|Is it safe to assume any Win98 install cd
|will install to a re-formatted hd sans a previous windows installation?
| Louis

As C K noted,
the Windows Product Key is even more precious than the plastic disk.


If you haven't already wiped the disk,
you may have the Windoze install files already on your HDD
AS WELL AS THE PRODUCT KEY:

From Windoze:
Find; Files and folders (Make sure **Include subfolders** is ticked);
Named: "WIN98_74.CAB"

...or from a DOS prompt (a bootable floppy):
C:    {Enter}
DIR WIN98_74.CAB /S    {Enter}
(Anything except "File not found" is a good indication.)


TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, 
YES any Windows 9x Install CD
can be tricked into installing on any box.
See my recent post
**Reinstalling Win98 -- "cannot find any of the qualifying products"**
http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/win98/1201288807

You don't even necessarily have to wipe the disk:
"Win98 Installation from an OEM CD" 
cache of http://www.infocellar.com/software/win98-oemcd-install.htm
++keeping-all-your-Stuff++*-keep-all-programs-*-settings-Intact[1]

...OTOH, wiping the disk DOES get rid of built-up Registry cruft and Bit Rot.

...and, if FORMAT was used to wipe off an infection,
then, to kill off any Boot Sector viruses, I would also FDISK the thing.


Oh, BTW...Linux costs you *nothing*
and doesn't make you jump thru hoops with Upgrade Version nonsense
nor any other kind of registration nonsense.

...and Linux isn't susceptible to all the infections that Windoze is.


[1] Even more stuff here: 
cache of
http://www.plasma-online.com/english/help/solutions/windows9x_upgrades.html

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