Hoping someone might have an answer to this annoying problem.

I have a MacBook. When I first got it, I installed Windows 7 Professional Edition (legal version) on it using the dual-boot method. It worked fine. But I got tired of having to reboot and having to maintain two up-to-date copies of the same software that I use on my MacBook (iTunes, Firefox, Picasa, etc.).

So I went out and got Parallels Desktop (again, legal version). Re-installed Windows under Parallels and guess what? Windows tells me my copy of Windows isn’t genuine! I’ve tried re-entering the product key twice but no dice.

Now, to add insult to injury, attempting to use Microsoft’s online help to send a message to customer service, they tell me that I need to pay HK$450 for support for this problem!

There is no way I am going to pay Microsoft $450 to provide support for this.  I’ll sooner junk Parallels Desktop and go back to dual-booting.  And the next time I decide to replace my desktop PC, I’ll go iMac and go 100% Mac and kiss Microsoft goodbye.

Actually, the more I think about it, there aren’t that many reasons I can come up with for needing Windows on my MacBook.  There are just a handful of programs I run that are Windows-only, but there’s one in particular (Newsbin) where I have yet to find a Mac app that works as well as this PC-only app.

Anyway, anyone encounter a similar problem?  How did you solve it?

Oh Microsoft, how do I hate thee?  Let me count the ways …

Share