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I have bought a WinXP Home Edition upgrade disk. However, it will not
upgrade my Win 98SE operating system. MS Support tells me that it is
because my Win98SE installation has become corrupted, which I can well
believe given the slight problems/errors the PC keeps giving me. Apparently
I need to re-install Win98SE before upgrading.

I have the original Win 98SE disk, but I do not know what has happened to
the box it came in which had the product code to enter. Is the code
somewhere in the system? All software is original and not pirated or
copied.

Many thanks in advance.


--
MESSAGE ENDS.
John Porcella

On Wed, 26 Jul 2006 16:21:03 +0100, John Porcella wrote
(in article <>):

> I have bought a WinXP Home Edition upgrade disk. However, it will not
> upgrade my Win 98SE operating system. MS Support tells me that it is
> because my Win98SE installation has become corrupted, which I can well
> believe given the slight problems/errors the PC keeps giving me. Apparently
> I need to re-install Win98SE before upgrading.
>
> I have the original Win 98SE disk, but I do not know what has happened to
> the box it came in which had the product code to enter. Is the code
> somewhere in the system? All software is original and not pirated or
> copied.
>
> Many thanks in advance.
>
>
>

Er, no you don't. All you need to do is boot from the upgrade disc, and then
pop the 98 CD in when prompted. No reinstall necessary. You don't need the
installation code, either. Just the disc.

If Windows 98 is still working, start regedit, expand and highlight the
following key and look in the right window for "ProductKey".

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion

Ben

"John Porcella" <> wrote in message news:...
> I have bought a WinXP Home Edition upgrade disk. However, it will not
> upgrade my Win 98SE operating system. MS Support tells me that it is
> because my Win98SE installation has become corrupted, which I can well
> believe given the slight problems/errors the PC keeps giving me. Apparently
> I need to re-install Win98SE before upgrading.
>
> I have the original Win 98SE disk, but I do not know what has happened to
> the box it came in which had the product code to enter. Is the code
> somewhere in the system? All software is original and not pirated or
> copied.
>
> Many thanks in advance.
>
>
> --
> MESSAGE ENDS.
> John Porcella
>
>

On 2006-07-26, John Porcella <> wrote:
> I have bought a WinXP Home Edition upgrade disk. However, it will not
> upgrade my Win 98SE operating system. MS Support tells me that it is
> because my Win98SE installation has become corrupted, which I can well
> believe given the slight problems/errors the PC keeps giving me. Apparently
> I need to re-install Win98SE before upgrading.
>
> I have the original Win 98SE disk, but I do not know what has happened to
> the box it came in which had the product code to enter. Is the code
> somewhere in the system? All software is original and not pirated or
> copied.

My key is directly on the manual, not the box. The registry key idea in
Ben's message is the best approach if you don't have the manual. You can
get in touch with MS and explain the situation. Then, take little trip
on a slow boat to China and MS will finally have responded by the time
you return.

>
> Many thanks in advance.
>
>


--
"One Architecture, One OS" also translates as "One Egg, One Basket".

John Porcella wrote:
|| I have the original Win 98SE disk, but I do not know what has
|| happened to the box it came in which had the product code to enter.
|| Is the code somewhere in the system?

If you've not already succeded, have a look here:
http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml

"Jimchip" <> wrote in message
news:...
> On 2006-07-26, John Porcella <> wrote:
>> I have bought a WinXP Home Edition upgrade disk. However, it will not
>> upgrade my Win 98SE operating system. MS Support tells me that it is
>> because my Win98SE installation has become corrupted, which I can well
>> believe given the slight problems/errors the PC keeps giving me.
>> Apparently
>> I need to re-install Win98SE before upgrading.
>>
>> I have the original Win 98SE disk, but I do not know what has happened to
>> the box it came in which had the product code to enter. Is the code
>> somewhere in the system? All software is original and not pirated or
>> copied.
>
> My key is directly on the manual, not the box. The registry key idea in
> Ben's message is the best approach if you don't have the manual. You can
> get in touch with MS and explain the situation. Then, take little trip
> on a slow boat to China and MS will finally have responded by the time
> you return.

Ahmm.... there is one problem with that last statement. I don't know if you
have heard but... Windows 98SE is no longer supported by Microsoft and you
may have a problem getting answers from them. You can try, but it will be a
"canoe trip with no oars" to China. LOL

You can find Microsoft's Windows Life-Cycle Policy here. It was recently
updated and shortened on July 7, 2006.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/lifecycle/default.mspx

Do an clean install of Windows XP from the upgrade CD.
It will tell you that no previous version has been found and ask you to
locate it. That is where you insert the Win 98 CD and point the XP
installer there. After the installer confirms the CD is real by reading
something from the disk the installation should continue and ask you to
re-insert the Windows XP upgrade CD. If you don't have a Win 98 disk that
is working. You can try and borrow one from a friend. As long as it sees a
previous OS it should install. No product code required, except for the
WinXP one of course.

eBay is a good place to look for old OS install disks, and P2P file sharing
like Kazza are too (if you can burn an iso image to a cd.) However, be
aware that activity of this type is considered illegal. Plus the sellers on
eBay who sell this stuff are not to be trusted, and could make you spend
more money than the disk is actually worth. (the disk is probably only worth
about $1 - $2.00 US) In either case these acts are punishable by up to 5
years in prison and a $250,000.00 US fine.

Dang these catch 22's. You can't get help from MS, but they won't let you
use someone else's OS disk to upgrade from. Even when you had the original
OS disk in the first place.

Good luck anyway!

Happy Computing!

