In the market to purchase Win98 os cd. Is it safe to assume any Win98 install cd 
will install to a re-formatted hd sans a previous windows installation?

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

No...  There are some upgrade and system update CD's that will not install unless 
you have an existing viable (correctly operating) install already on the HDD.  These 
are usually marked as such on the CD and were sold cheaply in the stores (about $20-$40). 
 Otherwise you will get a message that they can't be used for installation of the 
system without a previous install already on the HDD (if you try to boot and install 
them).  Even these types of disks came with their own CD Key, so if they don't come 
with one, you won't be able to complete the install.  It is buyer beware for any 
of these discs.

OEM and full retail discs will install but only the full retail will upgrade or install 
clean.  OEM will not upgrade over another install IME. 

Retail upgrade will need qualifing media to be inserted during the install process 
but should install clean (IME).  All of these have their own types of CD keys, so 
you will need an appropriate key to use them.







On Friday, January 25, 2008 at 7:05 am, Louis wrote:

>In the market to purchase Win98 os cd. Is it safe to assume any Win98 install cd 

>will install to a re-formatted hd sans a previous windows installation? 

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

C K is talking about a Win98 upgrade CD where you need an existing operating system 
before it will install anything.

Your best bet is to do a search on eBay. There are plenty of full versions quite 
cheap.

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

|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

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

As always, Keith's reply is helpful, concise and meaningful. But be careful with regard to buying from overseas (which eBay will offer to let you do, if there are not many local options).

For most Western legal jurisdictions:

The possession of a valid key is legally meaningless. You can download thousands from the net in a spare evening.

The possession of what appears to be a manufacturer's original disc is only marginally better. These have been successfully forged for years in certain countries.

The only thing which really counts is the licence sticker on your documentation, or on the side or bottom of your pc. Not to say that this isn't a forgery too, but it's the only thing which has any chance of being recognised, if push comes to shove.


On Friday, January 25, 2008 at 11:42 am, Keith Stanier wrote:
>C K is talking about a Win98 upgrade CD where you need an existing operating system
>before it will install anything.
>
>Your best bet is to do a search on eBay. There are plenty of full versions quite
>cheap.

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Thanks, one and all. What a wealth of info! I see why this portal in numero uno. 
OK. FYI, I had no previous install of 98 on the disk. I play some games which are 
more suited to 98 than any other os, so I wiped a spare HDD I had around, in prep 
of installing 98. Again, my grats. One final quest: since the product is pretty inexpensive, 
wonder if I'd be better off (and safer) going to a brick-n-mortar opposed to Ebabe!







On Friday, January 25, 2008 at 12:47 pm, gewg_ wrote:

>|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
 

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

|One final quest: since the product is pretty inexpensive, 
|wonder if I'd be better off (and safer) going to a brick-n-mortar opposed to Ebabe!
| Louis

Windows 98 is no longer sold by Microsoft (or its agents).
It has been available ONLY on the gray market for MANY years.[1]

Shoot, M$ even wants to EoL XP soon...but Vista is such garbage
that (savvy) folks who are buying new Windoze computers
are insisting that those ship with XP--NOT VISTA.

...and folks who are tired of dealing with viruses and spyware
and the other Windoze-specific annoyances are moving to Linux.
Wal-Mart sells pre-installed Linux boxes cheaper than their Windoze boxes
...and you can get a copy of Linux (e.g. Xubuntu) for your current box at no cost.


[1] It is unlikely that any M$ OS you will find at Buy More
will run on ancient hardware--and the PRODUCT ACTIVATION is a PITA.
See "Windoze-specific annoyances" (above).  See also "Linux" (above).

...and to reiterate: Linux is FREE.

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