Parallels Desktop for Mac and Networking

Published by in apple on December 7th, 2006

I have a question I’m hoping someone else running WindowsXP via Parallels Desktop for Mac can answer.

I like to “suspend” my WinXP environment so when I need to launch it I don’t have to go through the entire, standard boot sequence. Whenever I change locations and therefore IP addresses with my laptop, however, WinXP within Parallels loses its ability to connect to the Internet. My configuration is set to use the default “bridged ethernet” setting with the default adapter. (Generally I’m connected wirelessly to the Internet on the Mac side.) I’ve tried to open a command window in XP and run ipconfig/renew to renew the DHCP address, but this doesn’t work. I have not found another way to renew the WinXP networking settings except restarting WinXP from scratch.

Does anyone know a better workaround for this?

On this day..

4 Comments »
  • http://www.assortedstuff.com Tim

    I’ve had the same problem with Parallels but only if I shut down the Mac. Normally, I put my MacBook Pro to sleep when traveling locally and, if I’ve put Win XP into suspend, it will come right back the next time I open Parallels to use it.

    There’s one other exception, however. If I try to switch to a wired connection rather than wireless, I have to shut down XP and change the settings in Parallels. I wish the software would auto detect the source of the network connection and hopefully that is a feature in a future update.

    Despite a few little annoyances like these, I am very happy with the performance of Parallels and highly recommend it over Boot Camp (even if BC is free and Parallels is not). The recent upgrade that allows dragging and dropping between the Mac and another OS marks off a big wish list item for this software and makes it even more valuable.

  • http://www.wesfryer.com Wesley Fryer

    Thanks for the quick response, Tim! I am pleased with Parallels also– I have 2 GB of RAM on my Macbok and 792 MB allocated to Parallels– at times during the boot sequence things on the mac side seem to slow down, but after Windows is running things seem pretty smooth. I’m currently running with only about 5% of my hard drive free, however, and I suspect that may be the reason for slowness since both OSes like swap space. Hopefully with future upgrades they will address the networking in different locations issue. I agree the drag and drop feature is a big benefit.

  • Devin Henley

    When using this command it should work as it works for me.

    Try using ipconfig /renew all
    or try
    ipconfig /registerdns

    2nd you are asking for trouble running with only 5% disk space free.
    Huge issues. By a travel hard drive.

    Devin

  • http://www.onlineprojects4teachers.com JenniferW

    I am a NEW Mac user — (2 months) — and very comfy PC user and am wondering if I want to try parallel….

    but I have 2 questions, and feel safe asking them here.

    #1 — Can I run them simultaneous — meaning use PaintShopPro which I love on PC and then move my images into Dreamweaver (on my mac) or do I have to open and close the OS?

    #2 — By having a windows program on my mac — could a virus take out my MAC??

    Thanks for your help
    I really want to be comfortable in both platforms but I tend to lean more PC and wonder if Parallel would help.

    Jennifer

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