Randall Smith wrote:
> "Jimchip" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>> On 2006-07-26, John Porcella <> wrote:
>>> I have bought a WinXP Home Edition upgrade disk. However, it will
>>> not upgrade my Win 98SE operating system. MS Support tells me that
>>> it is because my Win98SE installation has become corrupted, which I
>>> can well believe given the slight problems/errors the PC keeps
>>> giving me. Apparently
>>> I need to re-install Win98SE before upgrading.
>>>
>>> I have the original Win 98SE disk, but I do not know what has
>>> happened to the box it came in which had the product code to enter.
>>> Is the code somewhere in the system? All software is original and
>>> not pirated or copied.
>>
>> My key is directly on the manual, not the box. The registry key idea
>> in Ben's message is the best approach if you don't have the manual.
>> You can get in touch with MS and explain the situation. Then, take
>> little trip on a slow boat to China and MS will finally have
>> responded by the time you return.
>
> Ahmm.... there is one problem with that last statement. I don't know
> if you have heard but... Windows 98SE is no longer supported by
> Microsoft and you may have a problem getting answers from them. You
> can try, but it will be a "canoe trip with no oars" to China. LOL
>
> You can find Microsoft's Windows Life-Cycle Policy here. It was
> recently updated and shortened on July 7, 2006.
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/windows/lifecycle/default.mspx
>
> Do an clean install of Windows XP from the upgrade CD.
> It will tell you that no previous version has been found and ask you
> to locate it. That is where you insert the Win 98 CD and point the XP
> installer there. After the installer confirms the CD is real by
> reading something from the disk the installation should continue and
> ask you to re-insert the Windows XP upgrade CD. If you don't have a
> Win 98 disk that is working. You can try and borrow one from a
> friend. As long as it sees a previous OS it should install. No
> product code required, except for the WinXP one of course.
>
> eBay is a good place to look for old OS install disks, and P2P file
> sharing like Kazza are too (if you can burn an iso image to a cd.)
> However, be aware that activity of this type is considered illegal.
> Plus the sellers on eBay who sell this stuff are not to be trusted,
> and could make you spend more money than the disk is actually worth.
> (the disk is probably only worth about $1 - $2.00 US) In either case
> these acts are punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a
> $250,000.00 US fine.
> Dang these catch 22's. You can't get help from MS, but they won't
> let you use someone else's OS disk to upgrade from. Even when you
> had the original OS disk in the first place.
>
> Good luck anyway!
>
> Happy Computing!

It's a moot point. Win98SE does NOT need to be installed again in order for
the OP to install his XP Upgrade OS. As much as it pains me to say this,
read the post from Margoletta. She actually got one right.

--
Life: Nature's way of keeping meat fresh. ~Doctor Who~

On 2006-07-27, Randall Smith <> wrote:
>
> "Jimchip" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>> On 2006-07-26, John Porcella <> wrote:
>>> I have bought a WinXP Home Edition upgrade disk. However, it will not
>>> upgrade my Win 98SE operating system. MS Support tells me that it is

[snip]

>> get in touch with MS and explain the situation. Then, take little trip
>> on a slow boat to China and MS will finally have responded by the time
>> you return.

> Ahmm.... there is one problem with that last statement. I don't know if you
> have heard but... Windows 98SE is no longer supported by Microsoft and you
> may have a problem getting answers from them. You can try, but it will be a
> "canoe trip with no oars" to China. LOL

I forgotti.

Maybe you know...I have MS Office for Windows 95 Standard
on floppy disks. I have up to Disk 19 plus I have PowerPoint viewer
(16-bit) and translator Disk. They're all the Official MS disks. Is that
the whole set? I haven't been able to find out?

[snip]
Maybe I will check ebay and see if anyone is selling them and says how
many there are.

--
"One Architecture, One OS" also translates as "One Egg, One Basket".

On or about Wed, 26 Jul 2006 17:51:07 -0000, an entity identified as
Jimchip <> proudly proclaimed:

>On 2006-07-26, John Porcella <> wrote:
>> I have bought a WinXP Home Edition upgrade disk. However, it will not
>> upgrade my Win 98SE operating system. MS Support tells me that it is
>> because my Win98SE installation has become corrupted, which I can well
>> believe given the slight problems/errors the PC keeps giving me. Apparently
>> I need to re-install Win98SE before upgrading.
>>
>> I have the original Win 98SE disk, but I do not know what has happened to
>> the box it came in which had the product code to enter. Is the code
>> somewhere in the system? All software is original and not pirated or
>> copied.
>
>My key is directly on the manual, not the box. The registry key idea in
>Ben's message is the best approach if you don't have the manual. You can
>get in touch with MS and explain the situation. Then, take little trip
>on a slow boat to China and MS will finally have responded by the time
>you return.

While it's not pertinent to the OP, you can simply call them & they'll
give you a key.
>
>>
>> Many thanks in advance.
>>
>>

John Porcella wrote:
>
> I have bought a WinXP Home Edition upgrade disk. However, it will not
> upgrade my Win 98SE operating system. MS Support tells me that it is
> because my Win98SE installation has become corrupted, which I can well
> believe given the slight problems/errors the PC keeps giving me. Apparently
> I need to re-install Win98SE before upgrading.
>
> I have the original Win 98SE disk, but I do not know what has happened to
> the box it came in which had the product code to enter. Is the code
> somewhere in the system? All software is original and not pirated or
> copied.

In theory, when using an XP upgrade cd, all you do is put in your
win98cd when it asks for proof of previous ownership or whatever lingo
and it checks the win98 cd and you're off.


--
http://www.bootdisk.com/