Filed under: OS, Software, Switchers
VMware Importer makes migrating from Parallels a snap
In our post yesterday on VMware Fusion 1.1 we mentioned that VMware had also included a beta of their new Importer application. However, after using it tonight, I thought it was worth a separate post of its own, because it makes migrating from Parallels to Fusion incredibly easy. The amazing thing is that I converted an old Parallels 2.5 WinXP VM which Parallel's 3 itself had not been able to import successfully!
Basically, when you start the Importer it gives you a window in which to drop the Parallels .pvs file (just Win2000, WinXP, Win2003 Server or Vista at this time). It asks you where you want to save the new Virtual Machine and a few minutes later, boom it starts right up in Fusion -- no muss and no fuss. For me the amazing thing was that I had previously tried to import the same image into Parallels 3 and it failed. So basically the upshot is this: if you're running Parallels, but you'd like to give Fusion a try, the barrier to entry has now dropped to next to nothing (besides the hard drive space).
I bought Parallels for my Intel Mac as soon as it was released,but given my experience with Fusion (especially with the downloadable appliances), I think VMware has a convert. I fully recommend giving it a try. The VMware Importer is a free download. It's also supplemented by the VMware convertor which will create an image of a working PC that can then be imported into Fusion as a VM.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dave Wood said 11:27AM on 11-13-2007
Awesome news, I'll be giving it a try, since I have to upgrade to either Fusion or Parallels 3 in order to get my VM's working in Leopard.
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Cabbage said 11:47AM on 11-13-2007
>>boom it starts right up in Fusion -- no muss and no fuss
Does it? It doesn't work for me. I tried converting a Parallels 3.x WinXP virtual machine and it crashes on launch. I get the choice to boot in Safe Mode but that doesn't work either.
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makesense said 12:13PM on 11-13-2007
because of their cheezy support and flaky product, migrating from Parallels is a GOOD thing; kicking myself for spending so much on Parallels and getting buried in tying to figure out their licensing of updates
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Vineet Bhatia said 12:22PM on 11-13-2007
It worked when I tried to convert my Windows XP Parallels VM. But Windows needed to be re-activated and I don't have any more activations left :(
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Brian said 12:52PM on 11-13-2007
Anybody anything good to say for Parallels ?
Am about to get a new MacBook Pro and will use one of them. Tried Fusion on an iMac (beta) but didn't think it was as good as Parallels. Am I wrong ?
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Lars said 1:04PM on 11-13-2007
Remember, it's still a beta, so might not work. I must say that it's pretty interesting news. I bought Parallels from the get-go but significant updates that increase performance are rare.
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Damien Guard said 2:04PM on 11-13-2007
The easiest option yet is to create a Windows partition using Boot Camp, install XP or Vista there and then jump between native booting, Parallels or Fusion as you see fit - no conversion necessary.
[)amien
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makesense said 2:16PM on 11-13-2007
Brian,
Parallels licensing can get ultra confusing. For example, I have purchased initial versions and updates since. The insanity, if I try to install the latest few versions, my license will not work. I must first install an old version (that caused problems), and then install an update with my update license number. I hate installing broken software. In addition, Parallels fried my Bootcamp Windows install when trying to boot into it directly, although the Parallels VM point from OSX worked. Finally, Parallels support varies between nonexistent to useless. I tried dozens of hours with Parallels, I gave up. VMWare'f Fusion is inherently better (less jerky, more functionality, better developed) and VMWare has helped me with the couple questions I have had (I have never had a problem with Fusion, it never fried my Windows install (which cost me several hundred dollars in wasted product keys attempting to get Parallels to work as advertised/promised.
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Joshua Ochs said 2:28PM on 11-13-2007
What I don't understand is why this is a separate app at all. Why not just auto-convert Parallels VMs if they're opened inside Fusion?
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Todd Bradley said 2:57PM on 11-13-2007
Brian asked, "Anybody anything good to say for Parallels?"
I've been using Parallels occasionally on my MacBook Pro for several months now and it's worked mostly fine for me. I use VMware Server at work (on Linux and Windows) and Parallels at home, and they seem to have about the same number of limitations, bugs, and quirks.
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Jeff Daigle said 6:35PM on 11-13-2007
I've been using Parallels since it was released. I run it on a Core Duo iMac (2.16 Ghz, 2GB RAM) and have VMs set up for XP, 98, and Ubuntu. For a while the Parallels video drivers caused 98 to crash on shutdown, but as of Parallels 3 this is fixed. Other than that, no complaints. I haven't tried Fusion, but see no reason to switch at the moment.
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Karim said 9:09PM on 11-13-2007
Just as a random, anecdotal data point, I downloaded the trial of Fusion, used VMware Converter to make a VM out of an XP machine that has TONS of crap loaded up on it, and was pretty stunned when the VM actually booted on a Mac. :-)
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Dominique said 3:25PM on 11-14-2007
That sounds easy, but how to get rid of the Parallels Tools?
I had previously converted a Parallels Image to VMWare and have forgotten to remove the Tools in advance. It is impossible to uninstall Parallels Tools while the VM is hosted by VMWare.
As a result my successful converted VM now still has the Parallels Tools and is unable to use the VMWare virtual sound adapter nor does my VM switch off after a shutdown.
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jchull said 12:22AM on 11-27-2007
Wow, just bought VMWare for $47.99, what a deal! I have been using Parallels since it's release daily for work. It sucked up the memory and my machine would not respond for about 10 seconds when it started a VM. I was very happy with Parallels, but Fusion just performs better. One note: before converting, open the VM in Parallels and uninstall Parallels tools and the errors disappear.
To get the deal use this URL: http://www.digitalriver.com/promo=79319 and then enter the promo code "ALLUME2007". Make sure to remove the download protection from your cart. I want my money back for buying Parallels and the upgrade now!
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Donald Patterson said 11:25AM on 1-31-2008
Can anyone point me in the right direction to find the .pvs file and where it is located. I am wishing to convert my Parallels Win XP to VMWare. I have the imported but cannot make it work. Any help would be appreciated greatly.
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