Latest 3.0 upgrade? (And if 4.0, then what's this new activation stuff?!)

Hi. I was gladly using 3.0. I wanted to upgrade it to the latest version. I came to this site and somehow 4.0 was downloaded and installed, deleting (I presume) my 3.0. Now 4.0 in fact asks for a new activation key, despite me having paid for the "permanent key" with 3.0.

Questions:

(1) Can someone tell me what is meant by "permanent key" if it doesn't work with the very next version? I bought Parallels 3.0 from retail just in August.

(2) If 4.0 needs extra bucks, that is a stupid decision from Parallels. Sorry, please let me know where to find the last valid download for 3.0 -- I cannot find it on your website because you haven't made it any easier.

(3) I presume my VM settings from old 3.0 (Windows XP) will be retained? Please please don't tell me that this anal 4.0 upgrade has spoiled them and I cannot downgrade?

Thanks.

 

4.0 is a paid upgrade ($40). If you don't want to use it and want to go back to 3.0, search the forum. There is a post with a link to the last 3.0 version.

Steve

 

Thanks Steve. I had already searched for it.


When I search for keywords like "download 3.0" I come up with threads like these: http://forum.parallels.com/showthread.php?t=21440&highlight=download+3.0 - which point to the download page on parallels.com, which now only has 4.0. Could you possibly have a direct link to share? I'm looking for the *last* 3.0 version.


EDIT: I found the direct link later in that thread. But this question stands--

Also, am I correct that my old VM will be as-is with all its settings?

Thanks.

 

1) Can someone tell me what is meant by "permanent key" if it doesn't work with the very next version? I bought Parallels 3.0 from retail just in August.
It means full key - in terms - it is full version of product not upgrade, permanent key is in terms it is not lease key, once you buy Parallels Desktop some version, you can use this version for a lifetime

(2) If 4.0 needs extra bucks, that is a stupid decision from Parallels. Sorry, please let me know where to find the last valid download for 3.0 -- I cannot find it on your website because you haven't made it any easier.

---fixed--
(3) I presume my VM settings from old 3.0 (Windows XP) will be retained? Please please don't tell me that this anal 4.0 upgrade has spoiled them and I cannot downgrade?

Options are:
Cancel, - do not Convert
Backup and Convert - self explanatory
and Convert without backup

 

John. My question is simple and I don't think you have helped with that answer.

I had 3.0. I had a Windows XP VM in it. I downloaded the update. It turned out to be 4.0, which also apparently uninstalls 3.0. So I now have a crap 4.0 installed on my machine, which won't work until I pay more, which I wont. So I need to move back. But now I need to manually uninstall 4.0.

I can do this. I can uninstall 4.0. But I need to know where the VM stuff is kept. Can I save that somehow while I uninstall the program itself to install 3.0? As you see, I have no choice to "make a backup" now. If I do, then please suggest how?

 

I figured out that the backup and convert stuff was AFTER one starts to use 4.0. So I have backed up my VM.

Now I uninstall Parallels 4.0 by moving all the Parallels related items and plist into the trash (using "AppCleaner", a handy tool that finds related items of a software). Then I have emptied trash.

However, when I now install Parallels 3.0, it keeps croaking with the error message "Please uninstall Parallels Server first".

What is Parallels Server and how did it get on my machine? It is NOT listed under Applications. Where is it and how can I get rid of it?

Thanks for any pointers.

 

To uninstall Parallels you use the 'Uninstall Parallels Desktop.app' that comes in Parallels .dmg, it's not enough to move the .app to the trash since there are other files Parallels installs in the system (.kexts in /System/Library/Extensions for instance) hence the uninstall .app is needed. Considering you already dragged it to the trash against better judgement (you seem to be a bit hasty, you already managed to install v4 by accident...), I suggest you use the uninstall .app (from the v4 .dmg) to remove the rest, if that doesn't work install v4 again and use the uninstall .app to remove it completely.


