question about activating Win XP

Discussion in 'Parallels Desktop for Mac' started by slegge, Sep 26, 2006.

  1. slegge

    slegge Member

    Messages:
    35
    Hi,

    I have a intel iMac. I bought a copy of Windows XP (I'm legal!) and installed Bootcamp, installed Windows XP, activated Windows XP. Worked pretty well.

    So now I thought I'd try Parallels -- I must say it is really awesome and has exceeded my expectations! I am ready to buy Parallels but there's one small problem.

    When I try to activate the Windows XP I installed in Parallels, it tells me "According to our records, the number of times you can activate Windows with this product key has been exceeded." -- so I can't activate the windows in parallels, because I already activated it in Bootcamp.

    But it's the same computer, so obviously I think is legal fair usage.

    Question: How do I activate XP, or work-around this problem? Any help is greatly appreciated.

    Stephen
     
  2. slegge

    slegge Member

    Messages:
    35
    Hi all,

    Just to answer my own question -- when the "activate by internet" option didn't work, I selected "activate by telephone" and called their support system.

    I ended up talking to someone -- I explained what I'm doing (installed on Bootcamp, activated -- now installing on Parallels, won't activate). She *seemed* to follow what I was talking about, but the clincher was when I said "I'm basically installing again on the same machine" -- then she said, "you're saying that you're reinstalling Windows XP on the same computer?" "Yes." -- "Then I'll give you the codes." She read some numbers to me and it is now activated!

    I asked what to do if I need to reinstall again in the future, she said just call back and they'll give me another one-time activation code.

    Cool! Who knew that calling Microsoft support would be so painless and useful!

    Stephen
     

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