I thought the problem, as I think did you, was a bios locked recovery CD
rather than that you have changed the hard disk. Again may I suggest that
you consider temporarily flashing the bios back to the version required to
install Win Me using the recovery CD and then once reinstalled reverting
to the latest version.

I'm not sure that Microsoft will be able or rather willing to help as
their attitude could be that you have an OEM copy of Win Me and that it is
tied to the system with which it was supplied. Seems unfair I know but
OEM copies of the OS are sold at a considerable discount, however I wish
you luck and hope that you manage to wangle a key out of Microsoft. Now I
know I shouldn't say this but have you considered "borrowing" a Win
95/98/98SE or Win Me CD from a friend and using that as proof of your
eligibility to use an upgrade copy of XP and go for that clean install?
Who's to know after the event that you didn't upgrade from your recovery
CD and as you say you have a Win Me licence.
--
Mike Maltby



Bruce wrote:

Thanks for your help, Mike.

I got the technical support people at ABS and here is what they told
me:

1) They said that the size of the HDD would have no impact upon the
recovery disk and its implementation.

2) The Magnell recovery CD is basically Windows ME, only. (I found
the software CDs for Word Perfect Office, WinDVD, etc. on separate
disks)

3) The Bios update that I did makes the Magnell CD unusable because
they (ABS) put a Bios identifier on the CD. He aslo told me that
they cannot provide support (because I have basically turned my
system into a clone.)

Thanks again for trying to help me. Since I have a certificate of
authenticity for Windows Me, my copy of XP is an upgrade, and they
have a case number for me, I may call Microsoft and see if they will
help me do a clean install of XP as a work round.