Parallels Workstation for Windows

By Parallels Free to try Editors' Rating
The 15-day trial of Parallels Workstatation requires free registration at the Parallels Web site.

Editors' Review

Download.com Staff Feb 27, 2009

Create, install, and run additional operating systems on your PC with this flexible tool, but the extensive setup and customization is for experienced users only. Using various interfaces with common functions and layouts, Parallels Workstations for Windows creates templates for building and implementing additional virtual machines on your system. These additional operating systems cleanly share your hard drives, network cards, memory, and other hardware.

Installation of this package is relatively simple. Intermediate to experienced users will find it takes but a few minutes. However, the next step is as simple or complex as the operating system installed. Each additional OS must be added in the same manner as a new installation. After that point, this program takes over, switching between the installations on the fly. You'll have to install a subset of the program in the new OS. Parallels Workstations for Windows makes the process easy with a single command on the program's main interface under the original OS. Switching is easily accomplished with a hot-key combination, and the chosen OS immediately takes control of the mouse and keyboard. As with any such arrangement, you may need to install special drivers in the new OS to handle your hardware.

Expert users should have little difficulty adding additional operating systems and switching back and forth. However, the difficulties of drivers, hardware conflicts, and such could stymie less-experienced users. Parallels Workstations for Windows isn't the most simple to implement in the genre, but the 15-day trial should be plenty of time to find out if it fits your needs.

Full Specifications

What's new in version 2.2

Version 2.2 includes a redesigned interface, better networking, full Unicode support, support for multi-interface USB devices, full support for Windows Mobile 5 devices, and many other new features and fixes.

General

Release November 9, 2008
Date Added June 9, 2007
Version 2.2

Operating Systems

Operating Systems Windows, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP
Additional Requirements Windows NT/2000/XP/2003 Server

Popularity

Total Downloads 9,323
Downloads Last Week 3
Report Software

Related Software

HWMonitor

Free
HWMonitor
Belarc Advisor logo

Belarc Advisor

Free
Belarc Advisor
MiniAide Fat32 Formatter logo

MiniAide Fat32 Formatter

Free
MiniAide Fat32 Formatter
VirtualBox logo

VirtualBox

Free
VirtualBox

User Reviews

3.7/5
3 User Votes
5 Star
4 Star
3 Star
2 Star
1 Star

Developer's Description

Parallels Workstation is a powerful and easy to use desktop virtualization solution. It empowers any user to create completely networked, totally secure independent, maximally stable virtual machines on a single physical machine. Virtual machines can run nearly any OS, including Windows 3.1--XP/2003, Linux, FreeBSD, OS/2, eComStation, Sun Solaris, and MS-DOS.

Version 2.2 includes a redesigned interface, better networking, full Unicode support, suppport for multi-interface USB devices, full support for Windows Mobile 5 devices, and many other new features and fixes.

Promo image for CNET Shopping

Get the best price on everything

Shop your favorite products and we’ll find the best deal with a single click. Designed to make shopping easier.