Why doesn't Parallels see my CD/DVD-ROM drive in Windows XP?

I have Microsoft Windows XP running on my Apple MacBook, using Parallels for Mac. When I'm on my VM it does not see the CD/DVD drive. I would like to save my data to a cd. any ideas?

Dave's Answer:

One of the common questions I have seen from people using Parallels is related to how the software "grabs" devices and connects them to the virtual machine. It's not too hard to figure out, but you do have to sort of wrap your mind around the idea that devices aren't automatically associated with the virtual machine in many cases, but you have to actually connect them so that Windows XP "sees" them.

The default configuration, however, should support the CD/DVD-ROM drive on your system so I'm a bit puzzled that you're not seeing it work. Nonetheless, let me show you the basic way to connect a device to WinXP VM:

Connecting a Device in Parallels / Windows XP on Mac OS X: Devices > CD/DVD-ROM

As you can see, there's a Devices menu and from there you can check on the status of any of a wide variety of USB and other peripherals. My CD/DVD-ROM drive is already connected, but if it weren't then simply choosing "Connect CD/DVD-ROM Drive" would make it available to the Windows XP virtual machine.

To change your configuration so that the CD/DVD-ROM drive is always and automatically linked to your virtual machine, you'll want to choose Edit --> Virtual Machine....

Of course, if you see the following, well, you'll need to actually shut down Windows before you can proceed:

Once you're shut down, you can edit -- and fix -- the configuration:

Configuring a Device in Parallels / Windows XP on Mac OS X: Devices > CD/DVD-ROM

Notice the choice in the top right under "CD/DVD-ROM Drive 1": Connect at startup. That's what you want to select and then forevermore you'll have the drive connected and accessible from Windows XP within the virtual machine.

Oh, and just about all the Windows screenshots I produce here on AskDaveTaylor are done with Parallels running Windows XP on my MacBook Pro. It's a GREAT application, well worth 5x its price. :-)

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Categorized: Mac OS X Help (Article 7382, Written by Dave Taylor)
Tagged: mac os x, parallels desktop, windows xp
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Reader Comments To Date: 9

Rashaad Hartley said, on May 29, 2007 5:44 AM:

My computer is a Fujitso Siemens with XP.
My problem is that the system no longer recognises any DVD's in my DVD/CD combo drive.
I have checked that all settings are in order.
It can read CD's but not DVD's

Craig said, on January 26, 2010 10:21 AM:

I must say my settings are all in order too, but no DVD access from Parallels, and DVD does not even show in the MAC HD until i shut down parallels. Only then the DVD starts playing on MAC. please advise how i can fix this. thank you.

richard said, on October 28, 2010 7:32 PM:

Many thanks - massive help.

Steven Lazar said, on May 2, 2011 7:42 AM:

I can't seem to find what your window shown above defines as the
"configuration editor" - Can you point me in the right direction - it also says "once you've shut down" you can fix the configuration - How do you do that being shut down ?
Thanks
Steven

laurie said, on May 25, 2011 10:44 AM:

dittos to Steven Lazar's comment.... where's that window hiding?

jferreira said, on June 5, 2011 6:59 AM:

You are a genius!
Thank you!

Joe said, on June 17, 2011 11:37 AM:

Hi,

My DVD burner is now connected but in my device manager it only shows Virtual DVD-ROM ATA Device .. Reason im asking is because my software (DVD Architecht) still won't recognize it .

Thanks,

Devon Francis said, on December 31, 2011 12:50 AM:

I am running Windows XP through Parallels 7 on OS X Lion. When I insert game disks into the computer, having the drive set to connect to Parallels, the disk will register as blank in My Computer. It just says "CD Drive (D:)", and the disk is blank. If I disconnect the disk, it shows up in Lion with all of the files, and it shows up in My Computer as a Network Drive with the files, but then the game doesn't recognize the disk as being inserted.

Brendon said, on February 19, 2013 8:49 PM:

I have been trying for months to get a particular game to run. I was finally able to load it on to parallels on my Mac, but I was having problems with parallels recognizing the disc to play the game. I have been searching and every fix I could find was complex, but yours was easy. Thank you for making it easy.

I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!

Why doesn't Parallels see my CD/DVD-ROM drive in Windows XP?

Reader Comments To Date: 9

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!

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