Installing Snow Leopard (and Rosetta) into Parallels on modern Intel Macs

[sprale]

I'm running into a similar issue installing Snow Leopard Server as a couple of others I've seen. I've been reading through the thread, but keep getting caught up at step 2. I get the following error trying to create the VM from SuperDrive-Server.cdr. I used a retail install from a server deployment at work, so I know the disc works. I didn't run into any errors converting it to a CDR image. I ran into the same issue using a retail non-server disc and tricking it to think it was the server version, so I'm not thinking that it is a problem with the image file.

Thinking that I had possibly put the plist file in the wrong location as in Sajin7's post, I double-checked with TextWrangler and even opened it to make sure it said server for the version:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
<key>ProductBuildVersion</key>
<string>10D575</string>
<key>ProductCopyright</key>
<string>1983-2010 Apple Inc.</string>
<key>ProductName</key>
<string>Mac OS X Server</string>
<key>ProductUserVisibleVersion</key>
<string>10.6.3</string>
<key>ProductVersion</key>
<string>10.6.3</string>
</dict>
</plist>

No matter which version of 10.6 I use, I keep getting the same error:

There is no operating system installed in this virtual machine. Please insert an operating system installation CD into the optical drive of your Mac and restart the virtual machine.

I don't see much in Console, but here it is:

9/30/13 2:22:27.000 PM kernel[0]: com_parallels_usb_control(0xffffff8017446700)::setProperties() PrlUsbLogLevel == 0
9/30/13 2:22:27.000 PM kernel[0]: com_parallels_usb_control(0xffffff8017446700)::setProperties() PrlUsbLogLevel == 0
9/30/13 2:22:27.000 PM kernel[0]: prl_net: ipi on recv is enabled
9/30/13 2:22:27.000 PM kernel[0]: com_parallels_usb_control(0xffffff8017446700)::setProperties() PrlUsbLogLevel == 0
9/30/13 2:22:27.000 PM kernel[0]: /drv/ HypHPC.c:222 Hyperswitch[0]. pBuf=ffffff800fa0d000,piDbgFunc=ffffff800fa0d0ae
9/30/13 2:22:27.000 PM kernel[0]: /drv/ HypIoctls.c:534 Parallels hypervisor inited (cpus=8 hvt=VTX hvt status=Enabled vtd=No phy=PAE lin=x64 mem=8192)
9/30/13 2:22:27.905 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.xpcd.8048B912-0000-0000-0000-000000000000[4699]) Exited: Killed: 9
9/30/13 2:22:28.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 4699 [xpcd]
9/30/13 2:22:32.000 PM kernel[0]: /drv/ HypVMManager.c:264 Monitor quited successfully

Any thoughts?

Parallels 8.0.18608 (rev 898384)
Host is 10.8.3
Guest is 10.6.3
MacBookPro8,3

 

[MichaelLAX]

You are following the wrong set of instructions.

For Snow Leopard Server, you do NOT have to create a .cdr file.

Use these much simpler set of instructions instead

 

[dualist]

I'm happy to report...

...that these instructions still work perfectly as of Oct. 2013.

I was so inspired by seeing that Snow Leopard can run in a VM that I ordered a copy of Server this morning. This opens up some interesting possibilities for me while running Mountain Lion and Parallels 7/8 and 9(?). In particular, I'll be able to run Kodak Prinergy's PREPS imposition software, which is PPC only. I'm hoping it will be able to see the licensing server on the network (it should). I'll report back if there are issues with that.

It took a couple of false starts – my own fault for not *precisely* following directions – but in the end everything worked out and Snow Leopard is now running beautifully in Parallels 8. It also took a couple of extra restarts of SL at the end to get everything, including Parallels tools and Software Update, working properly.

MANY thanks to the author and contributors for this EXCELLENT guide. Hats off to all of you.

 

[antonioc]

Steps on Parallels Desktop 7

Installing Snow Leopard Server into Parallels 8:

BE SURE TO UPGRADE PARALLELS 8 TO ITS MOST CURRENT VERSION

Which as of the date of this revision of this post is: Build 8.0.18483 (Revision 860857; March 30, 2013).

Step 1: Launch Parallels 8, go to File... New... Enter your system password if requested.

Step 2: On the next screen (Parallels Wizard), click on "Install Windows or another OS from DVD or image file" [see image at bottom of this post] and then click on Continue.

