Problem with Windows 7 Product Key

Hi - new Mac user and trying to install Parallels and Windows 7. I installed a trial copy of Parallels - no problems there. Went to Microsoft and purchased Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade. Went through the installation (custom mode) until the step where I am prompted to enter the Microsoft Product key. Enter the key I received and get an error that the Product Key is invalid. Note - I'm installing the 64-bit version of Windows. What am I doing wrong? Any suggestions? Should I go back and try the 32 bit version instead?

Thanks in advance,
Brian

 

Parallels 5 can deal with both 32 and 64 bit versions of Windows 7 so that shouldn't be the issue. Make sure you type in the Windows key exactly as required. If that fails you'll need to call Windows support. If you're trying to install the Windows Upgrade but you don't have a previous version of Windows installed on your VM you're out of luck - the upgrade requires an earlier Windows version (and I don't think that includes Windows 3.11).