How to use CD/DVD drive on either Mac or Windows

Symptoms:

I inserted a CD/DVD into my Mac's drive and want this CD/DVD to be shown in my Windows virtual machine as a CD/DVD drive, not as a network resource with the disk's data.

Resolution:

How to connect the CD/DVD to the virtual machine:

1. Start Parallels Desktop and launch your virtual machine.
2. In Mac menu bar, click on Actions > Configure.
3. Open Hardware tab and then click on CD/DVD 1

4. In Source box choose Default CD/DVD .

   

How to connect the CD/DVD back to Mac:

1. Start Parallels Desktop and launch your virtual machine.
2. In Mac menu bar, click on Actions (Virtual Machine in older versions) > Configure.
3. Open Hardware tab and open CD/DVD 1

4. Change Source to Disconnected.