As Mac users, there are times we have to break down and utilize software which is only available for the Windows environment.
MacBook Pro partitioned with WinXP
I now have a MacBook Pro, 15.4", 2.0 GHz, 1G RAM. Using Boot Camp from Apple, I partitioned my hard drive to add Windows XP Professional, SP2 without any problems. Then I started loading my PC software.
The Husqvarna Viking 3D Professional Embroidery software loaded just fine after I installed the latest dongle driver, HASP4_Driver_Setup. I also updated my 3D software to version 7.2. Running the embroidery software on the MacBook Pro is SO much faster than in the VirtualPC environment. My same external floppy drive works on this new computer and I have created floppies for my Designer 1.
Recently, I upgraded my Designer 1 to USB. I can read/write the USB memory/embroidery stick just fine. The Delete key still does not work for me with the 3D embroidery software, so I just click on the delete icon in the menu bar.
I did stop into my local Viking dealer to test my laptop with a Designer SE. I was curious if it would work, especially since I couldn't get VirtualPC on my old laptop to communicate with the Designer SE. After loading the software that comes with a Designer SE the two machines communicated just fine via the USB cable.
One of the down sides of this new dual boot set-up, besides having to reboot into WinXP, is that it is not as easy to move files between operating systems. The Mac OS X can "see" the WinPC partition. It shows up on my desktop as a hard drive called "No Name". I can copy files to/from this drive partition since I formatted the partition using the FAT file system. I have decided not to purchase software for the PC side such that I could write to the Mac drive since viruses are still an issue in Windows, even on a Mac. So just copy any files you need from the Mac partition to the PC "No Name" partition prior to rebooting into Windows.
Parallels Desktop for Mac . I have not personally used this software, but last year (2007) a user emailed me who could not get the dongle to work in version 2. My most recent info is from an email I got on January 10, 2008:
"There is absolutely no problem running either HV Pro 3D or 4D on a Mac using either Parallels 2 or 3. I have a MacBook Pro with Parallels and have run both HV programs successfully in both environments.
In order for the HASP to be recognized, one has to make sure that the USB supporting the HASP is activated (shown by a check next to it). This is done by accessing the USB icon found at the right bottom of the Parallels Desktop window in which Windows runs. One then has to select the HASP if it doesn't have a check mark next to it."
Vista on a Mac - I have not upgraded yet to Vista. But I did receive an email from another Viking Embroidery user and she finally had success using the 3D (not 4D) software on a partitioned Mac with Bootcamp. She found help with the dongle drivers for Vista from the following website:
http://www.sewmuch4retirement.com/tips/Vistahasp.htm