Reinstall Win98

[BigDaddyJ]

Can Win98 be reinstalled without the OEM product key? A friend has an older pc that he bought from a company that was upgrading. He has the Win98 disc but not the manual with the key.

[iisbob]

Unfortunately no, MS has p[laced a key on windows install's since 3.1-however there is a site that he can visit to get a " generic " key, no gaurentees it'll work however.

[URL= [/URL] this individual has decided that he will make his keys available ( along with a few other persons 0 for those who wish to install a version of windows. These are not cracks, they are legit keys.

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iisbob

Life of a tech-support specialist-
"..Tech Support: "Use the right button to click on the shortcut--"
Customer: "I don't have a right button."
Tech Support: "You should have a right button."
Customer: "I'm sure. I have 'ctrl', 'alt', 'backspace'..."

[This message has been edited by Paleo Pete (edited 01-02-2002).]

[Steve]

Hi BigDaddyJ,

Here's another good link for ya.

[URL= [/URL]

I once, at the suggestion of a 15 y/o kid, made up a number. It worked. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/eek.gif

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Peace and Love, brothers and sisters. Peace and Love

[This message has been edited by Paleo Pete (edited 01-02-2002).]

[pentachris]

Here's (http://members.aol.com/axcel216/newtip21.htm#PRKE) a good place to look, BigDaddyJ.

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...
If my computer were the eighth dwarf, it would be Dumpy.
-Chris

[Paleo Pete]

Sorry folks, I had to remove those links. As a long standing policy of the PC Guide Discussion Forums we do not support or promote software piracy or the bypassing of copyright protection/registration methods.

I realize that the person posting the question indicates that the computer was purchased used and that a legitimate copy of Windows is apparently available, but we cannot prove that. I left the link concerning the methods of looking up the number, I can see no reason to oppose looking up the product key for an existing Windows installation.

Links to product codes available on the net I can't condone. Deciding where to draw the line is not easy, it's a very thin one, so I have to attempt to leave as little "gray area" as possible. I don't wish to offend anyone, but I don't allow links to sites posting cracks or warez either, or links/instructions on bypassing copyright/registration schemes. This has been a long standing issue, even involving copying game CDs. I can't let it start.

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[BigDaddyJ]

No worries! He found the Win98 Manual w/product key. Thanks guys

[ErnieK]

Pete hope the following is OK.

The following link will take you to Belarcs site where you can download their advisor. If you have windows installed and run this program it will give you your product key number. http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,8078,00.asp

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Ernie

[KidGenius]

Thanks ErnieK, good advice

[This message has been edited by KidGenius (edited 01-04-2002).]

[BigDaddyJ]

Thanks everyone, we got the machine up and running last night. I found the manual and original product key. We formatted the C: and did a fresh install of Win98. Thanks again