OEM Windows= major suckage

[Terri_s4short]

I need to reformat my HD, so I'll lose Windows but because I purchased my computer (ashamed of it now) with the OS from IBM, I have to pay upwards of 50 buckaroos just to talk to someone so I can get a recovery cd. :banghead:

If anyone knows how I can get my hands on one (legally- don't want to break no rules :p) I'll be GLAD. If its something as simple as copying something from my computer, even better. The version is 98SE... I like my artefacts.

Any help would be great,

Terri

[mmonnin]

You might be able to buy a copy from someone for less than $50. You could make a thread in the DD&TP forum. Make sure to read the rules first before doing so.:)

[TheSmJ]

Just get a Windows XP upgrade CD for $90 or less from Newegg. You'll be happier without the extra IBM bloat.

[Terri_s4short]

With the upgrade CD, wouldn't I need to have a previous version of Windows installed to use it? Or is it just that they'll sell it to you for less because you've previously purchased the OS? Sort of a loyalty agreement?

Terri

[mmonnin]

You will need to have an OS on the drive or have another CD with anything prior to XP for the XP upgrade to work.

I have used a 2000 upgrade CD and stuck XP in when it asked for 98, 95, or NT4 CD so I guess any OS will work as long as its not the same OS.

What are the specs of your computer? Not sure if a 98SE based OEM computer can handle XP comfortably.

[Mt_Goat]

I could be wrong, but if he has his original product key couldn't he get a copy of a Win 98SE install disc to re-install the OS and still be legal???

[Creep]

makes sense to me Goat, Let me know where you found a GOOD copy of it since I lost mine :( But yea, so long as he has a valid CD Key it doesn't really matter what kind of CD he uses.

[PressX]

If you have licence key on the PC you may be able to get a CD "from a friend" ?

//edit - did someone see a parrot?

[muddocktor]

As long as he retrieves his ProductKey from the registry by performing a search of it he will be good to go with an oem cd disk. It will have to be an oem cd disk though as an upgrade 98SE disk will puke on you if you try to input an oem ProductKey in it.

One other thing; any version's 98 ProductKey (first or second edition) will work with a SE disk as long as it's the same type of 98SE disk(ie, upgrade to upgrade disk or oem to oem disk).

[RWB]

Tex once told me it is still illegal, though I feel that should not be... this world has alot of things that should not be and is. Get my drift?

I never looked into it though, wasn't that important at the time. But as he stated to me, whether you have the CD key or not, if you go "aquire" a CD and use that key, even though you paid for it, it's still illegal.

Kinda lame huh? On MS's part, not Tex's ;)

[PressX]

I think the licence says it is not transferable. So if you nuke a PC then use it's licence on another PC that is illegal. You are, I belive, allowed to use a backup copy of the CD. Just use a friends backup. If you paid for your licence when you purchased the PC then you are entitled to use it on that pc.

[Clutch]

If you can get a 98 disc, just use it and use your 98se code when it asks for one. PressX is right, you paid money for a computer with 98 on it, and the cd key is your key.


EDIT: Once you get 98 on it, make sure you copy over all the cab files so when you install something that asks for the 98 key, just point it to that directory and you will not need the 98 cd.