New Hardware Win Wizards want Drivers installed

I've been running Parallels since I was an alpha tester of the first version. Met nice people with Parallels, such as Benjamin Rudolph and Jason Krilich. However, this upgrade is a disaster that has been a huge frustration & time waster. It appears to have been released before it was ready.

On my fourth attempt, I finally completed an update from backup of my Windows XP Professional SP3 virtual machine from Parallels 3 (on 3rd attempt, progress bar (not the 4 part screens) kept repeating for 6 hours before I finally cancelled).

Version 4 appears to run OK after Parallels Tools installed, including printing and Shared Networking Internet access (Internal Apple Superdrive not tested yet). However, upon bootup, about four Windows Wizards find "hardware" and want to install drivers. So, far I have been cancelling out of them. However, my 3 days to re-active Windows XP Professional and Office expire on 11/21. I already used a reactivation on one of my other failed attempts. So, please help me solve this before then!

I've really tried to solve this on my own. I did a search on the Forum and also printed out the entire Troubleshooting info. Couldn't find a solution. I don't think I should let Windows install it's drivers. However, the Parallels 4 updater isn't in the Windows virtual DVD drive anymore, and I suspect the correct drivers are in the updater.

During the "successful" installation, I canceled all Windows OS attempts to launch a process/installation (maybe I should have just ignored the windows?) until Parallels Tools had installed. Then, upon bootup, I let Windows perform simple "hardware detected" installs, but have been cancelling the Windows Wizards with multiple radio buttons.

<<1. Mac OS Version
OS X 10.5.5 with all updaters installed.

2. Parallels Build #
4.0.3522

3. What kind of computer
MacBook Pro 2.33 MHz (2nd generation)

4. Total Physical RAM
3 GB

5. Hard Drives

320 GB internal

6. If you are using a BootCamp configuration or not

No

7. Did you upgrade from a BETA

No, from latest (a couple of days before 4.0 release) of v3.

8. With what Build did the problem start

4.0.3522

9. If Parallels Tools are installed

Yes.

10. Anything you have tried to get things working

Nothing to screw it up. Have bootable external backup of v3 (booted from it to uninstall Kaspersky Internet Security, before 4th "successful" installation. Have external backup of v4 virtual machine with 3 Snapshots, the first before I did anything new after Parallels Tools installed.

11. Anything specific about your set-up you think we should know

Carefully maintain my hard disk, regularly running latest versions of Applejack, Apple Disk Utility, Diskwarrier and Leopard Cache Cleaner. Keep eveything up to date.

12. If you are crashing, upload some crash logs

n/a

13. If you are getting an error message type it in and then attach a screenshot.

n/a

14. If you are having issues with a specific component (i.e. mouse, keyboard, monitor) tell us what it is.

Beyond that now, with "successful" installation.

In summary, how do I make sure that all the correct drivers are installed, and get rid of the remaining Windows "New Hardware Detected" wizards that appear upon each virtual machine bootup?

I like the Parallels company and it's people. However, this has been a sobering experience. I bought the original release version of VMware Fusion, and upgrades are free. Never installed it, but giving this consideration now.

Any help you can give me would be appreciated!

Len

 

Len,

can you please send us screen shot of Device Manager in your Windows ?

1. Right-click on "My Computer" and choose Properties
2. Choose "Hardware" tab and click "Device Manager
3. Resize windows to fill the contents

Then either choose "Help->Report a Problem" and let us know report ID (so we can see the screenshot)
or make the screenshot yourself and post it here.

This should help us to understand your issue,

Regards,
Max