[julieross]

Hello. I just got an imac with Leopard and I attempted to download the trial version of Parallels. I am a novice but I need to run stamps.com on my imac and their site suggested the use of parallels. I started the download for parallels and when it got to the point where I needed to enter the windows xp product key, I used the key that was found on the back of my gateway which is operating in a different room (was this wrong?) It acted as if it was installing then got to a point where it said there was 18 minutes left and it just basically froze. I could not get it to get going again. I uninstalled it and all and tried to start the process over again and it just took me back to the same screen with the 18 minutes left even after I uninstalled it. My plan was to run the demo and then to purchase the product as I need to run stamps.com.

My questions are---will i be able to get it running now that I am in this "suspended" state? Have a I used an incorrect Windows product key if my other computer that I got it from is still running. If that key is incorrect, can I use a key from a computer that I just replaced that is no longer operational? If I purchased the boxed version of parallels, do I also have to purchase a new copy of Windows xp?

I apologize for all the questions--as I said, I am a novice and I am new to mac also so I am kind of lost.
Thanks Julie

[Big Mac]

That's not going to work. You tried using a Windows OEM key that was already in use.

[seanc]

You can use the key from the non-operational computer assuming it's a XP key and correct for the Windows disc you're using. You can use an XP key on one computer at a time unless it's a Volume Licence Key, which your Gateway doesn't have.

If your key was accepted by the setup program then it's unlikely that it is the cause of the problem. If it's now in a suspended state, you can start it up and it should continue from where it left off. Alternatively, you can restart the virtual machine and setup should continue from where it left off.

[ghporter]

sean's right-Microsoft is the organization that worries about keys for Windows, not Parallels. Your problem is not that you (incorrectly) used the key for an existing Windows installation, but that there's something odd going on with Parallels.