Demystifying Windows

Everything you need to know before running Windows.

Q: Is Windows 7 any good, or should I stick with XP?

A: Absolutely you should choose Windows 7. It combines the speed of XP with the security of Vista, comes with DirectX 11 baked in, and supports the TRIM command to keep SSDs running in tip-top shape.

Q: Cool, I’m down with that, but which version of Windows 7 is best for me?

A: Most home users should opt for Home Premium, though if you rely on lots of legacy apps, you’ll find Professional’s XP Mode to be a godsend.

Q: What is XP Mode, and are there other advantages to the Professional version?

A: XP Mode combines Windows Virtual PC with a preinstalled XP environment to ensure all your old programs will still work. The other main advantage to Professional is the ability to join a domain, like your workplace network.

Q: Help me choose between 64-bit and 32-bit. Which one is best for running a VM in Snow Leopard? What about Boot Camp?

A: The 64-bit version of Win 7 can fully address 4GB or more of RAM, though it might choke on some 32-bit specific apps. Both 32-bit and 64-bit versions are fair game when using a VM in Snow Leopard, but not all Macs will run 64-bit Win 7 in Boot Camp—check out support.apple.com/kb/HT1846 to see if yours will.

Q: Other than price, what’s the difference between the OEM, Retail, and Upgrade versions?

A: OEM, or “original equipment manufacturer,” is intended for system resellers like Dell and HP. These copies are permanently tied to a single system and don’t come with tech support or a shiny box. Retail ships with both 32-bit and 64-bit DVDs, and you can take the OS with you if you buy a new computer. Upgrade versions require the existence of a previous Windows installation, either XP/2000 or Vista.
 

Only Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate let you connect your PC to a domain.

Q: Will Windows 7 run all my XP/Vista software?

A: Yes, save for some legacy applications. Even then, Win 7’s compatibility mode does a great job getting older programs to load. To be absolutely sure the software you need will work, visit microsoft.com/windows/compatibility.

XP Mode is your ticket to running legacy applications intended for Windows XP.

Q: Will Microsoft Security Essentials keep me safe, or do I need something else?

A: Combined with common-sense computing habits, like never opening suspicious email attachments, MSE is all the protection you’ll need.

Microsoft Security Essentials provides real-time protection against viruses and spyware, and it’s free!

Q: How important are OS updates, and how do I run them?

A: An unpatched Windows install is an easy target for hackers, and it’s best to configure Win 7 to download and install updates automatically (Start > type “Windows Update” > Change settings).

Keep security holes plugged by configuring Windows to automatically grab updates.

Getting Started with Windows

Setting up Boot Camp is just a matter of following Apple’s instructions, but using Parallels 6 to make a VM is a bit more involved. These tips and tricks will guide you around common pitfalls and make sure your Parallels VM is running smoothly and safely. (If you decide on Boot Camp, though, steps 2 and 3 are vital when using Windows.)

1. Plan Ahead

The first two steps aren’t the slowest.

Before you begin, let’s talk schedule -- setting up a VM is a slow process, mostly due to all the updates for Windows you’ll need to download and install. So plan accordingly; we recommend a Sunday morning–like chunk of time where you can drift away on occasion. And for the first two stages of this process -- installing Parallels itself, then installing Windows as a VM -- Parallels comes with good instructions that need no repeating here. Read them carefully and follow along, but remember that’s only the beginning.

2. The Update Loop

Not updating Windows is as dangerous as counting your money -- out loud -- in the worst part of town.

Once Windows launches for the first time, it’s crucial that you run updates and install security measures before you do anything else -- seriously! Don’t explore or fiddle with options yet because an unprotected Windows machine is like an open, unattended bank vault with a trail of $100 bills leading out to the curb. You don’t want that, so click on the Start menu (it’s the Windows icon in the lower-left corner) and select Control Panel. In the window that opens, click System and Security > Windows Update > Check for Updates. Keep repeating this process until you have no more updates -- for us, it took 6 cycles and a total of 79 updates. Yup, it’s a Microsoft product!

3. Safe and Secure

Microsoft Security Essentials is free if you’re running a valid copy of Windows 7.

Next, download Microsoft Security Essentials at microsoft.com/security_essentials and double-click mseinstall.exe to install it. Thankfully, there’s no longer any need to pay for separate antivirus or security software when running Windows, but you definitely need protection. Let MSE run its update and perform its first scan -- another lengthy process. If you happen to notice any messages about it conflicting with Windows Defender, ignore them -- as part of this install, MSE will turn off Defender, and that’s a good thing.

4. Achieve Coherence

Coherence is the killer feature of Parallels 6.

Once you’ve armored up, it’s time to finish up with Parallels Desktop. Go to its Virtual Machine menu and click Install Parallels Tools. (You might be prompted to put your Parallels 6 disc back in or remount the DMG you downloaded.) When that install’s done, Parallels will reboot into Coherence mode. As the nifty help message explains, this mode hides Parallels and Windows in the background. To control Parallels, click its icon in the menu bar, and to run Windows apps, navigate to the Windows 7 Applications folder in your Dock. You’re now free to run and install Windows software, open Windows files, and generally do your thing.

5. Tidy Up

Tons of useful options lurk in the Configure panel.

You’ve probably noticed, though, that a bunch of Windows 7 icons just took up residence in your menu bar, and nope, you totally don’t need them. Click the Parallels icon in the menu bar and select Exit Coherence. Windows will reappear inside a window, and at the bottom right of that window, click the Configure button (the one with the wrench-and-screwdriver icon). Select the Options tab, then choose Coherence from the list on the left and uncheck “Show Windows notification area in menu bar.” Poof, they’re gone!

6. Parting Wisdom

Every file that appears on the Mac desktop also appears on the Windows VM desktop.

To return to Coherence, click the Choose View Mode button right next to that Configure button, and off you go. Some last pieces of advice before you delve into Windows:

• Only run Parallels and Windows when you’re actively using them. Aside from the performance hit your Mac will take, Windows is an inherently riskier platform as far as security goes, so it’s just smart computing to only have it on when you need it.

• If you need to run it constantly, thoroughly explore the options accessed by the Configure button. You’ll find lots of important settings for what files your VM can access, how much of your Mac’s horsepower it uses, and exactly how Windows interacts with your Mac’s hardware.

• When you’re done with Parallels, you shouldn’t just quit it with Command-Q. Exit Coherence, click the power icon in the bottom-left corner of the Parallels window, and choose Shut Down. Once Windows is safely put to bed, then you can quit Parallels.

• If your Windows VM misbehaves, remember that power icon. You can also use Stop from its pop-up menu to kill your VM on the very good chance that simply restarting it will cure whatever ails it.