Please help. I want to run Windows 8.1 in Parallels on my Mac. I have downloaded a trial version of Parallels, and today I bought (and believed I had downloaded) the £49 student version of Windows 8.1Pro from Microsoft, on my Mac. Windows only took a couple of seconds to download (so obviously it hasn't), but Microsoft emailed me a product key. Microsoft's techies were fairly useless when I rang and said I could not open the .exe file because I am on a Mac. They said I had to install it on a PC first, then burn it to a disc or USB device, before I could install on Parallels. I cannot burn it to disc or usb on my mac, because it won't open a .exe file.
POSSIBLE SOLUTION? Parallels tech support people suggested today that I download the IE 11 version of Windows 8.1 on my Mac ( so I have) in order to open the .exe file that contains my bought copy of Windows 8.1. BUT when i open this free version, it warns me that it will expire after 90 days, and asked for my product key for Windows - but presumably when it expires it will destroy my paid-for copy of Windows with it? It warns that even commercially purchased versions of Windows will not work after 90 days. What do i do? Am i misunderstanding things? Anyone else had this issue? Thanks.
POSSIBLE SOLUTION? Parallels tech support people suggested today that I download the IE 11 version of Windows 8.1 on my Mac ( so I have) in order to open the .exe file that contains my bought copy of Windows 8.1. BUT when i open this free version, it warns me that it will expire after 90 days, and asked for my product key for Windows - but presumably when it expires it will destroy my paid-for copy of Windows with it? It warns that even commercially purchased versions of Windows will not work after 90 days. What do i do? Am i misunderstanding things? Anyone else had this issue? Thanks.