Parallel Tools will not install......

[Shari.sld]

The tools installed in all the beta versions just fine.

I just tried to install in the release version and received the following message:

Error occurred when working with Registry
Install will be stopped

RebDBQueryKey(SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows/CurrentVersion\RunOnce)failed!

Error Code: -2147024894

Message text: the system cannot find the file specified.

Any recommendations how to fix this error and install the tools?

Thanx for any help.

ShariD

 

[VTMac]

Try uninstalling Parallels tools (assuming an older version was installed on this image) first. That should solve the problem. If not, then open regedit in windows, and find the registry key in your message above and delete it. Then install. One or the other will likely solve the problem.

 

[Shari.sld]

Have already attempted the uninstall/reinstall and did not work. I've been mac since 1985 and have idea how to open regedit in windows, where to find the registry key and exactly what you are indicating to delete. I do get that then I'm going to install parallel tools after doing that.

If you could walk me thru with a more complete set of instructions to follow - that would be awesome.

ShariD

Figured out how to run regedit and got to two files:

RunOnceEX (default) REG_SZ (value not set)

Run (default) REG_SZ (value not set)
F-Secure REG_SZ Describes path on C drive for Manager
F-Secure REG_SZ Describes path on C drive for start-up
F-Secure REG_SZ Describes path on C drive for TNB

deleted from the file Parallels REG_SZ Described path on C drive to tools.

Ininstalled Parallels again, reinstalled parallels, tried to install tools and got the same error message......................and in the registry file there is not a key for parallels tools.

Any other suggestions?

Thanx

 

[joem]

Take it from a very long time Windows user / developer -- editing the registry is only for folks who know what they are doing. Get it wrong and you're looking at a Windows reinstall on a blank partition. Deleting the RunOnce key could make future software installs fail. Deleting keys under it could make software you've just installed fail.

It sounds as if you are trying to install tools from an account that does not have administrator privileges. If that's the case, just log in to an admin account and do the install, but if you've been editing the registry, you may have to start over.

I'd sugest that every time you take a step in the process of building a system that succeeds, you make a backup copy of your .hdd file. That way, you can go back to a previous step and try something else if something doesn't work.

 

[Shari.sld]

JoeM,

I'm logged in as admin in both Mac & WinXP as I'm the only user on this machine and my VM, so I don't believe the issue is with being the admin.

I searched and found sveral instances in the forum of this issue - so I would suspect it's a bug in the final release of parallels. I had sent several bug reports reports and requests to support and have received no response in 15 days. I'm frustrated with my mouse and keyboard acting weird and really need to get some work done in my accounting programs.

Can you recommend one good book that is more of a "bible" for basic use of WinXP and the use of regedit. I always use David Pogue's "The Missing Manual" for MacOS for the current version of OSX I'm running.

Thanx for your assisitance and insight.

ShariD

 

[joem]

Shari,

The inability to install tools isn't a bug, it works fine for most people. Something else is wrong. From your description, I wouldn't suspect a registry problem anyway. Something else is going on.

I don't have any Windows book recommendations because I don't need Win books; I use the Microsoft documentation Which I pay them lots of money for (unfortunately).

So here are some sugestions:

Try booting from your XP disk and repairing your installation. If that doesn't work, create a new VM, install XP, and immediately install the tools. If that does work, update from the WindowsUpdate site, then activate with MS to prove you aren't a criminal (dontcha love it?). If it won't activate automatically, call them and tell them you are reinstalling it on the same machne because the first installation became corrupted.

Once you have done this, take one more critically important step, and make a copy of your .hdd file. This will give you a copy of a fresh activated XP install with tools that you can use as a base to step back to if necessary.

Then install your programs, verify that they are working, and back up your .hdd file again.

At this point, I'd suggest you create another virtual disk, attach it to your machine, and use it for data. Then if you have any more problems, you can revert to a backup copy of either your system or data disk as required.

Then my advice would be to make a backup of anything (either disk) you've changed as soon as you've done enough work that you don't want to do it again. This could be after a few hours or a few months depending on what you are changing.

It would be good to make those backups somplace other than your Mac hard disk. The idea is that no matter what fails, you still have a good copy somewhere. A pair of external USB or Firewire drives that you back up to alternately would be a good choice unless you can fit everything on a DVD. In any case, backups are a good thing(tm).

Remember, there are only two kinds of disks, those that have failed, and those that will.

Good luck,
Joe