Not really a Parallels problem but as Windows sometimes thinks it's running on different machines you get the "Please Activate this copy of Windows" message - and then suprprise surprise --message comes back "This copy of Windows has already been activated". You then phone up the Call centre which is located in some distant part of the planet and try and explain that you are actually running the copy of Windows you've paid for ON THE SAME MACHINE (physical) it was originally installed on and you are running it as a Virtual Machine. Response is of the order "What's a Virtual Machine" etc etc but eventually you get them to give you a key. Maybe developers of VM type software such as Parallels and VMware should speak to Microsoft and explain that people are running essentially ONE copy of Windows on the machine it was licensed for although the configurations will be different for different test purposes. Under the EULA license you are allowed to run ONE copy of windows on your machine -- it shouldn't matter what "Virtual Configuration" you give it. "Virtualisation" is an extremely useful method of trying different configurations and software on a Guest OS and I'm sure Microsoft use it too. Hopefully this issue can be addressed (although of courde it's not a Parallels specific problem). Since Parallels runs guests at almost native speeds given enough resources I suspect that this problem will rear it's head more and more as more people try usingsoftware like Parallels. Cheers -K
The Windows Activation mechanism will demand activation if Windows XP is installed in a virtual machine since the virtual machine (be it VMware or Parallels or Virtual PC) has a completely different (or new) hardware configuration from your PC. This is not a Parallels or VMware problem but a Microsoft problem. Blame Microsoft if you have to. There is nothing Parallels could have done about it.
Wondering if someone can help! On Windows through my VM, it states i must activate Windows, however, when i click to activate, it says it's already activated. Microsoft says they've done all they can to assist as they have given me a new product key and i continue to recv the same message. HELP!!! I only have a few more uses left and i have no idea what to do to resolve the issue. The Microsoft technical support people referred me to this forum.
I obtained a new key from Microsoft. However, it did not fix the problem. Any suggestions as Microsoft states they have no way to fix since they already provided the key, it must be a Parallels issue. I am very frustrated!!!!! Please help!
google for an activation crack, since you own a legal copy and are running it on the same comp, you are fine. don
^^Yeah, get a "corporate edition" xp pro of the bittorrent networks - it dosen't need activating. I know it's technically illegal, but you have paid for the product. I am using one of these copys for my XP install on my macbook, i'll put my legit copy on once i'm a bit more optimistic that it'll stay activated. The 'corp edition' XP is also great for testing out any VM config changes your thinking of making, without using 1 of your 'lives' with m$hit.
Why don't you just copy the pvs and hdd files from your XP VM to a backup location and then if you corrupt your VM just delete it and restore the backup.
I have to go along with the download a Corporate version reply. I purchased a legitimate copy of WinXP but playing around with the beta Parallels is not how I wanted to waste activations. I used Corporate installs in both BootCamp and Parallels and I was able to use posted kraks to keep both of them happily activated and upgraded. I suppose when Parallels reaches the release version and I can easily use the BootCamp partition to run in Parallels, then I'll use my real Windows XP Pro serial number. I don't think I need to upgrade to Vista since I only use WinXP for a few things. Such as certain sites than require latest versions of Windows Media Player and applications like VirtualDub or Alcohol or some other video apps that just can't run in OSX. So I don't think I really need Vista at all as long as utilities I use continue to run in WinXP.
Have you installed alcohol in a VM? I was thinking it might not work due to the low level driver it uses.
Screw it..... I'm just going to buy a new Windows XP Pro and install it. I am very disappointed that no one at Microsoft or Apple was able to assist me, however.
