Driver confusion

[joelw135]

I purchased an iMac 24" 3.06 which I will be running Windows XP Pro in a virtual machine. Do I install the new Nvidia drivers in Windows XP or does the Windows XP installation use the Mac OSX drivers?

[sushi]

Suggest that you use the Bootcamp ones.

[joelw135]

Suggest that you use the Bootcamp ones.

Even when I am using Fusion?

[sushi]

Even when I am using Fusion?
My bad. I misread your original statement.

When you install Fusion or Parallels, it creates a virtual environment to run Windows. Personally, I just let the WinXP install the appropriate drivers. Then run Windows update. Seems to work okay for my basic Office, browsing, and e-mail type needs.

Is this question related so a specific app?

Are you trying to run a game?

[joelw135]

My bad. I misread your original statement.

When you install Fusion or Parallels, it creates a virtual environment to run Windows. Personally, I just let the WinXP install the appropriate drivers. Then run Windows update. Seems to work okay for my basic Office, browsing, and e-mail type needs.

Is this question related so a specific app?

Are you trying to run a game?

The problem arises with my Photography program (Paint Shop Pro Ultimate) as it needs the latest Nvidia drivers to function properly.

[Guiyon]

The problem arises with my Photography program (Paint Shop Pro Ultimate) as it needs the latest Nvidia drivers to function properly.

That shouldn't be an issue because you aren't really using an Nvidia card. When running in a virtualized environment the OS only sees what VMWare/Parallels wants it to see. In this case Windows won't know that you really have an Nvidia (or ATI) graphics. As for drivers, you should install whatever driver package comes with the virtualization software.

As for which virtualization software to choose, I use VMWare Fusion on all my machine and the latest 2.0 release is excellent. I don't like Parallels too much as the UI was a mess and I had a few stability issues but I haven't used it since the original release so I don't know how much thing have changed since then.

[joelw135]

That shouldn't be an issue because you aren't really using an Nvidia card. When running in a virtualized environment the OS only sees what VMWare/Parallels wants it to see. In this case Windows won't know that you really have an Nvidia (or ATI) graphics. As for drivers, you should install whatever driver package comes with the virtualization software.

Thank you for the explanation, now I hope it works. I am new to Mac and I am a little overwhelmed.

[sushi]

That shouldn't be an issue because you aren't really using an Nvidia card. When running in a virtualized environment the OS only sees what VMWare/Parallels wants it to see. In this case Windows won't know that you really have an Nvidia (or ATI) graphics. As for drivers, you should install whatever driver package comes with the virtualization software.
Good explanation.

Thank you for the explanation, now I hope it works. I am new to Mac and I am a little overwhelmed.
Welcome to the Mac and MacRumors. :)

[joelw135]

Good explanation.


Welcome to the Mac and MacRumors. :)

Thank you, that explains a huge amount. But when installing Windows on my iMac I still install drivers when I load from Boot camp is that correct? O I guess that is called direct boot and not in a virtual machine.

[RemarkabLee]

Thank you, that explains a huge amount. But when installing Windows on my iMac I still install drivers when I load from Dashboard is that correct? O I guess that is called direct boot and not in a virtual machine.

You're thinking of Bootcamp. For Bootcamp use, Windows operates in a native environment, i.e. direct with the hardware so in that case, you will need to use Windows drivers in the same way as a PC.

[joelw135]

You're thinking of Bootcamp. For Bootcamp use, Windows operates in a native environment, i.e. direct with the hardware so in that case, you will need to use Windows drivers in the same way as a PC.

Thanks, I feel confident, or at least a little more at ease now.