Symptoms

You might encounter some issues when using Parallels Boot Camp VM:

1) Windows asks for activation each time you are trying to enter either Boot Camp or Parallels VM;

2) You cannot load Boot Camp Windows neither in the Boot Camp mode nor in Parallels;

3) Hal.dll and/or boot.ini errors appear.

Cause

Boot Camp and Parallels use different hardware. However they address to the same Windows in turn. So Windows intercepts the hardware change and the mentioned problems might occur.

Resolution

Please shut down Windows from the "Start" menu only. If you just click the red "Stop" button on the VM panel or simply close the VM window, Parallels does not finish the work correctly, the processes going on between Windows and Parallels do not get completed the way they should. So Boot Camp can not address to Windows correctly any more.
 

Here is a list of alternative solutions if you get the issue by accident:

• You can use the "Clear" button:

1. Open your Boot Camp virtual machine;


2. Open Configuration Editor;


3. In the "Resource" list, click "Hard Disk";


4. In the "Hard Disk" settings pane, click the "Advanced" tab;


5. In the "Cleanup Boot Camp Partition" area, click the "Clear" button.

• You should repair Windows installation.

• Make two hardware profiles (Windows XP only, recommended when preparing Boot Camp Installation for Parallels):

a) Open your "System Properties" either through the Control Panel or by right-clicking on "My Computer" and going to Properties;

b) Go to the "Hardware" tab and click on "Hardware Profiles";

c) Rename the current profile "Boot Camp", and then copy it. Rename the copy "Parallels";

d) Under "Hardware profiles selection", make sure "Wait until I select a hardware profile" is selected;

e) Check the properties of each profile and make sure the following options are selected

"This is a portable computer"

"The docking state is unknown"

"Always include this profile as an option when Windows starts"

f) Click "OK" on everything.

This will allow you to choose the correct hardware profile when booting into Windows using Boot Camp or Parallels. Select the "Parallels" hardware profile when using Parallels and select the "Boot Camp" hardware profile when using Boot Camp.

For activation issues make two hardware profiles, then do the following:

a) Boot into Mac OS X and start Parallels, open VM Configuration Editor;

b) Choose "Network Adapter 1" section, "Advanced" tab and remember the MAC address;

c) Boot into Boot Camp natively and open Windows Control Panel -> Network Connections. Right click "Local Area Connections", choose "Properties";

d) On "General" tab click "Configure" button. In the Network Connection Properties window open "Advanced" tab and choose "Locally Administered address" from the list. In the "Value" field type the MAC address;

e) Restart into Mac OS X and launch Parallels;

f) Pick the Windows "Parallels" partition and re-activate Windows the first time starting into Parallels.