Parallels Desktop - How to start in safe mode

I have recently updated my Parallels Desktop on my iMac to version 10 (which I am regretting), I have a severe issue with running my XP virtual machine, however than will be another blog entry at some point.

I wanted to start my VM in safe mode, but could not find any options in the configuration. The solution in the end is not elegant, but works. Here are the steps

1) Boot up your VM as normal.

2) While it is booting up try to close the VM screen using the red close button in the top left hand side of the screen. The following dialog should be displayed.

3) Select 'Shut Down', this will force the VM to shut down.
4) Boot up your VM again, because it did not shut down property you should get this screen.

5) Select 'Safe Mode' from the menu using the cursor keys (up and down keys).

Apple Yosemite Spotlight

Currently I have Mavericks installed on my iMac and last weekend considered updating to Yosemite, but thought I might leave it a couple of weeks. While out shopping I was in a shop that sold Apple products so I thought I would have a quick look at Yosemite. My first impression was not good, firstly the close button in the windows did not look central, when clicking on a program sometimes it opened the right click menu and I was not convinced with the flatter look. 

I did not spend much time looking at it, but the main change I did not like was spotlight, I could not move the dialog can could not get rid of the explanation of it. I looked at the possible settings, but could not find anything. 

I have decided to wait until Apple sort these issues out, I did think what would Steve Jobs think about it, especially the off centre icon seeing how much of a perfectionist he was.

Is there a bug with Google

Recently I have noticed a couple of issues with Google when searching, and it seems to occur on multiple PCs with XP and Win7 operating systems, using the Chrome browser.

The first issue is when you do a search and get the results listed, then click on a result which takes you to the web site you requested if you click back to go to the search results it takes you back to the Google homepage and you have to perform the search again. This does not occur every time, but has happened to me multiple times over the last few weeks.

The second issue also does not occur every time and might be linked to the first issue, after typing in a search you can usually hit enter to perform the search, but sometimes it leaves a blank search result section below the area to enter the search.

I imagine Google have loads of testers and have noticed this strange behaviour and are working to fix these rather minor bugs.

Excel 2007 problem printing fix

Recently I have had problems printing spreadsheets from MS Excel 2007, the print preview worked fine but when the spreadsheet was printed out parts of the document were missing. After some research I found the problem was due to a Windows update (KB2596596). Removing this update fixed the problem.