Can't upgrade from XP to 7 on Desktop 5

T

TeresaH

Bit poster
I purchased an upgrade to Windows 7 through the student deal. I am running XP SP 3, so I understand that I have to do a clean install, not an "upgrade". However, when I click on the ISO file, it doesn't use the Windows installation program to give me the option to choose Clean Install. Instead, a Parallels program opens up and prompts me to create a new Virtual Machine. There is no option to install within the same VM.

When I try to upgrade to a new VM, when it starts up, it says the activation key is wrong. I have looked at Windows help forum and it says that will happen when you try to upgrade from XP - since you have to do a clean install to upgrade.

How do I clean install within the same VM? (I'm assuming this is why the activation key isn't working, even though it's the correct one that Windows gave me).
 
Also, can't upgrade from XP to windows 7 on desktop 5

I'm running XP SP3 and it seems to run ok on my Desktop 5 upgrade. When I insert the Windows 7 ( 32bit, Home Premium) upgrade DVD and try to run I get the below message, and no menu to select Custom Install.

" The following issues are preventing Windows from upgrading. Cancel the upgrade, complete each task, and then restart the upgrade to continue."

"This computer is not compliant with the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) standard. Windows must be installed onto a computer that supports ACPI. Contact your computer manufacturer for a BIOS update or install Windows on an ACPI-compliant computer'

My Mac is a MacBook Pro with 4Gb and Mac OS X (10.6.2) w 200GB hard drive.
 
Got it to work

Okay, I was able to get it to work. It did create a new VM, but it still worked. When Parallels was closed, I double-clicked on the ISO file (in Mac OS X). That made it mount a disk image (with "DVD" at the end of the name). When I was back in Parallels/Windows XP, I clicked on the ISO file in Windows and that gave me more options. It let me chose a custom install.

Before, the options were totally different. It made me enter my activation key before creating the new VM.
This time, it didn't even ask me for my activation key. That did not happen until after I created the new VM and went through the installation process. (Windows asked me for my activation key this time, instead of Parallels).
 
Same problem trying to upgrade from CD

I'm having the same issue -- when I boot Windows XP, then insert my Windows 7 upgrade CD, I get the above message regarding no ACPI compliance. Does anyone know how to address this issue? I'd like to upgrade as opposed to have to go out and buy (another!) Windows 7 box!
 
Are you inserting the CD while Parallels is already running? If so, try to insert it while it's not active and then open up Parallels. Just a thought because that's what worked for me (well, not the physical CD but you can read in post #3 on here).
 
Yes, that seemed to help -- in combination with choosing to create a New VM. I couldn't do an upgrade at all. Also, I had to disconnect support for the floppy device, otherwise it threw up a complaint about the "unattended installation script" having the wrong activation key in it.

Thank you!
 
You're welcome. I'm glad you were able to get it installed. I also had to create a new VM. I wonder if we have to keep the XP on the computer. For instance, if the Windows 7 partition crashes and I try to re-install, will I have to have XP on there since it's an upgrade? I'm keeping it just in case.
 
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