re: Don't start building yet... lesson learned
Monday, October 8, 2007 at 9:46 am
Windows 98 Annoyances Discussion Forum
Posted by Joe Hepperle
(73 messages posted)
(Repost to get rid of Annoying Ad covering the Information... hopefully)
Dan, There is a way to start Windows98 from DOS but not with what you have there.
The method comes from all Micro$oft product and does not involve any hacking, Warez,
reverse engineering, or any other process which would break the EULA (End User License
Agreement). And it takes awhile to get everything together.
But, if all you have is a restore disk, we should go an easier, less time consuming
method.
Some folks might try to make you think that you are up the creek without a paddle.
They may (erroneously) tell you that you have "nothing" if you don't have the Product
Key number.
They may also try to convince you that your only hope is to go on eebbaayy and buy
another
copy of the software.
Well, you'll be happy to hear that all of that is rubbish. There are at least three
easier, LEGAL ways to get a Product Key number. Try one or more of the following
and you'll be happier.
But it is important to understand this: ANY windows98 product key number will work.
Your software did not come with any special number just for that disk... any windows98
product key number will work. This is important to understand so that you understand
the first two methods.
Method #1
Go to your local computer repair store, with your legitimate install disk in hand,
and tell them your situation. Ask them if they can help you get a Windows98 product
key number. They won't have to send off anywhere to get one, they have bunches of
legitimate numbers at their disposal right there in their shop. Many, many, many
legitimate numbers are actually thrown away every day now that Win98 is an "older"
Windows version. They may charge you a few bucks (dollars, Euros, Pesos) or they
may give you one for free. (It is legal to give away legitimate software (number)...
as long as it is transferred from one person only, to one person only). (N.B. You
will carry the legitimate install disk with you to show proof that you have a legitimate
copy).
Method #2 (This is my favorite)
Go out on your front porch and look up and down your street.
If you live in a statistically normal neighborhood, 70% of the houses up and down
your street have a Microsoft Windows powered computer in them. Of that 70%, about
10% to 20% of those houses still are running Windows98. You don't want those houses.
The rest of your neighbors have computers running WindowsXP, or Vista. Those are
the houses you want. A greater majority of those houses have an "old" computer with
a Windows98 Install disk that is just sitting there unused. As long as you are not
the "hated" guy in the neighborhood, you should be able to talk one of your neighbors
into giving you their Windows98 install disk. (Remember: It IS legal to give it away).
They may insist you take the old computer too, but that is a minor nuisance because
all you want is the Product Key number, and ANY Windows98 Product Key number will
work. If all of your neighbors hate you, check with your family to see who has a
Windows98 disk that they are no longer using (because they have upgraded to XP or
Vista) and I'm sure you could get it as a free gift.
Method #3
Call Microsoft Customer Service. (This is assuming you really do have a legitimate
restore disk). Tell them that you have attempted a restore of your Windows98 system
with the restore disk, but you have lost the product key. Make sure to also stress
the point that you have the restore disk in your hand. Each of those legitimate restore
disks have a numerical code on them which you may have to read over the phone to
them to prove that you really have a legal copy of Windows in your hand. They have
been known to be grumpy and reluctant about it, but if you honestly make your case
that you have a valid install disk, and that you have simply lost the number, they
have been known to give out generic replacement numbers.
Sentences to practice before you call Micro$soft are something like this,
"...Look, if I was dealing with pirated software, I wouldn't be calling you... I
would have gotten a number from the pirates."
And
"...If I had gotten a pirated copy, wouldn't I have also gotten the number?"
And finally, if your Restore disk is not a Microsoft disk, but rather it is an OEM
install disk (Compaq, HP, Dell, Gateway, etc) you may have to call them instead of,
or before calling Micro$oft.
Joe Hepperle
- Written in response to:
- will not start (dan mapes: Monday, October 1, 2007 at 3:41 pm)
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