu bar—though you can turn these off by poking around the options and preferences windows. Some of Parallels' menus include links to a set of Mac-related utilities called the Parallels Toolbox; some of these utilities, like a quick disk-cleaning menu, are convenient, but you probably don't want all of them, and they have nothing to do with virtualization. Another link on Parallels' menus invites you to buy Acronis True Image backup software, which you probably don't need if you use your Mac's built-in backup features.
Parallel Computing
Anyone who wants to run a Windows app on the Mac should choose between our two Editors' Choice apps, Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion. For IT managers, developers, and for many tech-savvy users, VMware is the best choice. For most home, school, and SOHO users who don't need VMware's unique cross-platform support and legacy features, Parallels Desktop is the fastest, most hassle-free way to run Windows apps on a Mac.
Parallels Desktop (for Mac)
Bottom Line: Parallels Desktop is an excellent way to run Windows apps on MacOS, especially for ordinary users. It's fast in testing, offers tight integration between Macs and guest systems, and supports many other OSes, too.
Other Parallels Software International System & Performance
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- $49.99
Guest blog by Maria Golubeva, Parallels Support Team
Some people are tech-savvy, and some aren’t.
Once new software is installed on a Mac, some folks just start using it with the default settings, but others (and I’d say I’m one of them) optimize it by changing various settings. Sometimes I just add more RAM and CPU for the performance needs, or change the internal settings of the system. I could install special utilities, or just additional programs…
But this customization could result in some issues with the operating system. For instance: one of the worst-case scenarios is when Windows gives you the black screen. Sound familiar? What can I say? That’s sad! But it’s not over. Don’t rush to trash your poor virtual machine just yet—instead, we can try to fix it.
In order to test a few fixes for the Windows black screen issue, I performed real tests with live configurations. Needless to say, it took a while for me to do that, but now we’ve got some shiny screenshots and thorough instructions! How about that?
So, let’s see if there are some common cases when Windows goes to the black screen and if there’s any way to fix it.I will be using Parallels Desktop for Mac with Windows 7 and XP virtual machines for the tests.
Scenario 1
The first and simple scenario in which the black screen can pop up is the incorrect work of the “explorer” process. Basically, you’re working in a program on the Windows side, make a few clicks left and right and…all you see now is the empty black desktop with your mouse cursor:
Let’s check the explorer process in Task Manager by clicking Devices→Keyboard → Alt+Ctrl+Delete:
You will see the following options:
Now we can choose Task Manager and check the Explorer in the Process tab.
Don’t see it there? Restart it by clicking File → New Task:
Then type in “Explorer” and click OK:
After performing these steps, the Start panel and all of your icons should appear and you will be able to continue working in Windows.
We’ve just reviewed a few simple steps that can fix one cause of the black screen in Windows. Cool, right? By the way, you can use these steps on your Windows PC as well—not only in a virtual machine.
Scenario 2
The second potential reason for the Windows black screen is third-party application issues.
The symptoms are pretty much the same: black screen with a mouse cursor. But when you try to start Task Manager or anything else on Windows, you don’t see any changes on your screen. Here’s how to fix it:
First, start Windows in Safe Mode and check how it goes.
In your virtual machine configuration, go to Hardware, select Boot Order and put a checkmark next to Select boot device on startup.
Now, start Windows and press the F8 key before the Windows screen comes up.You will be presented with the following options:
Choose Safe Mode and press Enter.
Safe mode is quite different from the “normal” Windows mode. One of the differences is that there is no option to remove programs in Safe Mode. As I mentioned before, the possible reason behind a Windows black screen is third-party programs and sometimes malware.
So, if we can’t remove programs in Safe Mode, how do we remove this program? We need to turn on the “removal” functionality in the Safe mode. We can do that by using the Command prompt utility (similar to Terminal on your Mac).
To start it, we need to click the Windows Start button and type “cmd” in the Search box. Right-click on the “Command prompt” at the top and choose “Run as administrator”.
Seeing a new black window? Good, you’re on the right path.
Now we can execute a few commands to remove any programs.
The first command is:
REG ADD “HKLMSYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlSafeBootMinimalMSIServer” /VE /T REG_SZ /F /D “Service”
And the next one is:
net start msiserver
Will these commands change Windows registry settings? Yes. But no worries—your default settings will be back right after Windows restarts.
