Anyone ever get this error message when installing windows 7 in parallels 5 "the unattended answer file contains an invalid key. either remove the invalid key in the unattended answer file to proceed with the window installation" I am trying to install it on my macbook pro at work. And i do have a valid license copy of windows 7 (MAK) have about 5000 licenses to use and less than 10 have been used.
Hi, Please check http://kb.parallels.com/en/6955 The article refers to upgrade to Win 7, but should help here too.
i figured the way to not get the error message was to not put in the serial number for windows 7 at that screen and it would let you continue the install. you should be able to put in the Windows serial number later after the install
Actually, I believe you have to reinstall Win 7 a second time and this time, select "upgrade" and THEN enter the key.
I cannot get W7 to Install in Parallels 5 for Mac on Mini Hi, I have installed XP as a VM on my Mac Mini without a problem and I am now trying to install W7 as a separate virtual Machine on my Mac Mini. The messages I get are all on the boot screen: Trying to boot from xxxxxxx... failed. <- fails on everything but especially on the CD/DVD which is a Pioneer DVD-RW DVRTS08 After it has tried everything, it brings up a drop down window that says, No Operating System Installed with a link to the help system. I went to the help system and followed the directions to no avail. I am using the CD/DVD W7 Pro 64 disk with 50 installs possible I have tried with and without the product numbers and I still get the same thing. The ParDeskTop shows the CD/DVD connected. I have tried with the default CD/DVD and with the actual CD/DVD connected, disconnected, with and without prayer. The Mac Mini recognizes the DVD as a Windows 7 disk, but does not seem to be able to boot from it during the installation process as a new Virtual Machine. Any ideas? Thanks, Chuck Howerton
On my MB, I had P5 with Vista running successfully when W7 came out last October. I popped the W7 install disk (32bit) version in the internal DVD drive and completed the W7 installation in a separate VM. After determining that I had a good installation of W7, I removed the Vista VM and haven't had any problems since. I assume you are using the internal DVD drive on your Mac Mini. Last month I installed P5, W7 and BootCamp on my wife's Mini and it is running fine also. I'm wondering if your W7 disk is damaged? You probably know that you can use ANY W7 64 bit disk for the installation as they're all the same. If you have access to another disk, you should give that a shot. As to the key, just enter the key that came with the disk that you are using.
Upon further checking, I think you are exactly correct. Someone wrote the product number on the back of the disk envelop while the disk was in the envelop and I can read the product number impressed into the DVD. I will have another one shortly to work with. If I have any further problems, I shall be back. Thanks, Chuck Howerton
