Parallels Desktop for Mac: Custom Windows Install

At this point in the configuration process, you can decide whether to optimize the virtual machine you're about to create for speed and performance or give any applications running on your Mac dibs on your Mac's processor.

Decide How to Optimize Performance

1. Select an optimization method.
   • Virtual Machine. Choose this option for the best performance of the Windows virtual machine you're about to create.
     
     
   • Mac OS X applications. Choose this option if you prefer to have your Mac applications take precedence over Windows.
     
     
2. Make your selection. I prefer the first option, to give the virtual machine the best performance possible, but the choice is yours. You can change your mind later if you decide that you made the wrong choice.
   
   
3. Click the ‘Next’ button.
   
   

• Using the Parallels Custom Operating System Installation Option
• Selecting the Custom Install Option
• Specify RAM and Hard Drive Size
• Selecting a Networking Option
• Setting Up File Sharing and the Location of the Virtual Machine
• Optimizing Your Virtual Machine
• Start Installing Windows