Parallels 4, On AMD

In older versions it was rather easy to install Parallels on AMD, you only had to remove the Check for an Genuine Intel processor and the InstallationCheck file. Now it's a bit more difficult, some files are invisible and there's a check about a hardware virtualization. But I have an idea, will try it.

So, I created a version which is installable on AMD. But it doesn't work when it's installed, if you want to start a virtual machine the program still asks for hardware virtualization and stops then. So you even can't convert the virtual machines correctly.

There occured some strange things: After the installation I got a weird error: Transparent menus and so on, take a look in the attachment.

Anyway, I uploaded a AMD installable version to rapidshare, including readme and serials. If anyone will experiment with it, PM me for the link.

I just turned on virtualization and it installed fine for me.

All I did is turn on my amd virtualization in my bios, downloaded the trial and it just installed and works.

scifian68 I have the same pc as you
and that is what I did. Went to bios and turned on virtualization and everything is working
and installed great

big improvement from VmWare

Parallels4 installing and run perfectly now with the last voodoo kernel rc. Before it asks for virtualization.

@bhast2big improvement from VmWare

How so? Just wondering since I figured I'd give Parallels a try.

Anyone successfully installed Parallels v4 on an AMD machine? I have X2 4200+ CPU with A8N-SLI Premium motherboard.

Yes I have but I have to reboot running maxmem=2048 then I can install Xp or Vista then remove the maxmem in darwin. Btw I have 6 GB DDR2 Oh and with 9.4.0 kernel

I'm using AMD/Leo 10.5.6/Voodoo v1.0

I'm not able to install Parallels. It just reports that "Parallels Desktop can be installed only on systems supporting hardware virtualization.".

There is no option in my BIOS to turn on virtualization. I'm using Asus A8N-E mobo.

Any idea?

it did work in 10.5.5

I had parallels working wit voodoo 1.0 and mac osx 10.5.5. on the asus a8n sli premium but when i updated to 10.5.6. it didn't work anymore so if this is important to you you could go back to 10.5.5. (or reinstall) hope this helps or somebody could tell us why i would work in 10.5.5. and not in 10.5.6.
greetz Koelie

@CyCLoBoTAnyone successfully installed Parallels v4 on an AMD machine? I have X2 4200+ CPU with A8N-SLI Premium motherboard.

If you had bothered to read before posting you'd see that two posts above you gipo posted:

@gipoParallels4 installing and run perfectly now with the last voodoo kernel rc. Before it asks for virtualization.

Anywho I'll be testing parallels to see how it goes I'll check back in a few days.

I think that's because the AMD K8/K9 series on Socket 939 and older AM2 cpu's don't support hardware virtualization.

@lateralusmanIf you had bothered to read before posting you'd see that two posts above you gipo posted

Yes I read all the posts about this issue. Apart from him/her mentioning that it was successful, the person did not write what hardware they have nor what they did to install it. That is why I mentioned what hardware I am using so if anyone else with the same specs got it to install, they would maybe share how they did it.

Ive done it with no problem. i have an amd dual core 64 bit 6000+ it runs at 3.1ghz. i didnt have to do anything special i just installed it and it works fine. I am running virtual systems of windows 98 windows xp windows vista 64 bit and windows 7 64 bit. the only problem i have is that it doesnt recognize my graphics card but i think that is an issue with using an ATI cards for osx86 and i am using the voodoo kernel

@naquaadaI think that's because the AMD K8/K9 series on Socket 939 and older AM2 cpu's don't support hardware virtualization.

I'm using Opteron 180 on Asus A8N-E.

Use Virtualbox or Vmware instead, both work for my AMD

Does any know how to make it works on Intel?
I got the 4.0.3522.205912 version/build and it keeps telling me i'm hadn't hardware virtualization.

@erick2redDoes any know how to make it works on Intel? I got the 4.0.3522.205912 version/build and it keeps telling me i'm hadn't hardware virtualization.

Hardware virtualization is a technology in the CPU...
Some older CPUs do not have this...

@andyvandHardware virtualization is a technology in the CPU... Some older CPUs do not have this...

yeah. it seems my processor is too old. Do you know a way to know what the real capabilities of my cpu?

@erick2redyeah. it seems my processor is too old. Do you know a way to know what the real capabilities of my cpu?

If you also have Windows use CPU manufacturer CPU info tool...
Both AMD as well as Intel have this...
It might also be shown under System Profiler...

My Socket 939 AMD cpus also have no virtualization technology, so I'm using Parallels 3. How about an emulator for this...?

The point is that my System Profiler says this is and Intel Core Solo, and paralells web page says that's enough to use Paralells, the the installer says, not. Which one is right?, and i didn't use Windows.

Take a look at the wikipedia ↗ about intels Virtualizion technology. The 662 and 672 versions of the Pentium 4 had it.

@erick2redThe point is that my System Profiler says this is and Intel Core Solo, and paralells web page says that's enough to use Paralells, the the installer says, not. Which one is right?, and i didn't use Windows.

You could try to customly install it and see if it works...
With Pacifist or so...

@andyvandYou could try to customly install it and see if it works... With Pacifist or so...

Forgot to add...
Parallels tends to check for GenuineIntel I believe...
In the installer package...
for AMD one could remove that or place AuthenticAMD in the place...
I rebuilt those in the past allready (older versions)

Yes, in older versions it was rather easy to remove the 'GenuineIntel' check at the end of the packages info.plist, and then remove resources/InstallationCheck. This was not working with the same ways with the Parallels 4 package, but I could remove the check with another method. I also could install Parallels 4, but then it wanted to convert my old image, and ther was it hanging.

@naquaadaYes, in older versions it was rather easy to remove the 'GenuineIntel' check at the end of the packages info.plist, and then remove resources/InstallationCheck. This was not working with the same ways with the Parallels 4 package, but I could remove the check with another method. I also could install Parallels 4, but then it wanted to…

Hmmm... interesting...
I also have a CPU without virtualization technology...
Maybe I should test it (Intel Celeron M 420).
I'll report my findings back...

@naquaada: How did you manage to install it.
how can i repack, i found some cpu_check, vm_check binary, how can i repack without remove it.

I found out how I did it:

1. Convert the Parallels .dmg with Disk Utility to a read/writeable .dmg and open it with a program which is able to show invisible files (f.e. Path Finder)

'Install' is only a program which directs to the installer's metapackage. It is invisible, so you need a special tool.

2. Open the invisible Install.mpkg's contents and open 'distribution.dist' with TextEdit.

3. Search for this sequence:

function pm_install_check() {
    var result = false;
    var cpu_check = system.run('./cpu_check');
    var is_vm_started = system.run('./vm_check'); 

4. Replace this line

 var cpu_check = system.run('./cpu_check');

with this one

var cpu_check = false

and save it. Now you can try to install. Info: Parallels 3 will be removed if you have it installed.

This method works at last for me as you can see below. But I'm not continuing installing because I know that it doesn't work on my machine. Good luck!