Common Preferences

Settings on this tab can be different for each user of your computer.

Workspace:

Default directory for virtual machines. A directory proposed by Parallels Workstation to a user for saving new configuration files and hard disk images is specified on this tab in the Default directory for virtual machines field. It is possible to choose another location when creating configuration file or hard disk image.

Two options, Load last VM and Show dialog if no last VM is loaded, determine what happens on Parallels Workstation startup. By default both options are selected and the application starts with the last used Virtual Machine configuration opened. If this configuration is already opened by another instance of Parallels Workstation or the configuration file cannot be found on the given path (for instance, it have been moved to another folder or deleted), then Startup Options dialog is opened on Parallels Workstation startup.

If the Load last VM option is selected while the Show dialog if no last VM is loaded option is turned off, Parallels Workstation will open a blank Virtual Machine on startup if it is unable to open the last used Virtual Machine.

If Load last VM option is not selected while Show dialog if no last VM is loaded is turned on, Parallels Workstation always starts with Startup Options dialog.

If both options are turned off, the Parallels Workstation starts with a blank Virtual Machine.

More information about what happens during Parallels Workstation startup can be found in the Selecting and Opening Virtual Machine and Startup Options Dialog topics.

Automatically check for updates setting controls an auto-update feature checking period. Specify Every day, Every week, or Every month to perform automatic check for update with that period. By choosing Don't check you disable the auto-update. See Auto-Updating Parallels Workstation in Windows or Auto-Updating Parallels Workstation in Linux for auto-update feature description.

VM shutdown behaviour:

Radio buttons in this group control the reaction on pressing the Power Off button on the Parallels Workstation toolbar.

• If you definitely want that all Virtual Machines should be suspended, select the Suspend VM radio button.
• If you definitely want that all Virtual Machines should be stopped, select the Power Off radio button.
• When you are unsure if you want Virtual Machines to stop or suspend on the action, select the Ask me what to do radio button. You will be asked to choose an action to perform with Virtual Machine every time you press the Power Off button.

See the Suspending Virtual Machine topic to learn about suspending/resuming Virtual Machines.

Common tab in Windows primary OS looks as follows: