I am really hoping someone can help me with this. I bought Windows 7 Professional (full version) from the online Microsoft store because of the student discount. But instead of receiving a disk, I had to download 3 files onto my Macbook. [setup1.box, setup2.box, and Win7-P-Retail-en-us-x86.exe] When I open Parallels, it asks me to insert a disk. What can I do? I have already talked to technical support from Microsoft and Apple and they have been no help. This is my last hope.
AntonioA, using Windows 7 executable file, you cannot install operating system from scratch in Parallels Desktop virtual machine. You need bootable DVD, ISO image, or DMG image for it: http://download.parallels.com/desktop/v5/docs/en/Parallels_Desktop_Users_Guide/23249.htm
just burning exe file to DVD will not work - Windows installation disk should be bootable. There are no official instructions on this issue, but you can try solution provided here: http://www.mydigitallife.info/2009/...rom-exe-plus-setup1-box-and-setup2-box-files/
executable I am having trouble with step 3 on the link you gave me. What is an executable and how do I run it? By the way, thank you for your help.
right-click executable file (.exe), select Run As... > Administrator. Antonio, I think it makes sense to contact Microsoft and ask if there is an option to get ISO image (I know that some retailers provide it) or real DVD.
Thank you I contacted Microsoft and asked for an ISO image. There is an available download and they said I should be able to burn that. Thank you so much!
I downloaded the Windows 7 32-bit ISO. After I burned the disk, Parallels did not read it. Any ideas?
Antonio, there is no need to burn ISO to DVD. You can just download it to your Mac and point Virtual Machine to the downloaded image, not to real CD-DVD ROM. Please check documentation: http://download.parallels.com/desktop/v5/docs/en/Parallels_Desktop_Users_Guide/29738.htm