Step 3: Insert a new, freshly acquired from Apple, Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server Install DVD into your optical drive and be sure that "Install from" has your optical drive's name selected. Then click Continue.

Step 4: Give the "Name" something more specific. I like "Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server" and click Continue.

Step 5: Parallels should now commence the process of installing Snow Leopard Server into a file that will be named Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server.pvm and will be located at ~/Documents/Parallels/. This process will take up to five or ten minutes.

Step 6: You will then be presented with the normal "Mac OS X Server" installation screens, such as:

A. "Use English for the main language" -- Click on blue Right Arrow.

B. "To set up the installation of Snow Leopard Server, click Continue" -- Click on Continue.

C. Click Agree on the Software License Agreement for Mac OS X Server.

D. Select the Macintosh HD as the disk where you want to install Mac OS X Server. You do NOT have to click on Customize, as Rosetta is selected to install by default in SLS, unless you want to also install Quicktime 7. Then click Install. This Installing process will take 30 - 60 minutes, so go enjoy a cup of coffee!

E. At the completion of the install, either the System will restart itself or click Restart. You will be taken to the Welcome screen

F. Select your country and Click Continue. Select your keyboard and Click Continue.

G. Enter your Product Serial Number from the insert contained in your fresh, newly purchased from Apple Snow Leopard Server box, Enter your name (and optionally your Organization) and Click Continue.

H. Click Set up a new server and Click Continue. Enter your Registration information and Click Continue. Answer the Few More Questions and Click Continue. Enter your Time Zone and Click Continue.

I. Give your Administrator Account a Name: I like to use "Snow Leopard Server" and the short name will automatically be "snowleopardserver". I like to use an easy to remember password of "password" with the Hint: "It is what it is!" but feel free to use your own password that YOU WILL REMEMBER! ... and Click Continue.

J. The Network settings should be picked up automatically from your Host Mac; Click on Continue.

K. Network Names: Give it a Primary DNS Name and Computer Name such as sls.private and Click on Continue.

L. Users and Groups - Click on Create Users and Groups and Click Continue.

M. Services - either keep checked ALL of these options or deselect those not needed. I just kept File Sharing checked to keep overhead lowest. ...and Click Continue.

N. In Client Backup, I deselected Allow Users to Backup to this Server; and Click Continue.

O. In the Review screen, Click Set Up (or Go Back if you want to change any options before you Set Up). It will take a few minutes while your Server is Setting Up and then Click Go! The system should reboot and take you to your Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server Desktop!

P. You have now successfully installed and configured Snow Leopard Server and should now proceed to complete the Parallels installation.

Step 7: Eject the Snow Leopard Server Install icon from your Desktop, so that the DVD ejects from your optical drive. In Finder, in the Finder Menu, go to Preferences and check the boxes for Hard Disks and Connected Servers: your Macintosh HD should now appear.

Step 8: Install Parallels Tools from the Virtual Machines menu and then Restart and when the Desktop returns eject Parallels Tools. A Shared Folders folder should now appear.

Step 9: If you want to avoid having to log in at each Startup or Restart, go to System Preferences, Accounts, click on the padlock at the bottom left, enter your SLS password, click on Login Options, Change Automatic Login from Off to the name of your SLS account, enter your SLS password and click on the padlock.

While in System Preferences, I also like to go to Date & Time, Clock and check Display the time with seconds, so that you can always see from the changing seconds if SLS has frozen.



To be continued...

Are the same for Parallels Desktop 7 or 9?

 

[MichaelLAX]

...that these instructions still work perfectly as of Oct. 2013...

MANY thanks to the author and contributors for this EXCELLENT guide. Hats off to all of you.

Thanks for the shout out!

----------

Are the same for Parallels Desktop 7 or 9?

Desktop 7 or 8 works in accordance with the slight difference in installation that I note in the first post.

I have not yet acquired version 9, but it still lists Snow Leopard Server as installable; and I strongly recommend getting the Server version for $20 while it is still available by telephone from Apple!

 

[nobbyo]

Just spent half an hour on the phone with apple and no luck getting a copy using the specified part number. It did not come up in their system apparently and of course then I got into the what are you trying to do conversation.

Anyone recently successfully purchased a copy? If so what version, was the version they were selling higher than 10.6.3?

