If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Upgrade from Win98 to XP
Here is my sad tale. I moved my Gateway PC that was
operating beautifully about two miles to a new home. I lovingly and carefully packed the computer in the original box using the styrofoam insert. When I got everything hooked up and pushed Start, I got this god- awful noise that I instantly recognized as a HD failure. Luckily, I had already purchased a new HD. So, I proceeded to install the XP upgrade that I had purchased about two months ago to replace the OEM version of Win98 that came with the system. The HD formatted perfectly and I was given instructions to reboot. That's when it all started to fall apart. First I got the message that XP couldn't complete installation because I had an upgrade version of XP. So I proceeded to install using the Win98 CD that shipped with PC. Again, all is going well until I reached a screen that asked me for the Win98 Product Key. OOPS! Can't find it. So I contacted Gateway for some help and (not to anyone's surprise but mine) was told that I'd have to purchase Win98 (but the tech support guy couldn't tell me how). So, I contact Microsoft Online Support to ask the question how I can get the XP software to complete the installation and once more I get stuck on a page that asks me for the XP Product Identification. Well I have the XP CD in hand, including the CD package that has the XP Product Key, but I can't figure out what the XP Product Identification is. Of course, I'm given instructions on how to look it up using XP Help and Support but of course I CAN'T LOOK IT UP ON MY PC BECAUSE THERE IS NO OPERATING SYSTEM. Can someone out there suggest what I can do at this point. I have a perfectly good Gateway system, a new hard drive, and it's only good as a doorstop or boat anchor at this point. Thanks, Don Callihan |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
XP questions should be asked in an XP newsgroup. Be sure to quote the exact
message you are receiving, not a paraphrase. It should not be necessary to install W98 in order to use the upgrade version of XP - yo will be asked to insert the W98 disk in order to confirm your eligibility for the upgrade. However, some OEM disks might not be usable as a qualifying product. Since you have a failed W98 installation on the hard drive you should re-format the disk before attempting the XP install. Gateway should be able to provide an installation code for W98 based on your machine serial number, but you may have to struggle to get past the technician who only understands XP. -- Jeff Richards MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User) "donihan" wrote in message ... Here is my sad tale. I moved my Gateway PC that was operating beautifully about two miles to a new home. I lovingly and carefully packed the computer in the original box using the styrofoam insert. When I got everything hooked up and pushed Start, I got this god- awful noise that I instantly recognized as a HD failure. Luckily, I had already purchased a new HD. So, I proceeded to install the XP upgrade that I had purchased about two months ago to replace the OEM version of Win98 that came with the system. The HD formatted perfectly and I was given instructions to reboot. That's when it all started to fall apart. First I got the message that XP couldn't complete installation because I had an upgrade version of XP. So I proceeded to install using the Win98 CD that shipped with PC. Again, all is going well until I reached a screen that asked me for the Win98 Product Key. OOPS! Can't find it. So I contacted Gateway for some help and (not to anyone's surprise but mine) was told that I'd have to purchase Win98 (but the tech support guy couldn't tell me how). So, I contact Microsoft Online Support to ask the question how I can get the XP software to complete the installation and once more I get stuck on a page that asks me for the XP Product Identification. Well I have the XP CD in hand, including the CD package that has the XP Product Key, but I can't figure out what the XP Product Identification is. Of course, I'm given instructions on how to look it up using XP Help and Support but of course I CAN'T LOOK IT UP ON MY PC BECAUSE THERE IS NO OPERATING SYSTEM. Can someone out there suggest what I can do at this point. I have a perfectly good Gateway system, a new hard drive, and it's only good as a doorstop or boat anchor at this point. Thanks, Don Callihan |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Thanks for the quick reply. I'll try the XP newsgroup.
-----Original Message----- XP questions should be asked in an XP newsgroup. Be sure to quote the exact message you are receiving, not a paraphrase. It should not be necessary to install W98 in order to use the upgrade version of XP - yo will be asked to insert the W98 disk in order to confirm your eligibility for the upgrade. However, some OEM disks might not be usable as a qualifying product. Since you have a failed W98 installation on the hard drive you should re-format the disk before attempting the XP install. Gateway should be able to provide an installation code for W98 based on your machine serial number, but you may have to struggle to get past the technician who only understands XP. -- Jeff Richards MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User) "donihan" wrote in message ... Here is my sad tale. I moved my Gateway PC that was operating beautifully about two miles to a new home. I lovingly and carefully packed the computer in the original box using the styrofoam insert. When I got everything hooked up and pushed Start, I got this god- awful noise that I instantly recognized as a HD failure. Luckily, I had already purchased a new HD. So, I proceeded to install the XP upgrade that I had purchased about two months ago to replace the OEM version of Win98 that came with the system. The HD formatted perfectly and I was given instructions to reboot. That's when it all started to fall apart. First I got the message that XP couldn't complete installation because I had an upgrade version of XP. So I proceeded to install using the Win98 CD that shipped with PC. Again, all is going well until I reached a screen that asked me for the Win98 Product Key. OOPS! Can't find it. So I contacted Gateway for some help and (not to anyone's surprise but mine) was told that I'd have to purchase Win98 (but the tech support guy couldn't tell me how). So, I contact Microsoft Online Support to ask the question how I can get the XP software to complete the installation and once more I get stuck on a page that asks me for the XP Product Identification. Well I have the XP CD in hand, including the CD package that has the XP Product Key, but I can't figure out what the XP Product Identification is. Of course, I'm given instructions on how to look it up using XP Help and Support but of course I CAN'T LOOK IT UP ON MY PC BECAUSE THERE IS NO OPERATING SYSTEM. Can someone out there suggest what I can do at this point. I have a perfectly good Gateway system, a new hard drive, and it's only good as a doorstop or boat anchor at this point. Thanks, Don Callihan . |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Several years ago, I attempted to purchase a Win98-NT upgrade but to obtain
the upgrade I had to threaten to sue an OEM for false advertising. The OEM's O/S installation disk was not usable as a qualifying product for an upgrade yet in their sales literature and ads they had stated that the computer came with "Microsoft Windows(tm)". They did not say "with an OEM version of Microsoft Windows" nor did they reveal that the bundled version of Windows was in any respect not the equivalent of the full retail version. The OEM sent me a brand new retail version of NT. Timo "Jeff Richards" wrote in message ... [snip] However, some OEM disks might not be usable as a qualifying product. [snip] |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Upgrade OEM win98 to win98SE | mercedes | General | 4 | August 11th 04 03:06 PM |
Upgrade from Win98 to WinXP Pro | Nicola | General | 8 | August 4th 04 02:56 PM |
Upgrade Win98 First Edition to Win98 SE | jrystar | Software & Applications | 1 | July 20th 04 06:17 PM |
upgrade from Win98 to Win98 SE | deb | General | 5 | July 5th 04 05:19 PM |
upgrade to win98se from win98 | Nikhil | Setup & Installation | 1 | June 16th 04 12:12 AM |