Hi fusion folks, Today I went from fusion 3 to 4. Before you do this yourself, and if you're still thinking whether or not to do it, here are some thoughts before you begin.
1. Last week, I bought fusion 4, while I had v3 running. After upgrading from fusion 3 to 4, which is possible using an app inside the fusion 4 disk image, fusion asked if I wanted to upgrade my virtual windows machine from version 3 to 4, to add more features and speed to it. I answered yes and it went ahead. When it booted though, the desktop did not come up any longer. My wife told me there's a message saying this and that could not be found, and in short I had severe windows problems after upgrading the vm from v3 to v4. Of course this doesn't have to happen to you, but before trusting the upgrade process, I would suggest you backup your entire system. Or, at least have your windows stuff safe so that you can access all of it outside windows. 2. So I started from scratch. I uninstalled fusion 3, using the uninstaller that is in my applications folder, and I then installed a fresh fusion 4. After entering my serial number, I had a blank configuration to start with. The fusion 4 installer is very accessible and straight forward. 3. Now here's the good news. I used an i s o file, which is just a disk image file that contains the entire windows installation cd. I followed the command n new virtual machine wizard. It asks for either a windows installation cd or a disk image iso file, so I gave it that. You enter some other minor necessities, and then windows is installed in 15 minutes or less, without any sighted assistance. That was also true in fusion 3, but it always remains to be seen in newer situations. So accessibility remains the same while installing windows, comparing fusion 3 and 4. 4. I had problems with my screen reader, which is an old one, called hal, from Dolphin oceanic limited. After installing my screen reader, which worked just fine under the same version of windows on my fusion v3 installation that I have used for over a year now, it complained about video problems. To compress this story: I saw other folks having issues with jaws in the same upgrade situation. A solution that worked for me, is to downgrade the file format of the virtual machine, from version 4 back to being fusion 3 compatible. You just interact with devices in the fusion 4 toolbar, interact with the scroll area where it has all settings, and almost at the end there, you have a compatibility button. Behind it is a dialog with radio buttons, that tell fusion in what file format you want to store the virtual machine on to the mac disk. If you set it to 3, rather than fusion 4 compatible, then if your jaws worked earlier, it may work just fine again. I don't know much about authorisations, but video wise, the problems may solve themselves. Downgrading your virtual machine from the fusion 4 format back to the 3 format, takes away newer video functions, returning you into an older type of emulated hardware. I hope this can help other people who have problems after upgrading their fusion from v3 to v4. To be clear, you can easily keep running fusion version 4. It's just that you need to roll back the file conversion process, or if you have the choice and you know what you know now, just don't let fusion upgrade your vm. Just a thought. And if you do, have a backup handy. If it does work for you and you are now running a windows screen reader using fusion v4, and also the v4 compatible vm file format, then please post back on this, so we can learn from each other's experience. Paul. On Jun 12, 2012, at 12:14 PM, Sean Murphy wrote: > Hi Maria, > > When you load VMWare, you will get options where you can tell VMWare to > attach the external keyboard to the Host. This is seen when you have VMWare > in the standard window mode, not full screen. Everytime you load VMWare, you > will have to connect the USB key. > > Modify the file and you will see what I mean. You might want to back it up > first just to be safe. > > Sean > On 12/06/2012, at 5:37 AM, Maria Chapman wrote: > >> Hi. if it helps it's a core i 5. >> >> thanks >> >> regards >> Maria and crew from australia >> email: >> bubbygirl1...@gmail.com >> check out >> www.powerradio104.us >> where we play lots of great music >> >> >> >> On 05/06/2012, at 12:01 AM, Chris Meredith wrote: >> >>> Hi Maria, >>> >>> I'm actually running Windows 8 on a MacBook Pro with 8 GB of RAM, which I >>> deliberately got kitted out so that I could run multiple virtual machines >>> without having to buy multiple computers. I can't remember what the CPU is >>> on the Mini, but you should certainly have enough memory. >>> For those of you that have gone the Bootcamp route, have any of you also >>> used the Windows Automated Installation Kit to create an unattended >>> installation file? As someone that has reliable sighted help available >>> approximately as frequently as they have a six digit bank balance, I'm >>> always on the lookout for workarounds. >>> On Jun 3, 2012, at 9:45 PM, Maria Chapman wrote: >>> >>>> Hi. >>>> >>>> I am also thinking about setting up a virtual machine. Is there a >>>> recommended amount of resources the virtual machine needs to run properly >>>> but leaving enough for the mac? Will a virtual machine run ok on a mac >>>> mini with 8 gigs of ram? And, how do I run a screen reader with an apple >>>> bluetooth keyboard? Is there a way to make this work? Or would i be better >>>> plugging in a standard usb keyboard? >>>> >>>> Is there anywhere i can go to read a tutorial or guide about setting up a >>>> virtual machine to run windows? >>>> >>>> thanks >>>> >>>> God Bless! Maria from australia >>>> Newbie mac user. >>>> bubbygirl1...