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Call Microsoft. Explain the situation to them, they can give you a
definitive answer.

"PSumerlin" <> wrote in message
news:...
> if a person bought a xp upgrade at a garage sale. opened( no seal), but it
is
> the original install disc complete with product key and manual and does
not
> know if it has been previously registered or if it still exists or ever
> existed on another computer or not,. could they use it on their computer
?.
> Can they find out if it has ever been registered? If it has been
registered to
> another person but no longer exists on another computer, could the new
owner
> just upgrade their registered copy of 98 and be safe to go to microsoft
for
> updates without fear if the xp upgrade is registered to someone different
than
> the 98 being upgraded? what options would a person have in this
situation....to
> upgrade or not to upgrade....?