Well, the CD is not illegal--it's a real MS CD--it's just crippled because it lost its little piece of paper with the Product Code on it. I simply wanted a way to make a legal copy run. In addition, until the HD died, the machine had a legal copy of Win98 on it. There are lots of Registry hacks for getting the Product Code out of a RUNNING machine, but I haven't found one that works well with a dead HD. The person involved is used to that era Windows & doesn't have $$ for a legal copy of XP--which I agree would be MUCH better. The OO reference was a joking attempt to pretend to make a Win post to a Linux list "legal". -mj- Craig White wrote: > On Tue, 2005-10-25 at 17:48 -0700, Mark Jarvis wrote: > >>To make a long story short, I need to install Win98 on a newly formatted >>disk in a friend's machine. I have a Win98 CD, but the paper with the >>the Product Code is long gone. >> >>1) Does anyone know of a program to extract the Product code from the CD? >> -or- >>2) Want to suggest a better forum for asking this question? (I don't >>know the Windoze forums & mailists.) >> -or- >>3) From what I've found on the 'Net, there are generic codes out there >>that will work. Also, one person said that he got a list of codes from a >>friend and got a hit on the 9th one. (I've tried 3 so far--struck out.) >>If someone has one or some I can try, I'd appreciate getting them. >> >>Although I don't dare expose this person to Linux, I WILL be installing >>Open Office 2--not a complete loss. >> >>Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions, > > ---- > There is no way to legally install using that CD since what is legally > required is the genuine Microsoft Windows certificate which accompanied > the CD - which would have the installation code. > > Moreover, since Windows 98 is a 'dead os' - you aren't doing this person > a favor by installing it. If they wish to run Windows, they should be > purchasing WinXP - it runs much better and has life beyond yesterday. > There's no reason to encourage someone to run an illegal copy of Windows > when you can run Linux for free legally. Tossing in a free Oo doesn't > make it less than a complete loss. > > Craig > > --------------------------------------------------- PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change you mail settings: http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss