How can I get parallel computing to use my cores?

I have a new laptop with 8 processors. I've just downloaded MATLAB 2015a with the parallel computing toolbox, but it won't use the cores. I get an error message when I use "parpool" at the command line, and validating the cluster fails at step 3.

Stage: SPMD job test (createCommunicatingJob)
Status: Failed
Description:The job errored or did not reach state finished.
Command Line Output:(none)
Error Report:(none)
Debug Log:
LOG FILE OUTPUT:

   Aborting: failed to launch '"C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2015a\bin\win64\MATLAB.exe  -dmlworker -noFigureWindows  -r distcomp_evaluate_filetask"' on Lisl-HP
   Error (2) The system cannot find the file specified.)

[Walter Roberson]

If I understand correctly, validating clusters is for the Distributed Computing Toolbox, not for Parallel Computing Toolbox itself.

[jgg]

Can you show us what your code is to call the parpool command?

Try just deleting the whole thing and letting Matlab automatically detect the local cluster profile. It should work tolerably well for most applications.

[Edric Ellis]

You should contact MathWorks support to help you resolve this kind of installation problem. (@Walter - in fact cluster validation is appropriate when using the local cluster with only Parallel Computing Toolbox)

[Lisl]

you can type "parpool" into the command line to open your parallel pool

[Lisl]

i tried an unstall, reinstall with no luck. i think MathWorks support is probably my next stop. thanks!