We need this temporary effect just for checking our programs and removing some of them if needed.
Here is what you will see after inserting the two commands:
We’re all set and can now check the programs list.
Hit Start and choose “Control Panel”.
Then go to Programs and click on “Uninstall a Program”.
Each individual program may be uninstalled by selecting it from the list and choosing the “Uninstall/Change” option. But hold on. Let’s figure out what we should uninstall first.
How are we going to do that? First, try to recall the first time when you saw the black screen. Did you install any programs recently? You can check your application by date of installation.
Sometimes some malware programs are installed along with the applications you need, for example “Conduit” or “My PC control”. If you find one of them on the list, you can click uninstall and restart Windows. You can then boot into the “normal” Windows mode.
I’d like to add one more tip here. Before removing any application, we need to make a quick backup to be safe. To do that, click on Actions → Take a snapshot at the top in your Mac menu bar. After that, you will be able to revert back if you accidentally remove the program you need.
OK, folks. Now we have two potential solutions for the black screen issue. But the symptoms may not always be the same. For example, what if there’s no mouse cursor on the screen? That’s quite different. Read on for more details.
Scenario 3
Follow these steps:
- Stop your VM and add more RAM and Virtual memory in your virtual machine configuration. Sometimes after a Parallels Desktop upgrade or a Windows upgrade, the new OS needs more memory to start and show all the items on your desktop. It’s not a panacea, but it can help you to fix the black screen.
- If adding RAM didn’t help, let’s check how Windows works in Safe mode. If it’s working fine in Safe mode, but doesn’t boot normally, the OS may have malware or another conflict application. We have already found some of them above, but sometimes Parallels Tools is affected and needs to be reinstalled.
In this case, we need to uninstall Parallels Tools (as described above, with executing command in command prompt and clicking Uninstall). After this manipulation you will be able to start Windows normally.
Of course we need Parallels Tools back for sharing options, Coherence mode and other Parallels Desktop features. However, in order to avoid the black screen again we need to first check Windows and then reinstall the Tools.
So, let’s start our Command Prompt and execute the following command:
sfc /scannow
Don’t panic if it’s taking a long time. It’s okay; your system is just checking itself for errors.
After scanning is complete and no errors are found, we can reinstall Parallels Tools and use Windows normally.
Parallels For Mac Full Screen
Scenario 4
The next possible option for a black screen is when we have no way to start VM normally or in Safe mode. Adding more RAM also doesn’t help.
Parallels For Mac How To Exit Fill Screen
Please note that the same issue could happen on a PC and it’s totally related to Windows internal crashing or misbehavior. In this case, we need to refresh or recover our operation system with the option we used before: press F8 before the Windows screen appears and find the “Repair your computer” option.
If your VM doesn’t have a system recovery partition, then you will not be able to boot into Recovery mode. But wait, it’s not over yet! We can boot the VM from the installation media (CD/DVD or the .iso installation file).
Here’s how:
- Insert the Windows installation disk into your Mac DVD drive. If you’re using an .iso image, copy it onto the Mac side.
- Open the virtual machine configuration > switch to the Hardware tab → CD/DVD.
- In the right pane, click the Connect to: field and choose your Physical CD/DVD drive or navigate to the image clicking on Choose an image file.
Parallels For Mac Screen Resolution
- In the left pane, choose Boot order and move CD/DVD to the first place in the Boot order list.
- Close your configuration window and fire up the VM. Once you see the black shell, click inside the VM window to make your VM “grab” the mouse. When your VM asks you to Press any key to boot from CD… and press any key to proceed.
We will see the following options:
Please choose Startup Repair. The system will complete the fix automatically.
Parallels For Mac Home
I know that all of us have lots of personal files and important applications and documents both on the Mac and in our VMs and can’t afford losing them. Don’t forget to take snapshots from time to time and do a full backup to be safe. “Real” and “virtual” Windows has the same issues and we always want to be on a safe side!
Parallels For Mac Desktop 10
I hope this blog post helps you diagnose and fix any black screen problems you might have and gets you up and running again in no time. Still have questions? See you on the forums! Oh, and don’t forget to follow the Support Team on Twitter!
Interested in running Windows programs on your Mac without restarting? Parallels Desktop for Mac 14 days free: Try Now!