Windows 98

I have a computer from 2001 that had Windows 98 on it. The hard drive
recently crashed and when I tried to reload the software it asks for the
software code. The code is long gone since I moved 3 times since then but I
have a legal copy. Anyway to get it installed?

"James P" James wrote in message
...

I have a computer from 2001 that had Windows 98 on it. The hard drive
recently crashed and when I tried to reload the software it asks for the
software code. The code is long gone since I moved 3 times since then but
I
have a legal copy. Anyway to get it installed?

ProductKey and ProductID are already in the
Registry if you can reach it . . . perhaps by either
1. Boot DOS and
c:\windows SCANREG /RESTORE
to reboot from your choice of (five?) good Windows
boots saved on the hard drive
2. Boot Safe Mode and run REGEDIT and
search for these keys.

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

"James P" wrote:

The code is long gone since I moved 3 times since then but
I have a legal copy. Anyway to get it installed?

James, please note that some information that could help you are not
being posted to this server that you are reading.

An answer to your question can be found he

http://tinyurl.com/2q5uew

What do you mean the hard drive crashed? What happened? Any error messages?
What have you done since then? Did you replace the HD, or did you reformat
the HD? If so, you'll need to purchase a new copy of Windows (EBay) or
search the internet for replacement keys. (Don't ask, I won't help you find
replacement keys.) Unfortunately, MS no longer provides replacement Product
Keys for Windows 98.

If you haven't reformatted the hard drive, you may be able to retrieve the
Product Key (what you call the "software code"). I presume you can't start
the system... Not even in Safe Mode? How about in Command Prompt Only mode?
(You get to these options using F8 during startup -- just keep repeatedly
pressing the F8 key until the menu shows up.) If you can't access the system
at all, then you might be able to access the HD from a Startup Floppy (aka
Emergency Boot Disk.) If you boot to an EBD, can you read the C:\ drive? Do
the following command:

DIR C:\WINDOWS

Does that give you a long list of files?

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
www.grystmill.com


"James P" James wrote in message
...
I have a computer from 2001 that had Windows 98 on it. The hard drive
recently crashed and when I tried to reload the software it asks for the
software code. The code is long gone since I moved 3 times since then but
I
have a legal copy. Anyway to get it installed?