# Running a Windows Virtual Machine

Many users, especially students with Mac computers, run Virtual Machines to access Windows. This is especially helpful in courses that use Microsoft Access projects as the Access application is not available for Mac.

However, running a VM can cause issues in SIMnet. That is because a virtual machine only uses a portion of the computers processing power and memory. 

![Upload Failed message](https://509646706-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-M4GzdqvglIbnG5_9XCo%2F-MNV5x3g7lDREnT9C2wi%2F-MNV6UiP5s1tfDx0saBQ%2FScreen%20Shot%202020-12-01%20at%204.03.12%20PM.png?alt=media\&token=53938ccf-85c4-41e2-affe-fababbd7f746)

When uploading Projects Assignment files or Resource Assignment file, students may receive an Upload Failed message. This occurs when the upload takes too long and the process is halted. The solution to this issue is to increase the available hardware for the Virtual Machine. Using the Virtual Machine's configuration settings, set the number of available **Processors** to **3** or greater. Set the amount of **Memory** available to **4 GB** or greater.

![Changing CPU and Memory settings in the Windows 10 VM](https://509646706-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-M4GzdqvglIbnG5_9XCo%2F-MNV5x3g7lDREnT9C2wi%2F-MNV8zojHYKspwWrEbjI%2FScreen%20Shot%202020-12-01%20at%204.10.15%20PM.png?alt=media\&token=9e2c6b3a-0537-4918-880e-605ace1003fe)