Can't activate My BootCamp Windows 7 (64 bit) under Parallels 5

Hi,

I've just finished installing Parallels Desktop 5 on my Mac Pro machine (8 cores and 32 GB RAM) in hope to use my legal Windows 7 (64 bit) previously installed via BootCamp. After installing Paralles Desktop and running my BootCamp Windows, I was asked to reactivate my Windows product key. However, when I do so, I get a denial message saying

"The product key must be activated with new hardware

Windows detected a change in hardware or hardware driver. Validation requires that the hardware and Windows product key match what has been registered. To change the hardware your Windows product key is registered to use the automated phone system to activate."

I should mention that the Parallel Tools in properly installed in my Virtual machine.

Does anybody know how I can solve this problem. Your comments are greatly appreciated.

 

I think you need to register in Boot Camp, then make sure Parallels Tools in installed and you will need to register again from the Parallels side. The phone automation will work the first time, but if you change anything major it won't let you reregister but you should be able to go through Customer Services to do so.

You need to register your real (Boot Camp) and your virtual (Parallels) machines because Windows sees them as 2 distinct computers.

 

Thanks for your comment. Under Parallels I had to activate Windows via phone automation. Now Windows 7 seems to be working fine under both Bootcamp and Parallels.

 

Hi,
Can you confirm please if the steps that you followed were:
1) Install Win 7 under bootcamp
2) Install Parallels and Create a new Virtual Machine using BootCamp installation of Windows 7 (created on the previous step)
3) Login to BootCamp Win 7 and perform Online Activation
4) Login to Mac OS --> Login to Win 7 in Parallels --> Activate Win 7 again with Phone Activation?

So, after step 4, you're windows installation in bootcamp is working fine, without any problem? The same thing if you access the Virtual Machine of the same Win 7?

Thanks!
Luciano

 

1. I installed Windows 7 (b4 bit) under BoodCamp
2. I made certain it worked properly, scanned the disk for errors, ran Windows programs for a few days, etc. When I was sure it was fine I did the online activation
3. Next I had Parallels make a Virtual Machine using my BootCamp partition as the source
4. I let Parallels install Parallel Tools (I read in Fusion if you don't do that it keeps making you activate every time you boot - not sure if same is true of Parallels). I ensured Parallel Tools had installed properly. I tested out Windows in Parallels for a few days to ensure everything was OK.
5. Then I activated Windows (I had messed up a BootCamp install so I had already done my 2 installs and had to call Microsoft Support to have my product activated a 3rd tim)e.

In BootCamp Windows 7 is activated and valid, booting from Parallels Windows 7 is activated and valid.

 

Thanks Mega for the quick answer!

So indeed you activated Win 7 twice..
a) First in BootCamp (before installing a Parallels VM on that bootcamp instance)
b) Then in the Parallels VM by phone

According to what I read on this same forum, the 2nd activation within Parallels must be done using the phone option. So it was very good that you messed up the 2 activations.

Another question...
Have you ever got the error message from windows, saying that it found changes on the hardware?
Have you done the same thing to install MS Office 2010?

Thanks again
Regards
Luciano

 

Thanks

Thanks Mega,
So you actually activated the same Win 7 twice, as per your explanation:
1) Installed and activated the BootCamp instance via the Online Activation option
2) Installed and activated the Parallels Install (same install than BootCamp), via a Phone Activation.

What I read is that the 2nd installation in the Parallels install (that is actually the same as BootCamp), the activation must be done by phone, so you were lucky you "messed up" the online installation twice.

2 last questions:
a- Have you ever seen the error message from Win 7 stating that it discovered a "change" on the hardware installation?
b- Have you done same thing to activate Office 2007 or 2010?

Thanks
Luciano

 

Someone from Parallels Support?

In case someone in the Parallels Support Team, that can point me to any official documentation on this topic.

I'm using the Trial Period, and I want to make sure that I'll be able to use Win 7 and Office 2010 in both BootCamp and Parallels from BootCamp, without Activation issues, before purchasing Parallels.

Thanks
Luciano