ac's guide on
How to install

- — • — -
Windows Vista
on an
Intel Mac
using
Parallels Desktop
- — • — -

(revision 1 — edited for clarity)

I.) Preparation

You will need to:

A.)  Acquire a copy of Vista using this torrent from The Pirate Bay; It is permanently authorized and requires no serial or licensing activation. You will not have to use any of the patches which are included with this torrent; they are for special hardware needs which Macintosh users do not have. Other instances of Vista will require other installation procedures not covered here.

B.)  Have an Apple - Intel Mac with:

	i.	2GB of memory. Less than 2GB is probably not worth your time and effort except as an experiment. Although Vista under Parallels is not a processor hog, it is memory intensive.
	ii.	A DVD burner, if you plan to keep an archived copy. The installation file will not fit on a CD.

C.)  Have a copy of Parallels Desktop. Yes, you could use Apple's Boot Camp beta. Instructions are not provided here for installing Vista via Boot Camp; only for installing via Parallels Desktop. Boot Camp installation is a simpler process, although it does take longer to perform. Both Parallels and Boot Camp have their advantages and disadvantages; some prefer to install both.

	i.	Note: In case you misplaced it, your Parallels Desktop serial number for the above version is 9V07D-KJ94H-PWXE5-RST6I-LDQ40. A later version of PD may be available for direct download from the software publisher, but the serial number above only is sure to work with the version available via the torrent. 
	ii.	Remember to use Little Snitch or similar; PD phones home.

D.)  Backup your hard drive.

II. Installation

A.)  Setting up the install source drive:

	i.	Do not open / mount the .iso image.
	ii.	To make a backup or archive copy of the installation file, skip to step iv.
	iii.	If you are ready to install, skip to step B.
	iv.	If you wish to make a backup copy or if you need to free up space until you can get around to installing Vista, use Disk Utility to do it. [ Click 'Burn' --> select the .iso file ] 

B.)  Setting up the install destination drive: 

	i.	Start Parallels Desktop. Unless you are familiar with the process, you might consider using my recommendations. The only exception: Step ii. is a requirement, not a recommendation. In fact,  step ii, along with how do deal with .iso files (which many Macintosh users are unfamiliar with), are the reasons which inspired me to write this.
	ii.	Select 'New.' Do not use the easy install / wizard method, or you will be asked for a serial number. Not only is a serial number unnecessary with this particular Vista install, providing one may cause problems in the future.
	iii.	Custom --> Next -->
	iv.	Select 'Type=Windows' and 'Version=Vista' --> Next -->
	v.	[ I recommend you enter as much RAM as it will allow] --> Next -->
	vi.	Create a new hard disk image --> Next -->
	vii.	[ I recommend ] 32 GB --> Expanding --> Next -->
	viii.	[ I recommend ] Shared Networking --> {Your choice of name} --> Next -->
	ix.	Click on the 'More options' disclosure triangle -->
	x.	Select the .iso file from the download folder or select the DVD you burned --> Finish.	
C.)  As Vista installs itself, it will reboot several times between asking you for input. This is normal. You may be tempted to restart the installation process, believing it is caught in a loop or otherwise hung. It isn't. You may see the message "Press any key to boot from CD.." Don't do it. You may see a welcome screen asking you to enter the password you provided earlier, but the system will reboot before you can finish typing it. All these things are normal; and just as normal if they don't happen. You'll know when it's finished.

D.)  Remember not to mock or tease or otherwise look down PC users if you ever did in the past. Now you are a PC owner, and you may need their experience and assistance.

E.)  Enjoy your new computer.