VMWare Fusion question

[meterman70]

I currently use Parallels Desktop, and have a question on VMWare -

Does VMWare Fusion add any software to the virtual machine beyond what is needed for integration with OS X?

(Parallels does - auto-installs Stardock MyColors on Windows VMs with no opportunity to decline - have to uninstall afterwards)

Just wondering.

[WoodyZ · Accepted solution]

The only software that VMware Fusion will automatically install when creating a Windows Virtual Machine is VMware Tools and this usually starts automatically but usually can be canceled although unless you are trying to totally isolate the Guest from the Host then I'd let VMware Tools be installed.

[meterman70]

Thank you. That's EXACTLY what I wanted and needed to hear.

This forum seems to be much better than Parallels' (where mods have to approve all posts before they even appear on the forum - resulting in unnecessary delays in replies).

My next question: Can a VM created within Parallels be converted to run under Fusion, or would it be better to create a new one from scratch?

(either way, I will have to determine when I created my present virtual machine and change over once that 6-month window has passed)

[WoodyZ]

My next question: Can a VM created within Parallels be converted to run under Fusion, or would it be better to create a new one from scratch?

</div>

IMO Clean Building a system Physical or Virtual is always better then Upgrading/Importing etc., however it's very easy to import a Parallels VM so I'd give it a go and see if you're happy with the performance and or if there are any issues.

VMware Fusion (menu bar) &gt; Help &gt; Search &gt; type Import then select Import a Parallels or Virtual PC Virtual Machine

(either way, I will have to determine when I created my present virtual machine and change over once that 6-month window has passed)

Not sure what you're trying to say here.

[meterman70]

Woody: Thank you for the additional helpful information. As for the last part, I've had to recreate the Windows VM a few times and have reactivated it enough (and same for the one M$ program - M$ Streets / Trips for which I still need Windows) that it becomes necessary to call in after the reactivation dialog comes into play. No question of the legitimacy of the software in question, just how often it's had to be reactivated.

Yeah... I think I will end up going with VMWare pretty soon anyway

[dp_fusion]

In version 2.x of Parallels it was necessary to uninstall Parallels Tools before migrating because it cannot be done later. That may still be true. It can't hurt. Also do a full shutdown, not suspend.