Activating Windows XP in Parallels

When I run Windows in Parallels, it tells me that I have X amount of days to activate Windows. When I try to enter the Product Key, it tells me that it's invalid. The Key worked fine when I rebooted the machine in Windows, but once I run Windows in Parallels, it keeps telling me that it's invalid.

Am I going to need two Product Keys in order to get Parallels to work?

 

Please download build 5608 following link bellow:
http://download.parallels.com/v3/en/GA/Parallels-Desktop-5608-Mac-en.dmg

and reinstall Parallels Desktop as described in kb
http://kb.parallels.com/en/4790

 

Entering Commands Step 5

Could you explain how to enter the commands in step 5. I don't think I did it right.

 

I think it is better to perform this from Finder
Finder-MacHD-System- Library-Extensions - check for mentioned files and delete them

 

Extentions Folder

I don't have a folder called "Extensions" in "Library."

 

The path is /System/Library/Extensions

John forgot the System part.

 

This post was not changed

I think it is better to perform this from Finder
Finder-MacHD-System- Library-Extensions - check for mentioned files and delete them

 

*sight*

I start to get a constant feeling of dejá vú in these forums.

I suggested the idea (in another thread) of correcting that article to use Finder to check/delete files instead of the dangerous rm -rf in terminal but it was put aside by you because you said it would require the user to enter the admin password (like it doesn't already in the terminal for rm).

 

I think compromise solution is to suggest both ways

 

Neither way worked

Terminal didn't work, and neither did the second suggestion because I don't have a folder called Extensions in my Library.

 

To put it simply, if didn't have this Extensions folder you wouldn't be able to boot into OS X, so you have it, you just still haven't found it.

like I said before (and John)...

The path to the folder is /System/Library/Extensions

This means the folder is not the Library folder in your Home directory, you should click the MacHD drive icon on your desktop (it will open a Finder window at the root of the drive) and then click on System, and then Library and finally Extensions.

 

No Difference

I deleted the files in Finder, and repeated the intructions, but it's still telling me to activate Windows. It won't even let me log in without activating it.

I don't understand why the key works in Boot Camp but it won't work in Parallels.

 

Deleting files, is not related to activation process,
You need to install Parallels Tools.
In order to install you need to login in Windows while in Parallels
Try to call Microsoft

 

Hello,

im in the same boat and windows still insists i activate it "because the hardware has changed significantly".

Win XP Home 32 Bit OEM
Installed on boot camp and activated
Bought parallels
Used boot camp installation with it.
got Activation problem.
--

I followed the steps you suggested but still nothing. I think i removed the files suggested in the terminal. I did it in the terminal, then went into the finder and their not there. But i never get that error saying "no dir exists", which should mean the file has been removed.

These files don't have to be unhidden or anything do they?

 

These are actually folders, not files.

Only activate Windows after all is set and working with the latest version of Parallels Tools installed, it gives you 3 days to activate, so there's no rush. Parallels Tools are actually drivers and they modify enough of Windows perception of hardware change for activation to pop up (Windows is afraid you are installing the same copy on another computer).

 

so if i've activated in boot camp i wont be able to use it in parallels?

if i installed boot camp, then installed parallels, and then activated, would i still have a problem?

 

You can, and have to activate in both Boot Camp and Parallels, but do it only after all is set and installed, then activate under Boot Camp, reboot Boot Camp, see if the activation is working, then boot OS X start Parallels, then activate under Parallels, reboot and see if it's working, Windows XP activation actually tolerates 2 hardware environments, which means, it tolerates Boot Camp and Parallels , but any more change to the hardware (CPU, RAM, Hard Disk, Graphic Card*, Sound Card*) and it will snap activation again.

*Not sure if these count for Windows activation

 

i see. well i activated under boot camp and loaded parallels after. but it keeps asking me to activate

would i be better off installing both and then activating in boot camp. could i do this if i wiped my boot camp installation?

 

Id you wiped your Boot Cam partition, you need only to activate once in Parallels.
But in this case, please make sure that Parallels Tools is installed and activate through Parallels

 

Thanks.

I kind of want a boot camp partition and parallels. If i wiped my boot camp, reinstalled my boot camp but not activate until i've sorted out parallels, would this work?

And what is parallels tools? i've heard it mentioned but i cant find any information on it.