@gmail.com >>>> will get you fb as well as email & iMessage. >>>> skype same as email,without the gmail part. twitter bubbygirl >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On 04/06/2012, at 12:46 PM, Brent Harding wrote: >>>> >>>>> Oh, cool! I have my mac already set up with boot camp. Would I likely >>>>> have activation issues with JFW going back and forth between these 2 >>>>> methods? Would I have to take up 2 keys, or is Fusion smart enough to >>>>> deal with it? >>>>> >>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Matthew Campbell" >>>>> <wrestling.ch...@gmail.com> >>>>> To: <macvisionaries@googlegroups.com> >>>>> Sent: Sunday, June 03, 2012 4:44 PM >>>>> Subject: Re: VMWare Fusion questions >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Hi. >>>>> A couple of things to keep in mind. >>>>> 1. If you do go the boot cam route, you will need sighted assistance to >>>>> get windows installed. Also, you'll be able to have Fusion treat the >>>>> bootcamp partition as a virtual machine. This has some advantages such as >>>>> being able to utilized all of the Mac's resources when you need to do >>>>> something that needs a lot of them but still able to boot in to windows >>>>> quickly through fusion when you don't need to do something system >>>>> intensive. >>>>> 2. The quick install option in fusion will have fusion install windows >>>>> without sighted assistance. The only thing you need do after installation >>>>> is install you're screen reader of choice. >>>>> HTH, >>>>> >>>>> On 2012-06-03, at 5:26 PM, Allison Mervis wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Thanks Matt. Right now I'm still unsure as to whether or not I'll set up >>>>>> a virtual machine or do a bootcamp install, but this info was very >>>>>> helpful. >>>>>> Allison >>>>>> >>>>>> -------------------------------------------------- >>>>>> From: "Matthew Campbell" <wrestling.ch...@gmail.com> >>>>>> Sent: Sunday, June 03, 2012 1:11 PM >>>>>> To: <macvisionaries@googlegroups.com> >>>>>> Subject: Re: VMWare Fusion questions >>>>>> >>>>>>> Hi. >>>>>>> Once you shut down the VM, you're Mac will indeed have all of it's >>>>>>> resources once again. >>>>>>> HTH, >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On 2012-06-03, at 3:51 PM, Allison Mervis wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Hi everyone. >>>>>>>> I have a copy of Windows 7 floating around here, and I was thinking >>>>>>>> about playing with VMWare fusion. I have a few questions before I get >>>>>>>> started though. I understand that when you're setting up the virtual >>>>>>>> machine, you allocate a certain portion of your system resources in >>>>>>>> order to run it. Let's say, for example that I allocate four of my >>>>>>>> eight gigs of ram and 250 of my 750 gigs of hard drive space for the >>>>>>>> virtual machine. When I shut down the virtual machine, will those >>>>>>>> resources be returned to my mac? That is to say, will I once again >>>>>>>> have all 8 gigs of ram and 750 gigs of hard drive space available for >>>>>>>> use on my mac? I apologize if this sounds basic. Thanks. >>>>>>>> Allison >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>>>>> Groups "MacVisionaries" group. >>>>>>>> To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. >>>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>>>>>>> macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>>>>>>> For more options, visit this group at >>>>>>>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> -- >>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>>>> Groups "MacVisionaries" group. >>>>>>> To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. >>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>>>>>> macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>>>>>> For more options, visit this group at >>>>>>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>>> Groups "MacVisionaries" group. >>>>>> To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. >>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>>>>> macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>>>>> For more options, visit this group at >>>>>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>>>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>>>> To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. >>>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>>>> macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>>>> For more options, visit this group at >>>>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>>>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>>>> To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. >>>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>>>> macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>>>> For more options, visit this group at >>>>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>>> To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>>> macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>>> For more options, visit this group at >>>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>> >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>> To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>> macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>> For more options, visit this group at >>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "MacVisionaries" group. >> To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MacVisionaries" group. > To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. 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