AppCleaner is not smart enough to detect the .kexts.

 

I had uninstalled using AppCleaner, which does find related files. It showed me three files, incluing .app, the plist file, and something else. Now I have also cleaned out the System/Lib/Ext file you mentioned. But I still get the error, so I suppose there are more files lying around.

Do you suggest i download the 4.0 thingie again and then execute it just to find the uninstall option?

 

Just an update. I downloaded 4.0 again. Ran its uninstaller. Set it to delete everything, including application settings.

Restarted the machine.

Still, when I try to install 3.0 I still see that "Please uninstall the Server" message.

I hope someone can answer this and quickly as I need work to be done.

Thanks

 

I told you that if running the uninstall .app doesn't fix it, install v4 again and then uninstall, a permission repair might also help fix the problem if somehow the permissions got messed up and the uninstaller can't delete the files. There is more than one Parallels kext under /System/Library/Extensions, btw.

 

After several attempts of installing/uninstalling/restarting my iMac, I now have Parallels 3 installed. But when i start it, and it needs to recognize the "hard disk", I choose "Use an existing hard disk". However, in the window where I have to click the "Browse.." button to select the backup copy of my old VM, the Finder window for selection is NEVER in focus! It comes up, but is never in focus. If I press Escape the entire Parallels import thing goes away and Parallels closes down.

If this is the case, how is one meant to import existing hard disks? I'm getting really frazzled with this experience. I hope someone can help, or this might be time to consider options.

Thanks

 

The focus problem might occur if you have Parallels set to a specific Space in the Exposé & Spaces.

By the way, with your AppCleaner thing you managed to delete the .plist which contains the settings of your VMs. Do you know where your VMs are?

About your 'consider options' thing, I'm a customer, I don't care if you buy from Parallels or not, as for Parallels staff they probably know that the people that threaten to buy from the competition either already made up their minds or don't really plan on changing and are just using that argument to get attention, it doesn't work.

 

Yes I have a fully working VM. I had backed it up once and it's still here, thank god.

Parallels is not set to "spaces and exposes". I am not sure what that is.

I've given up on Parallels 3. Uninstalled it, and just decided to try 4.

When I open the old VM in Parallels 4, it is trying to upgrade the virtual machine. It has been doing that since about an hour. Is this normal?

 

Yes attention (to the bafflement at hand, not to me) is precisely why I'm here in the first place, but don't count on me not switching to the competition. The complacent attitude you describe has killed many a businesses.

 

The upgrade thing is normal, be sure autologon is enabled on your VM thou, the upgrade process might or might not go smoothly according to what you can read on these forums about it. Personally I'm not upgrading to v4 until things look brighter since this is a VM I need for work.

Spaces & Exposé is in System Preferences.

 

Thanks. How can I enable autologon if the upgrade window is already here and taking an eternity? I didn't find an option. While the upgrade is on, I can seem to do nothing.

In hindsight, looks like a fantastic decision

 

Sigh... The autologon should've been enabled thru windows itself, now it's too late. I'm sorry, blame it on Parallels, they should've warned you thou. The autologon appears to be important because Parallels is suppose to start automatic installation and conversion when you start windows, if you require to type a password to enter the automatic process is lost and has to be done manually.

 

4.0 is an unholy mess. Go back to 3.

I don't know why the earnest respondents didn't warn you right at the top of this thread. Even a quick glance at the main forum will tell you that the 4.0 version is so far a terrible mess. You should stay away at all cost until the kinks are ironed out--I'm guessing 6 months minimum.

As for the particular problem you had with the error msg, can't really help other than the advice you already got--reinstall 4.0 and then use the uninstaller to uninstall it.

However, not that you have reinstalled 4.0 you're in a perfect situation to uninstall it using the uninstaller. Good news!

PS I have both Parallels and Fusion, and they are about equal, so you might in fact find Fusion more to your liking. Also it readily converts a Parallels VM to a Fusion VM.