Parallels Workstation for Windows: Step-by-Step Installation

Note: You must have Power User or Administrator rights to be able to install the Parallels Workstation on a computer running Windows.

To install Parallels Workstation:

1. Download Parallels Workstation installation file from Parallels site.
   • To download a trial version access the Parallels Download Center.
   • To buy a full-scale version visit the Parallels Buy Online page.

     Select the Windows EXE file for downloading.

2. Locate the downloaded self-extracting Parallels-Wst-2.2.xxxx-Win.exe file and double-click it. The Parallels Setup Wizard greets you with the following screen.

   

   Click Next button to display user license agreement which you must accept to continue installing Parallels Workstation.

3. On the License Agreement screen use either the PgDn key or the down arrow ¯ key on your keyboard to read the entire agreement. Select the I accept the terms of the license agreement option. The Next button becomes enabled; click it to proceed with the installation.

   You may print the license agreement for your records using the Print button.

   

4. In the User Registration screen you can enter your contact information that will be used for sending you a trial activation key. Please enter your E-mail and User name. Specifying Company name is optional. Check I want to receive news from Parallels to my E-mail if you want to be informed about new Parallels products. You will be sent a free trial activation key soon after this.

   If you prefer to register on Parallels site, click the Register on site button.

   To buy Parallels Workstation and receive a permanent activation key, use the Buy button.

   If you want to put off the registration, click Skip registration to proceed to next step.

   Note. The User registration screen does not appear if you reinstall Parallels Workstation.

   

5. In the Customer Information screen, you can activate your copy of the Parallels Workstation. To do this, enter your Activation key. Entering User Name and Company Name is optional. Register on site and Buy buttons are provided for obtaining a trial activation key and a permanent activation key respectively. The Register on site button opens the Parallels site where you can register and get a trial activation key; the Buy button opens the Parallels online store where you can purchase a permanent activation key.

   When finished, click the Next button to move to the Choose Destination Location screen.

   Notes. 1. You are not obligated to specify activation information right now. It is possible to do it later in the installed application in the Activate Product window. To skip this step, click the Activate later button.

   2. The Customer Information screen may not appear if you reinstall Parallels Workstation after removing it. If you chose to save license information when removing, this step will be omitted.

   

6. On the Choose Destination Location screen you should specify a folder where Parallels Workstation will be installed. If you are not satisfied with the default folder, click the Change button to find another one. Note that Parallels Workstation should be installed only on the bootable system disk.

   

   Press the Next button to display the Select Program Folder window.

7. In this window you have to define the name of the Parallels Workstation folder in the Programs list of the Windows Start menu.

   

   By default, setup wizard offers to create a new folder called Parallels. However, you may choose one of the folders currently existing in the Programs list and presented in the Existing Folders list on this screen.

   Click Next to proceed.

8. On the Select shortcuts screen, specify where Parallels Workstation shortcuts should be added. The first option, Create the application shortcut on the Desktop adds Parallels Workstation icon on the Windows desktop. The second option, Create the application shortcut in the Start menu adds an additional link into program folders list above the folders. The third option, Put the application shortcut on the Quick Launch panel adds Parallels Workstation icon to the Windows Quick Launch panel located in the Taskbar.

   

   Click Next to move to the next screen.

9. On the Ready to Install the Program screen, if you are satisfied with the information entered, click Install to start the Parallels Workstation installation.

   You can return to the previous steps by clicking the Back button.

   

10. If your Windows primary system is configured to warn you every time an unsigned driver is installed, you will receive the following message box:

    

    Click OK to disable the unsigned driver warnings during Parallels Workstation installation. They will re-enabled later when the installation will be complete.

    If your system is configured to block the unsigned drivers installation, you will receive the similar message prompting you to allow installation of these drivers. Click OK, otherwise Parallels Workstation can not be installed at all.

11. Installation progress is shown in the Setup Status window.

    

12. When Parallels Workstation is installed, the wizard displays its final screen.

    

    To complete the installation, click Finish. If you check I want to view Readme file option, the Readme file will be opened in Notepad.