Installing Windows XP and DSA in Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac

1. Go to your Applications folder and click the Parallels Desktop icon.

2. In Parallels, go to File > New... Click ʻSkip Detectionʼ.

3. Change the ʻVersionʼ to Windows XP. Click ʻContinueʼ.

4. Change the Virtual Machine Type to ʻCustomʼ. Click ʻContinueʼ.

5. You will need to modify the CPU and Memory Options. Change ʻProcessorsʼ to 2 and change ʻMain memoryʼ to 1500 MB. Click ʻContinueʼ.

6. Modify Hard Disk Options to ʻNew image fileʼ. Click ʻContinueʼ.

7. You will need to modify the New Virtual Hard Disk screen. Set the disk type to ʻExpanding diskʼ and set the ʻCapacityʼ to 40 GB. Click ʻContinueʼ.

8. Under Networking Type, keep the ʻShared Networkingʼ option selected. Click ʻContinueʼ.

9. Under Optimization Options, optimize the performance for the ʻVirtual Machineʼ. Click ʻContinueʼ.

10. Under Name and Location, set the name to ʻWindows XP Homeʼ. Set the ʻSharingʼ option to ʻRedirect Windows user folders to Macʼ. Click ʻCreateʼ. Note: This means that your folders such as documents, pictures, etc. in Windows will actually be folders on the Mac.

11. You will now be on the screen Prepare to Install Operating System. Click the triangle to drop down the ʻBoot Optionsʼ. Set the boot drive to your CD/DVD drive located on your computer. Insert your Windows XP Home Edition CD into your computerʼs CD/DVD drive. Click ʻDoneʼ.

12. Your new Virtual Machine has been created. A square, black window will appear that is labelled ʻWindows XP Homeʼ. Do not start the Virtual Machine yet. Go to Virtual Machine > Configure. Click the ʻOptionsʼ tab. Click the Optimization category. Enable ʻAdaptive Hypervisorʼ, ʻAutoCompressʼ, and ʻTune Windows for speedʼ. Change the Power Consumption to ʻBetter Performanceʼ.

13. Click the Crystal & Coherence category. Enable ʻDisable drop shadowʼ. Leave the rest of the settings intact.

14. Nothing else can be changed under the ʻOptionsʼ tab to give better performance. Click the ʻHardwareʼ tab.

15. Click the Video category. Set the amount of ʻVideo memoryʼ to 128 MB. Enable ʻ3D Accelerationʼ and ʻVertical Synchronizationʼ. Then click ʻOKʼ.

16. Your Virtual Machine is now tuned for maximum speed. Go to Virtual Machine > Start. You will get a message that says “The amount of video memory is too low...”. Tick ʻDo not show this message and press ʻContinueʼ.

17. The Operating System Installation Assistant will appear. Choose the ʻExpressʼ option and click ʻContinueʼ.

18. Enter your desired ʻUser Nameʼ and ʻWindows Product Keyʼ. Double-check your Product Key for mistakes. Press ʻContinueʼ. Then click ʻStartʼ.

19. The Windows setup will complete many operations, including formatting your disk, copying setup files, and installing system files. It might takes 30 minutes to complete, so go grab a cup of coffee while youʼre waiting.

20. Parallels will also run the Parallels Tools Setup Wizard. You will then get a message that says you will be logged out. Press ʻOKʼ. The Virtual Machine will restart.

21. Parallels will default to Coherence mode. The Windows Taskbar is located in your Mac menu bar. Open Internet Explorer and go to update.microsoft.com . Download all updates. You may need to restart multiple times.

Click this for your Start menu. Itʼs located on your Mac dock if youʼre

in Coherence mode.

22. You will get a message that says that antivirus software is not installed. Ignore the message, but then open Internet Explorer on your Virtual Machine and go to www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/. Click ʻDownload Nowʼ. Choose the download labeled ʻWindows XP 32 bitʼ. Run through the installation procedure. Make sure Microsoft Security Essentials gets fully updated and has the green logo (which will be in your Mac menu bar if you are in Coherence mode).

23. All you need to do now is install DSA 2. Put the installation file (ESDPK‐BM02‐14444‐Setup.exe)on your Mac desktop. In Parallels, click View > Window. You should see the DSA setup file on the Windows desktop. Open up DSA and run the setup wizard. Make sure that you have your Product Key ready. When you are done installing DSA, do a system reboot. Then, open DSA, and go to Help > Check for Updates. Update to the latest patch. Youʼre now set to start using DSA.

24. Need even more Windows speed? Click the Start icon, right click ʻMy Computerʼ, choose ʻPropertiesʼ and click the ʻAdvancedʼ tab. Under Performance, click ʻSettingsʼ. Under the Visual Effects tab, click ʻAdjust for best performanceʼ. Click OK. This will disable many of the fancy Windows effects, but you donʼt really need them if you run your applications in Coherence mode.

25. Thatʼs it! Using these settings resulted in great performance when running applications such as DSA, PP, and WP. I suggest you keep your old Virtual Machine in case there are any files that you need to retrieve. I hope this helps. If you have any questions, please post on the Serif Forums.