Mac users using Parallel - do I also have to buy Windows?

[Frontier Mom]

I have several PC's and just want to run HST. However, I don't want to spend several hundred dollars to do it.

[Lady_Dulcinea]

Yes you do have to buy windows also.

[nmoira]

You should be able to pick up a copy of Windows 2000 for under $100 on eBay or elsewhere. You don't need XP or Vista (I'd recommend against either of them anyway as they are resource hogs). HST runs fine on 2000 in Parallels (as do most educational games that don't require hardware acceleration)... I use it myself.

Do you not have any installation CD's for your versions of Windows?

[Frontier Mom]

Will this work if I get Parallel? It seems I have to buy Parallel first to see if it will work so I would love to know if this is going to work first.

Can anybody give me advice?

[Cadam]

It should work just fine.:thumbup1:

[Frontier Mom]

I'll give it a try.

[nmoira]

Just a reminder that Parallels only works on Intel Macs...

[Frontier Mom]

I hope so as I purchased Parallel a little while ago.

[nmoira]

I hope so as I purchased Parallel a little while ago.All new Macs are Intel Macs.

[Frontier Mom]

Everything else seems to work great but I read, over on the TOG Forum, how great HST Plus is for planning. As I want to be ready for the fall, I want to go ahead and get it set up now.

Thanks for your help.

[Suzanne in ABQ]

You might not be able to install your Windows XP if it is already installed and registered on a different machine. I think they have to be licensed to run on more than one machine at a time. I'm not sure how that registration number thing works. I just know that you have to enter the registration number from the back of the CD sleeve when you install the Windows software. Then, your computer "phones home" to Microsoft and registers the software.

I feel like I'm talking in circles. Has anyone tried using their re-installation software from their PC to put Windows on a different computer? Will Microsoft let you do that?

[Nicole not in CA]

It depends. We just bought a Mac, and we asked them the very same question. Our PC is a Dell, and the reinstallation CD for XP for a Dell is void of certain drivers, so it won't work to load it onto the Mac. We had to purchase XP along with Parallels.

[Frontier Mom]

Since it is already running on another machine, I am going to have to buy windows too. Bummer!!

Now, does anybody have a good place to get it cheaper?

[Frontier Mom]

I wrote thread on Parallel for Mac and now I have to buy Windows XP. I have only bought a couple of things on ebay and not sure about this.

I know you can help me. Where as a new XP is $200, there are some on there for $86. However, they say never used code so can I be sure about this. WWYD?

[nmoira]

I wrote thread on Parallel for Mac and now I have to buy Windows XP. I have only bought a couple of things on ebay and not sure about this.

I know you can help me. Where as a new XP is $200, there are some on there for $86. However, they say never used code so can I be sure about this. WWYD?Why do you have to buy Windows XP? IMHO, you'd be better off with Windows 2000. It has less bloat and is probably the most stable version of Windows. You'll also be able to reinstall it without difficulty if needs be.

My exposure to Windows is in a business context, sorry if I misled you about installation disks; I'd forgotten they'd started that silliness with the ultra-restrictive licensing agreements... another reason why I prefer Apple. I can tell you that eBay is cracking down big time on software pirates (google "windows ebay pirated" to get the lowdown)... so this might actually be the best time to buy Windows on eBay. :)

[Frontier Mom]

Microsoft is really confusing with all their new stuff. I will buy on ebay from someone with great rating!!

[Frontier Mom]

I had posted about this for the purpose of getting HST Plus up and running. Thanks to all the help!! You are so helpful.

Now I am trying to update my HST Plus and getting ready to input TOG for next year at some point soon.

[Suzanne in ABQ]

Congratulations! I've been watching your thread with interest because I am soon going to make the switch to an iMac, and I want to run Homeschool Tracker. We're keeping the Dell for the kids, and it will be in the school room, so I was thinking I would have to just use the Dell for HST, and use the Mac for everything else.

If you don't mind, could you tell me: Where did you end up getting Windows? Which version did you get (XP?)? And, how much did you end up paying for it, and for Parallels? How much memory did you get in your Mac? Does the Windows run well, without bogging the machine down?

I'm trying to get everything set up soon, but I don't want to get this wrong. I'd hate to have to re-do it all, or find that I spent a whole lot of money I could have kept.

Thanks,
Suzanne

[nmoira]

I'm running it in Leopard (OS 10.5.2) on an original Intel iMac (about 2 years old now) with 2 gigs RAM. Windows 2000 runs perfectly and doesn't bog the machine down, even when running windowed. To be safe I store a backup of the database on my Mac desktop, because I don't want to lose the data if the Windows Virtual Machine corrupts. I had this happen once, about a year and a half ago (several revisions of Parallels ago). With the newest version of Parallels, files can be dragged between OSX and Windows after Parallels Tools (included) are installed in Windows.

Be sure to repeatedly run Windows Update until it shows all updates have been installed (the may take many iterations).

[pixelroper]

you could just start in bootstrap (hold down option at startup) to run HST. Parallels is handy to switch back and forth on the fly but to save $ you could boot up in bootstrap for HST.

I'm running Virtual PC on last OS, but dh uses bootstrap on his mac for PC programs- HST is the only one I have though.

[susie in tx]

I'd love to hear your experiences with Parallel. I have considered it, but haven't spent much time investigating the software.

[OnTheBrink]

Remember, since you're a home schooler, you can get the educator's discount at Apple. :)

[Frontier Mom]

So far, I haven't had any problems. I ended up buying Windows XP on ebay and it worked fabulous.

I got it so I could run HST+ as I was really missing it. I have spent the last couple of days inputting all my lesson plans for math, etc. I hope to get TOG input over the summer so it will be running great by fall.

It was really easy to load and get up and running. The only snag I had was getting a download code from HST+ because my disk was so old. I didn't realize how long I had been using it. Like always, they got it right to me. I find they have great customer service.