Cheers
Nobby

 

[MichaelLAX]

Were you calling the Apple USA telephone number?

10.6.3 is the latest version of SLS sold.

 

[nobbyo]

Yes the 800 MY APPLE one. Thanks for the version info, I am seeing that version on ebay at reasonable pricing if indeed Apple is all done selling them.

Cheers
Nobby

 

[MichaelLAX]

Try: 800-SOS-APPL

 

[Dualie11]

I bought my copy just over a week ago. I simply asked for a copy of Snow Leopard Server and the nice lady asked what I wanted it for so she could verify my machine would run it. I told her I was installing it in a VM and that's was all she needed to know. It arrived a few days later and is version 10.6.3.

 

[nobbyo]

How funny just tried again and was successfull. No idea why they could not find it by name or part number last time.

 

[arkmannj]

oh man I must found this thread! I've got VMWare Fusion 5 (Pro) running on my MBP Retina, 15-inch, Early 2013 (2.7GHz i7, 16GB, Mavericks) and I'm hoping to get some good old Myst games running! anyone have any luck with Myst IV, V?

 

[Axelvedder]

Awesome!! It worked!!
Thank you Michael!!!

----------

Michael!
Can I ask something about installing software in SL on Parallels 8 on ML?

 

[MichaelLAX]

Michael!
Can I ask something about installing software in SL on Parallels 8 on ML?

Sure; ask away...

Sorry for the delayed response; I did not see this question when I first read your post!

 

[jordii]

A Question About Time Machine....Plus Some Tips

I'm using Parallels 8 to run Snow Leopard Server, per the rest of this thread.

I want to back up my Eudora Mail Folder to Time Machine. I'm assuming there's no way to merge it in with the usual Time Machine set-up on my computer? And that the only way to do this is by setting up a new Time Machine from inside my virtual Snow Leopard system?


I have a few tips and notes for issues I didn't see addressed earlier in the thread:


1. Starting with Lion, scroll wheels on mice scroll the opposite way as in Snow Leopard.
Solution: install Scroll Reverser, a freeware, on the Snow Leopard emulation. Now both systems scroll the same way!

2. If you can't command-select (e.g. select multiple Eudora mailboxes for searching).
Solution: go to Parallels Desktop / Prefs / Shortcuts / Mouse Shortcuts and deselect "middle click"

3. I was suffering massive slowdowns on my Mac when running the virtual server.
Solution: 4gb total system ram is NOT enough. I added 4gb more, allocated 4gb to the virtual machine leaving 4gb left for the rest of my computer, and all is totally swell. Also useful: this page

Finally, if you're doing all this just to run Quicken, know that you can run Quicken in Mavericks. Just buy Quicken 2007 for $15.

If you have Quicken 2004 files, they won't open under Quicken 2007. So here's what you do. Download Quicken 2006, for free, onto a Rosetta system.

Open your old Quicken file in Quicken 2006. It will automatically update the file. Transfer the QIF file to your Lion or Mavericks system

Buy Quicken 2007 for $15

Open the QIF file with Quicken 2007.

Dance jubilantly.

 

[davidmorr]

I want to back up my Eudora Mail Folder to Time Machine. I'm assuming there's no way to merge it in with the usual Time Machine set-up on my computer? And that the only way to do this is by setting up a new Time Machine from inside my virtual Snow Leopard system?

No, there isn't. Parallels claims to have support for backing up the VM with Time Machine in such a way that it does not fill up your disk. It doesn't work. And you cannot get your full VM back if you need it.

I just set up Time Machine in the VM and excluded the VM from Time Machine on the host machine.

1. Starting with Lion, scroll wheels on mice scroll the opposite way as in Snow Leopard.
Solution: install Scroll Reverser, a freeware, on the Snow Leopard emulation. Now both systems scroll the same way!

Or you can configure Lion and later to scroll the same way as Snow Leopard and not have to install anything. (See System Preferences/Mouse or Trackpad)

3. I was suffering massive slowdowns on my Mac when running the virtual server.
Solution: 4gb total system ram is NOT enough. I added 4gb more, allocated 4gb to the virtual machine leaving 4gb left for the rest of my computer, and all is totally swell. Also useful: this page

4GB is probably more than you need for Snow Leopard. I think Parallels recommends 2GB.

 

[MichaelLAX]

Good information from both of you; thank you!

