Windows or Windows Programs Ask for Reactivation

When you first install Windows on a PC, Boot Camp partition, or virtual machine, you must activate Windows to use it. You can activate Windows over the Internet or by phone.

Once activated, every time you start Windows it checks whether it is running on the same hardware on which it was originally installed. When you import Windows to Parallels Desktop from a PC or create a Boot Camp virtual machine, Windows detects that the virtual hardware is different and may require reactivation, depending on the version of Windows you’re using and Microsoft’s licensing policy.

Windows or Microsoft Office asks for reactivation

If you imported Windows from a PC or created a Boot Camp virtual machine and Windows or Microsoft Office asks for reactivation, try to reactivate it over the Internet or by phone with Microsoft Support.

Note: For the detailed information on how you can reactivate Windows or Microsoft Office, please refer to the Windows/Microsoft Office help resources.

If Windows or Microsoft Office has reached the activation limit, you won't be able to use it in a virtual machine. In this case, you can do one of the following:

• If Windows cannot be reactivated in a Boot Camp virtual machine, work with Windows by booting your Mac directly into Windows.
• Buy a new activation key to activate Windows in a virtual machine.

Third-party application asks for reactivation

If you imported Windows from a PC or created a Boot Camp virtual machine, some third-party applications that are tied to the hardware on which they were originally installed may ask for reactivation. In this case, you can do one of the following:

• If you choose to work with an application in a virtual machine, contact the application vendor for help. The vendor may give you another activation key or offer to deactivate the application on the PC or Boot Camp and activate it in the virtual machine.

Important: If the vendor gives you or you decide to purchase a new activation key, please note that reactivating an application with a new key in a virtual machine may break its activation on the Boot Camp. It means that if you later decide to work with the application by booting your Mac directly into Windows, it will require reactivation.

• If an application asks for reactivation in a Boot Camp virtual machine, work with the application by booting your Mac directly into Windows.