Major mess up - sys restore - no win98 product code

[Robin12265]

Fixed! Someone shared a code with me that worked! Thanks so much!

(Since we truly *are* the original owners and it came with Win 98 on it, I don't feel this was piracy in any way... ;-) )


We were cleaning up an old computer to give to our kid to learn on and I inserted the system restore disk... going along fine until it asked for the Win 98 product code. We have NO earthly clue where the authentication form/prod code is. We've looked everywhere.

I'm SO embarrased that I forgot about this, but it's been a LONG time since I did a system restore. As soon as I saw that screen though, I knew we were hosed.

Now we're stuck with a computer that is completely non-functional because we can't get past that point.

Called Sony and they were no help (big surprise, right?) Only thing she could tell me was to send it in and they would re-image it. It's $99 just to have them look at it - not to mention what they charge for the actual re-imaging. :curse:

It's about 10 years old! It's not worth that much! BUT we don't want to shell out money for our kid to learn on a new computer either...

I don't suppose there's any way our new Gateway or Dell WinXP sys restore disks could ever work with this, huh? I know... it won't read them. sigh (but I KNOW where those product codes are!)

Is there ANYTHING we can do besides throw it out or pay $50 (or more) for an old retail version of win 98?

[Miz]

If the product key isn't on a sticker anywhere on the case of the computer, you're out of luck.

Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Windows-98-Second-Edition/dp/B00002JV62) has one used copy for $39.99.

You can also ask at any computer repair shops near you. Many will have a number of copies of Win98 they might be willing to get rid of.

[Robin12265]

Thanks --
a friend who has win98 (oem also) had a code that worked. ;)

[The Dude]

The code is in your registry also,you can simply look @ this location (For future reference)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion

Scroll down to "ProductKey" on the right....

Nice to see you posting :)

[renegade600]

Fixed! Someone shared a code with me that worked! Thanks so much!

(Since we truly *are* the original owners and it came with Win 98 on it, I don't feel this was piracy in any way... ;-) )




whether or not you feel it is piracy it is piracy. You cannot legally transfer oem key from one computer to another. It is a violation of microsofts eula.

It is against the rules of this forum to help you with piracy. Without a legal key your only option is to purchase a full retail version or give linux a try.

[Robin12265]

Thanks The Dude.

renegade - I didn't ask anyone here for that, now did I? ;) No violation of forum rules.

[renegade600]

Thanks The Dude.

renegade - I didn't ask anyone here for that, now did I? ;) No violation of forum rules.

You did ask

I don't suppose there's any way our new Gateway or Dell WinXP sys restore disks could ever work with this, huh? I know... it won't read them. sigh (but I KNOW where those product codes are!)


Basically I was just letting you know that what you did was to steal from microsoft and that if you were to have problems in the future with that computer, this forum may not help you per the rules

[Robin12265]

oh, for the love of all that is Holy, let it go. That was not a request for that to be done. It was said in JEST/SARCASM. Do you not have that in your little corner of the world? I know that there is no way to use a Gateway or Dell disk for a Sony computer.

You are NOT a moderator - and a mod had posted to this thread prior to you and didn't say anything about it. If MIZ didn't have an issue with it, what place is it of yours?

I didn't steal squat from Microsoft. I own the computer as the original purchaser. If it had not been able to be fixed, the computer would have gone in the trash and our son would not have had a computer to learn on. I sure wasn't going to go out and buy a new computer for a 3 year old!
And buying an old retail version wouldn't put money in MS pockets either as they no longer sell them.



Thank you to everyone who tried to be helpful.

[renegade600]

I didn't steal squat from Microsoft. I own the computer as the original purchaser.

oem software and their keys cannot be transfer between computers. Doing so is violating microsofts eula which means you are stealing from them when you do so. You may own the computer but you do not own the software, it is only licensed to you.

a good example Its like taking the license plate from your car and putting it on your truck because you are too cheap to get the truck its own license.

This is my last post in this thread since it seems you dont care whether or not you are legal.