Windows 8.1 Pro requires constant reactivation when running in Parallels in OS X Yosemite

Discussion in 'Installation and Configuration of Parallels Desktop' started by SamH2, Jun 5, 2015.

  1. SamH2

    SamH2 Bit poster

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    Well, the title really says it all. I have Windows 8.1 Pro on a separate Boot Camp partition on my HDD along with OS X Yosemite. When I boot directly into that partition everything runs just fine. However, when I boot into OS X and then run Parallels so that I can run Windows alongside OS X, I constantly have to "reactivate" Windows. I click the "Authorize Online" button and am told that "Windows cannot activate at this time. Please try again later." However, after about five minutes, the OS magically activates and everything is fine. It is not really impeding my ability to use the computer, it is just beyond annoying. I was wondering if this had something to do with the fact that I am running a virtual machine and that it constantly has to phone home to check with Microsoft to see if my copy of Windows is authorized or not. If anybody has a solution to this I would be eternally grateful. I apologize if this has been posted somewhere else, but I was too frustrated to take the time to look. Thanks!

    Edit: After playing around with Windows and Parallels, I have discovered that I do not actually have to "activate" Windows at all. It automatically deactivates when I start Parallels for the first time after a complete shut down and subsequently reactivates several minutes later on its own (this "activation" remains valid through resets and only seems to become invalid after a shut down of the computer). To me this would indicate that it is indeed caused by that fact that I am running a virtual machine and that it has to contact Microsoft because if thinks it is running on a different computer, only to find out that it is in fact running on the same machine it was originally installed on. I do not have very much experience with running virtual machines, though, so I am merely speculating. Any further input would be greatly appreciated.
     
    Last edited: Jun 5, 2015
  2. Manoj@Parallels

    Manoj@Parallels Parallels Support Parallels Support

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  3. SamH2

    SamH2 Bit poster

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    Hi. That was actually the first thing I tried. I activated my virtual machine and then activated my Boot Camp partition by phone. It seemed to be working for the rest of the evening, but yesterday I booted through Parallels and it had somehow deactivated itself. Unfortunately, I do not get the option to activate by phone in Parallels.
     
  4. Dishant@Parallels

    Dishant@Parallels Parallels Support

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    234
    Hi SamH2,
    Could you please try to uninstall and re-install Parallels Tools as mentioned in the link http://kb.parallels.com/en/4841 and then check activating by phone again.
    In case if the issue still persists then we would suggest you to contact Microsoft Support..
     

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