How do I create a VM from this file?

I've been running Windows XP in Parallels 10.1.2. I've decided to upgrade to Windows 8.1, but I want to keep my XP VM, i.e. I want to create a new VM, not upgrade the old one.

I bought a Windows 8.1 download from MS and the download is a file called: OSGS14-WindowsSetupBox-32bitand64bit-English-4141408.exe, i.e. it's a Windows file. How do I create a new VM with this file?

Thanks in advance,
Steve = : ^ )

 

You bought the upgrade version, which costs less, and want to use it as a full version.

You can just duplicate the XP VM.

 

Thanks for the reply. I bought a Windows 8.1 Full Version download. (I don't have an optical drive.) There is an upgrade version of 8.1 but it only upgrades from Windows 8. You can upgrade Windows 7 to 8.1, but you have to buy 8.1 in full first. You can't upgrade from XP Vista to Windows 8.1. You have to do a clean install and then install your apps, copy your files from a backup etc.

I knew this when I bought the 8.1 download, but what I missed is that you can only do a clean install from disk, not the download. However, MS obviously realises that not everyone wants to buy a DVD these days, so they allow you to download files to make an 8.1 install disk (USB stick or DVD), but this works by downloading a .exe which then downloads the files and compiles the install disk and, annoyingly, the .exe wont run in XP or Vista, telling you that it's not possible to upgrade from there to Windows 8.1.

I don't see why I couldn't use XP to download the files to compile an install disk, and then use that disk for a clean install, but I can't, and it looks like I burned the money on the download.

Thanks again,
Steve = : ^ )

 

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media

 

Specimen,
thanks for the reply but I already found that page. When you click 'Create media' it downloads an .exe, which then downloads the files and compiles the install disk, but that .exe wont run in XP. It just tells you that you can't upgrade from XP to Windows 8.1.

Thanks again,
Steve = : ^ )

 

http://kb.parallels.com/en/121009

 

Specimen,
thanks again for the reply, but that link leads to the page I've already visited and, as I said above, The Media Creation Tool .exe that can be downloaded there only runs in Windows 7 or later, not in Vista nor in XP.

Someone at the MS Forums suggested I download the Windows 7 90-day trial, and use it run the Media Creation .exe to make an ISO file of 8.1. I might see if I can find a friend on Windows 7 or 8 to save me the trouble.

Steve = : ^ )

 

If you read carefully the link I posted, it tells you how to use the IE trial VMs to generate the ISO.

In fact that article has all the answers you need in regard to your post.

 

Ah! I stopped at reading at "Once you have a full installation source of Windows 8/8.1 please visit: Installing Windows on your Mac using Parallels Desktop for installing Windows virtual machine as usual" because the previously described process for creating an installation source didn't work for me, so I never got to the part about I.E. test environments. I don't know that it would have occurred to me that this is a way to run the Media Creation Tool, but it seems that it is.

Thanks again,
Steve = : ^ )

(I just speed tested my internet connection at 25-30Mb/s, but this file is downloading at less than 500KB/s so it'll be 6 hrs. or so before I can report back.)

 

I downloaded the test environment 'IE 10 in Windows 8' and used that VM to run the Media Creation Tool for 8.1 It all ran smoothly and I now have a working W8.1 VM. Thanks for all the help.

Steve = : ^ )

 

I'm glad I could help!