Can't instasll tools; can't quit

Last spring while I was running Mac OS10.5 (MacBook Pro) I had no problem running windows WP on my boot camp partition using Parallels 3. I decided to upgrade to Parallel 4 as I knew that I would at some point upgrade to Snow Leopard. I purchased and downloaded Parallels 3 and have never been able to get it to work, either under Tiger or Snow Leopard. At the time, I kept running into the message that I had to install Parallels Tools. I tried all sorts of things (configuring it to the file in the library, putting my Parallels 3 CD into the disc drive) and nothing worked. The instructions said to install it manually, acting as if I was already into the windows. I could not get windows to boot or to turn on, etc. At one point, I tried to quit Parallels, and was told that I had to quite windows first or I would damage the booting of my windows program. I could not find any way to quit windows, as it wasn't running, so I was forced to quit parallels anyway.

Well, the warning was correct - I could no longer boot into windows using boot camp. I had to go online and get instructions on how to repair the boot camp bios (I think that is what it was called) to be able to use my boot camp partition. I did ask a question via email of tech support, but got no answer. As I was going on vacation, I quit working with Parallels in disgust, and just gave up.

I have decided that I want to get Parallels working again. My Boot camp partition works fine. In parallels 4, I cannot get beyond a blue window, saying Microsoft Windows XP Parallels Desktop across the top, and a menu (start, shut down, configure, etc) across the top. Start is grayed out. I have gone into configure a dozen times looking for things to change to see if I can get it going. It tells me that Parallels tools are not installed and to install them. (I configured it to the parallels folder in the library). It consistently gives me a dialog box telling me that if my CD/DVD autorun is on, it will be automatic, and if not, to click on my CD?DVD drive in my computer. I can't do this as I can't start windows. I also have another virtual machine (I must have tried to install another one) which tells me that no boot device is available. What can I do?????

NOw I can't quit Parallels. It tells me that if I quit (or suspend) it, I will damage my boot camp partition, and that I should quit windows first. How can I if I get start windows???

Please help, as (1) I would like to use parallels and (2) I don't want to keep the program open forever. I will need to turn my computer off at some point.

Thanks,
Nancy

 

continuation of troubles

In my searching for a solution to the above problem, I tried to start another virtual machine using the instructions given on this page. (Incidentally, I did search all over the place for a solution to my problem(s).) I used custom installation, and it tells me that it can't find the boot camp partition.

What the worst thing is, is that I won't let me close the unsuccessful window. There is not way to get rid of the new virtual machine window - it won't close - and all of the rest of Parallels windows are unresponsive (I assume waiting for me to do something with the virtual machine window.) Ordinarily, I would force quit, but that would probably ruin the boot camp partition like it did before.

What to do???