What I did was I format C’d my computer. Then when I went to re-install my win/98 OS. the damn thing wants an authentification # before it will finish downloading. Well, guess what… I don’t have my authentification #. I’m sure I probably threw it out the day I bought my computer four years ago. So whats the cheapest way out of this mess? I’m hoping I don’t have to go buy another OS.:smack:
When you installed the first time around, did you register the OS with Microsoft? - if you did then they might help.
Even if you didn’t they might help. Call them and tell them you have the original CD. Maybe you can mail it to them and they will replace it with another one for a nominal fee.
My guess is that if you didn’t register, they will seize upon it as an opportunity to get you to buy an upgrade (possibly saying “well, you should have kept the licence certificate, but we feel sorry for you, so we’ll sell you XP at half price” or something)
Shakes
It’s possible to retrieve the code if you have a look around in REGEDIT. Following linkage tells you how…
http://help.nec-computers.com/uk/prs/art04762.asp
Hope this is of some use.
You can only do it that way if you do it before the format of the hard drive though.
The quickest way is to “borrow” a serial number from someone else who has Win98 - it will work with your CD. It’s not like individual CDs have unique serial numbers burned into them. I’m not sure if that’s perfectly legal, but since you’ve paid for a license I don’t see why that would be a problem.
It’s quite unlikely that you would lose your serial number. For off the self versions the number is on the cover of the manual. If you bought a brand name computer (Dell etc.) your serial number is probably on the CD or in the CD as a file.
see your email
WHAT - I always loose those #'s. So much so that I try to write them on the CD’s now. What planet do you live on?
Same thing happened to me last night… I was reinstalling Win98 and it didn’t ask for a key until after copying all the files, so I didn’t realize the key was missing until it was too late. I ended up spending all night closing porn pop-up ads while scouring the net for a working serial number.
Wow, there is enough info in the above posts to figure it out.
How did you get on the net to post the message Shakes?
I was at work, as I am now. I haven’t had time to mess with it yet but hopefully some of the ideas above will help out.
Thanks guys.
I always register my big ticket software.
It paid off for me with my Office 97 CD that became corrupted. I called Microsoft and for $25 I had a new CD in a week. Not bad for a then $500 program that I actually got for $70 as part of the OEM license to my old computer.
BTW, if you are the legal owner of the software, it is okay to use somone else’s serial number. You purchased the right to use the software, you didn’t purchase a serial number. My former client had 25 licenses to Win98, and 40 licenses for Office 97. Used the OEM serial numbers from other machines to load them. As long as you purchased the software, you are okay to use whatever serial number if you’ve lost yours.
I didn’t know that; has MS actually endorsed that scenario?
You know, I tried this with my handy little laptop, and no dice. It was a legit product key and matched the OS, but still, wouldn’t take- kept telling me it was invalid.
Tried a second product key, one I knew would work, because it’s running on the machine next to the laptop. Still, no dice.
I chalked it up to the disk not matching the key. You say it doesn’t matter.
Definetively… does it?
Have you ever read the newer MS EULA’s? Me, either. But, after learning from that great source of nerdom, slashdot, I found out that it is illegal to use serial #s that didn’t come with the CD. Actually, it’s also illegal to put a new OS on your computer and use the OEM OS that you got with your system on another system, even after completely getting rid of it on your old system. It’s probably illegal to do a host of other stuff too.
Have you ever read the newer MS EULA’s? Me, either. But, after learning from that great source of nerdom, slashdot, I found out that it is illegal to use serial #s that didn’t come with the CD. Actually, it’s also illegal to put a new OS on your computer and use the OEM OS that you got with your system on another system, even after completely getting rid of it on your old system. It’s probably illegal to do a host of other stuff too.
You guys think Microsoft would actually take someone to court over a twice used cd key? I dont think so.
You can use the same cd key, but it has to be the same version of windows 98. If the cd key is from 98 SE, then it’ll only work on SE.
You have to use the same edition so to speak
a cd key for win 98 se will not work with win 98 (1st ed)
and
win 98 OEM key will not work with win 98 upgrage or win 98 full