I also support a minimum of 8GB with 4 allocated to Parallels (as in my 2011 Mac Mini with Lion).

 

[jordii]

Just noting that as a backing-up alternative to Time Machine, I've put a symbolic link of my Eudora Mail folder into my dropbox. So it's an even more effective back-up (housed in the cloud, rather than on a disk in my house which could break, be stolen, burn in a fire, etc).

Also, one other note on Parallels: if copy/paste isn't working from the virtual machine to your regular set-up, you need to install Parallels Tools, which is easily available from your Parallels menu. With that tip and the preceding, I will have hopefully saved someone out there the hours of despair I went through....

 

[co22]

2GB is plenty for Snow Leopard

4GB is probably more than you need for Snow Leopard. I think Parallels recommends 2GB.

I'm running Snow Leopard Server under Parallels 9 with 2GB allocated to the virtual machine and it runs well. I'm using it to run Adobe Photoshop CS under Rosetta, and 2GB gets the job done.

 

[MichaelLAX]

You left out which Mac and how much RAM it has in total...

 

[co22]

You left out which Mac and how much RAM it has in total...

early 2011 Macbook Pro 17" with 2.2Ghz i7 and 8 GB RAM total.

 

[Meyerr]

Can somebody help explain what this means:

"9. Create a new DVD/CD master disk image ’SuperDrive-Server.cdr’ which is the same as SuperDrive.cdr, but with the change included." (from https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/16745691/)


Am I supposed I create a second 8GB DVD/CD-R Master Image from the original Snow Leopard disk using Disk Utility, just with the new name?

 

[Trystero]

I recently upgraded my MacPro from SnowLeopard to Mavericks (in a second HD), but I still need FreeHand: I have also the HD with Snow Leopard and I can restart from it but it is an awkward way to work.
So yesterday, after reading this forum, I ordered SnowLeopard Server from Apple Store Italy (24 Euro)

My question is: can I upgrade the SnowLeopard HD with SL Server and then Parallels will recognize it, or do I have to initialize the HD, install SL Server (and then the old software I need) following the instructions of Michael Lax here?
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/17285039/

That page is about installing in Lion, the same instructions also apply to Mavericks?

 

[MichaelLAX]

Can somebody help explain what this means:

"9. Create a new DVD/CD master disk image ’SuperDrive-Server.cdr’ which is the same as SuperDrive.cdr, but with the change included." (from https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/16745691/)


Am I supposed I create a second 8GB DVD/CD-R Master Image from the original Snow Leopard disk using Disk Utility, just with the new name?

It is much simpler to install Snow Leopard Server into Parallels and avoid steps such as these. Note the bolded language in the first post.

----------

I recently upgraded my MacPro from SnowLeopard to Mavericks (in a second HD), but I still need FreeHand: I have also the HD with Snow Leopard and I can restart from it but it is an awkward way to work.
So yesterday, after reading this forum, I ordered SnowLeopard Server from Apple Store Italy (24 Euro)

My question is: can I upgrade the SnowLeopard HD with SL Server and then Parallels will recognize it, or do I have to initialize the HD, install SL Server (and then the old software I need) following the instructions of Michael Lax here?
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/17285039/

That page is about installing in Lion, the same instructions also apply to Mavericks?

Both Parallels 8 or 9 will allow for easy installation of Snow Leopard Server. So, in Mavericks, first install Parallels and then follow the instructions to install Snow Leopard Server into Parallels.

 

[Trystero]

Both Parallels 8 or 9 will allow for easy installation of Snow Leopard Server. So, in Mavericks, first install Parallels and then follow the instructions to install Snow Leopard Server into Parallels.

Thank you, in this weekend I will try.

---------

I installed Snow Leopard Server in Parallels 8 following the instructions. I assigned 4GB RAM and 4 CPU.
All OK, but after the first Software Update a "fatal error" window appeared.
I restarted then I did a second Software Update, and this time I had no errors.

FreeHand MX works perfectly, and also iSync. The only drawback I noticed is some slowness in opening, moving, closing windows in the Finder, but I think it is the virtualization.

Strange behavior: I was in Parallels/SLServer (full screen mode) and I wanted to save a screenshot, I pressed cmd-shift-4 but the screen picture did not appear in the SLSServer desktop. I searched for it and I found in the Mavericks desktop.
Is it OK?