Windows Product Key

I have the windows 98 upgrade cd but have lost the book with the product key. Does anyone know how you go about getting this key replaced?
thanks
katy

 

katy--If you have a legitimate version of Windows98 already installed, you may not need a product key to install the upgrade. Have you tried?
However, if that does not work, you will have to telephone MS and if you explain the situation they may provide a Product Key on the telephone. It will help if you have reason to believe this Upgrade CD has in fact not been used before on another PC.

 

this update is a legitimate copy. I bought this computer and these discs were included. It has a restore disc with it which it refused to read. It would give me a message that the bios is not compatable with the restore disc?? I used fdisk and formatted and installed the 95 OS which I had, to the computer Now I want to use this update disc (which was part of my purchase orginally) to update the computer to 98. the install starts but asks for the key which I no longer have. I never actually used these discs (myself) on this computer....the system was already installed when I got it...but the disks came with it.
I found a Microsoft phone number but they merely gave me another number and it says that I must pay to talk to a technician. I somehow don't feel I should have to pay to get the things I purchased to work.
if anyone has a phone number or can tell me how to get in touch with microsoft I would appreciate it.
thanks!
Katy

 

katy--Do I understand that you have Win95 on the PC now? I do not think you can use the 98 Update disk in that case. The "Update" in the case of Win98 was to go from Win98 First Edition to Win98 Second Edition.

Are you trying to boot from that restore disc? The message could mean that in Setup (usually click F2, or F8 or Delete just when you are booting--if you have an instruction manual it should tell you what key to click) your Hard Drive Sequence is not set up to boot from the CD-ROM. Change the setting to do so.
I must confess to being a little confused as to what discs came with the PC, and whether they were for Win98 or 95. I understand you bought the PC second hand, so the discs may have been part of what you bought, but they may not have "come with the PC" from the manufacturer.
P.S. Usually when you "Update" Windows (within the same version), you do not need to have a product key. You are asked at some point in the installation process to insert the original Windows CD to prove that you have the rights to that version of Windows. You are using the product key from the originally installed Windows.

 

Actually there was a W98 upgrade CD (to upgrade from W95) - and yes it was bootable.

Best install method was to wipe the HDD by a fresh 'FORMAT C: /U' then boot to the CD and install W98 - at some point it would ask for a qualifing product. You would remove the upgrade CD and put in your W95 CD. Once it verified the W95 it would prompt you to replace the W98 cd and install would continue.

You will need to contact M$ directly about a Activation PID code for your W98. Be sure to check all your documentation - back then the PID was often stuck on the back or face of the 5x7x1/4 manual or on the CD case.

Best of luck