Mac greedy. Plus help needed - Parallels.

[Pep]

Decided to upgrade my MBA to a MBP at the weekend after running out of hard drive space.
Desk looked a little loaded this afternoon!

Need a bit of help however.

I run parallels for Windows XP for CAD software and CNC programs. The MBA is 4GB with 1.7ghz i5 processor. The MBP is 4GB 2.4ghz i5 processor, so was expecting if anything the Pro to be faster. However when in Windows programs such as AutoCAD take 3 times as long to open and be useable on the MBP?
Settings for parallels are the same on both computers.

Any tips on improving the speed, as currently it's a large step back!

 

[Tom]

Its because of the SSD in the air, to get the speed back you need to bin the optical drive and replace it with an SSD.
(and put the OS on the SSD)

 

[Pep]

Not liking that...bit beyond my ability.

On parallels settings it only recommends about 1.5gb to dedicate to the virtual machine, saying anymore will slow it down? Why? I always thought bigger was better?!
also has an option for 1,2,3 or 4 CPU's. Any idea what that means?!

 

[The Boosh!]

If you want faster without installing an SSD you will need to boot camp it.

 

[Pep]

Boot camp won't support XP though, not with Lion.
Thats why I've gone down the parallels route.

Why do they make computers so complicated?!!!

Whats the difference with the SSD and a normal hard drive that affects speed? I always though processor and RAM were speed, hard drive was storage?!

 

[Tom]

I'd boot camp it. Sorry didnt read that right, thought you were using it already.

Use the windows 8 RC if you dont have 7, that should keep you going until october.

 

[The Boosh!]

The OS has nothing to do with boot camp I don't think dude. I've got Lion and I am running XP on there.

 

[Pep]

How did you do that Luke?! I could only find forums saying it wasn't possible on Lion?!

If you can do it for me And it does what I need I'll give you £65 (parallels price!)

 

[Pep]

Tom...unsure what you mean by windows 8 RC?

 

[The Boosh!]

Followed this guide mate

http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/boot_camp_install-setup.pdf

Your xp disk needs service pack 2 iirc

 

[Pep]

I'm sure we tried it on my MBA last year, but will have another go tomorrow!
If it works I'll drop you a pm

 

[Tom]

Followed this guide mate

http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/boot_camp_install-setup.pdf

Your xp disk needs service pack 2 iirc

Wont work. Lion only supports 7.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/consumer-preview

 

[The Boosh!]

I'm sure I've got lion on mine lol. Hold on...

 

[The Boosh!]

Don't know how i've got it to work then.

 

[Tom]

You ran boot camp before you upgraded.

http://telastipes.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/yes-virginia-you-can-dual-boot-xp-and.html

Solved!

 

[glenn_adam_doble]

Boot camp will be the best option here won't it, as you get full use of the processing power as its not running lion and windows through parallels,

Get the windows 7 upgrade disk it only around £40 iirc and then do something like this http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1222826

I use solidworks on my MBP via boot camp on windows 7 and it certainly isn't slow to boot or a pain to use

 

[Pep]

I have to have XP for various reasons. Nothing else will work.

 

[Tom]

You ran boot camp before you upgraded.

http://telastipes.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/yes-virginia-you-can-dual-boot-xp-and.html

Solved!

Ahem