Quick restore cd

Anyone have any idea how I can obtain a quick restore cd
for a presario 5301 desktop, running Windows 98? Compaq
no longer carries them and I have had no help everywhere
else I have tried. My hard drive has been wiped clean
and the cd lost. I am stuck with a computer that cannot
do anything. Thanks for any suggestions.

You are probably out of luck. You can try a retail version of Windows but
go to the HP/Compaq web site and see if there are drivers available for
download for your hardware. If you can find the needed drivers, then:

MS can no longer sell W98 disks as an initial purchase so your best bet is
to try to find another source; however, supplies of W98 are becoming very
limited. Go to http://www.pricewatch.com, scroll to the software section,
click on Operating Systems and click Windows 98. They may have listings on
boot up floppy disks, CDs but no license, a license but no CD, OEM versions,
W98 and W98SE CDs, update from W98 to W98SE only and so on. Pay ATTENTION
to what the listings say or you may end up with something you don't want or
need. You can also check on EBay or other auction sites. Be aware that
only paid support for W98 still exists. Here's some info about the various
types of W98SE CDs:

RETAIL FULL INSTALL: This CD will either upgrade W95/98 to SE or you can
install it to a blank hard drive.

RETAIL UPGRADE INSTALL: This CD will either upgrade W95/98 to SE or you can
install it to a blank hard drive; however, when installing to a blank drive,
install will ask to see the qualifying system (i.e., W95) disk(s).

OEM FULL INSTALL. This SE CD is designed to be installed to a blank hard
drive; however, there is a possibility that you can trick it into upgrading.
For info, go to: http://home.satx.rr.com/badour/html/upgrade.html Be aware
that if you buy an OEM disk, it might be customized for installation on a
particular computer; however, this will probably be primarily with a used
disk.

UPDATE CD: This CD will only update a functioning copy of W98 to W98SE.
When MS sold them, they were $20 and came with a ProductKey. Some venders
were selling them and advising customers to use the W98 ProductKey which may
or may not work--don't get stung.

RECOVERY CD: Some companies will brand an OEM CD and call it a recovery CD.
You should avoid these unless it is the exact recovery CD you are looking
for. Many recovery CDs will only install on the equipment they were
intended for.
--
Regards

Ron Badour, MS MVP for W98
Tips: http://home.satx.rr.com/badour
Knowledge Base Info:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=kbinfo

"mosing234" wrote in message
...
Anyone have any idea how I can obtain a quick restore cd
for a presario 5301 desktop, running Windows 98? Compaq
no longer carries them and I have had no help everywhere
else I have tried. My hard drive has been wiped clean
and the cd lost. I am stuck with a computer that cannot
do anything. Thanks for any suggestions.

I was told of a website which sells OEM software at
reduced cost. I haven't had a need to purchase any but
it's a choice.

www.qualityoemsoft.biz

Hope this helps.

-D-

-----Original Message-----
You are probably out of luck. You can try a retail
version of Windows but
go to the HP/Compaq web site and see if there are drivers
available for
download for your hardware. If you can find the needed
drivers, then:

MS can no longer sell W98 disks as an initial purchase so
your best bet is
to try to find another source; however, supplies of W98
are becoming very
limited. Go to http://www.pricewatch.com, scroll to the
software section,
click on Operating Systems and click Windows 98. They
may have listings on
boot up floppy disks, CDs but no license, a license but
no CD, OEM versions,
W98 and W98SE CDs, update from W98 to W98SE only and so
on. Pay ATTENTION
to what the listings say or you may end up with something
you don't want or
need. You can also check on EBay or other auction
sites. Be aware that
only paid support for W98 still exists. Here's some info
about the various
types of W98SE CDs:

RETAIL FULL INSTALL: This CD will either upgrade W95/98
to SE or you can
install it to a blank hard drive.

RETAIL UPGRADE INSTALL: This CD will either upgrade
W95/98 to SE or you can
install it to a blank hard drive; however, when
installing to a blank drive,
install will ask to see the qualifying system (i.e., W95)
disk(s).

OEM FULL INSTALL. This SE CD is designed to be installed
to a blank hard
drive; however, there is a possibility that you can trick
it into upgrading.
For info, go to:
http://home.satx.rr.com/badour/html/upgrade.html Be aware
that if you buy an OEM disk, it might be customized for
installation on a
particular computer; however, this will probably be
primarily with a used
disk.

UPDATE CD: This CD will only update a functioning copy
of W98 to W98SE.
When MS sold them, they were $20 and came with a
ProductKey. Some venders
were selling them and advising customers to use the W98
ProductKey which may
or may not work--don't get stung.

RECOVERY CD: Some companies will brand an OEM CD and
call it a recovery CD.
You should avoid these unless it is the exact recovery CD
you are looking
for. Many recovery CDs will only install on the
equipment they were
intended for.
--
Regards

Ron Badour, MS MVP for W98
Tips: http://home.satx.rr.com/badour
Knowledge Base Info:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=kbinfo

"mosing234" wrote
in message
...
Anyone have any idea how I can obtain a quick restore cd
for a presario 5301 desktop, running Windows 98? Compaq
no longer carries them and I have had no help everywhere
else I have tried. My hard drive has been wiped clean
and the cd lost. I am stuck with a computer that cannot
do anything. Thanks for any suggestions.


.

I bet they won't be in business long. :-)

Anyone selling software at these kinds of prices should be looked upon with
a seriously jaundiced eye. $60 for Windows 2003 Server Standard Edition?
That cannot possibly be a legal copy! (And someone should tell the
webmaster that there is no second "T" in "Standard". G)

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x]
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"deeu" wrote in message
...
I was told of a website which sells OEM software at
reduced cost. I haven't had a need to purchase any but
it's a choice.