This is a proposal for the solution of the mouse-and-keyboard freeze when using Parallels Desktop with a Boot Camp partition. When booting, Parallels Desktop attempts to install Parallels tools. This will fail if your copy of Windows XP does not automatically boot into an account and instead boots into the login screen. If your partition has already been ruined, this solution will not help you. Otherwise, you have two options. You can delete all accounts except one, and disable the guest account. Otherwise, you can try the following: Boot into Windows XP. Download TweakUI: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx. Install TweakUI and use it to set Windows XP to automatically boot into an account. Restart into OS X. Run Parallels Desktop with the Boot Camp partition.
How do you get past the "reactivate message" My windows is set to autologin....however, parallels causes windows to want to reactivate. But because I can't get the tools installed I dont have keyboard or mouse working. So I get stuck at the reactivate screen. HELP.
I'd just like to add that you don't have to install TweakUI to setup automatic login in Windows. 1. Click Start->Run. 2. Type control userpasswords2 and press Enter 3. Uncheck "Users must enter a username and password to use this computer". Fill in your password when it asks, and that's it. I came across this thread because I'm running into this problem with the latest build, 3170, and this is my first time trying a Boot Camp partition. Turning on auto login didn't occur to me, thanks.
