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I have my original Compaq quick restore CD's (OEM Windows 98 2nd edition) leftover from my model 7469 desktop. (AMD K-6, 500Mhz)
I am currently running a clean install of XP home on that 7469 box, thus the original Win 98 Cd's are not in use.
I am looking at buying a used notebook (brand?) that may/may not come with an OS.
Assuming that the (used) notebook has enough horsepower to run Win 98, is it possible to install the OEM Compaq quick restore CD's containing Windows 98 on another brand of computer? Toshiba? Whoever?
Or will the OEM software hate the new hardware and refuse to play nicely?
Is there some workaround, like installing only the Win 98 OS files I want from the OEM CD, bypassing all the Compaq OEM crapola?
If it will install, I can tweak after to eliminate programs, applications, etc that I don't like/need. I just want to know CAN IT PHYSICALLY BE DONE OR NOT?
If possible, please cc my hotmail acc't (without the asterisk) to be sure I see the replies.
TIA!
By all means wait for a response from someone who know for certain but my feeling is that using restore CD's on another machine will not work and maybe even cause a disaster. They are usually keycoded to prevent this. Using a straight W98 OEM CD is a different matter.
By the way, we try to answer on here if at all possible in order to maintain the spirit of a forum.
Good luck
Derek
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I think Derek is right. I wouldn't do it. That restore disk even with win 98 on it is set up for that machine. Just buy a win 98se oem disk if you want. I think I would go with XP though for the future support. MS is phasing out win 98.
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Derek is likely correct in that a restore disk - any restore disk - is not an installable OS. It's intended to get you back to square one in the event of too many problems to exorcise by normal means...at least for the manufacturer's tech support. If your OS is not installed due to fdisk or format, that disk is probably useless.
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Just another reason not to buy a box from one of the big vendors. Look around, you might be able to find someone with win98 oem licenses thats trying to get rid of them for cheap with hardware. Do a search on pricegrabber or pricewatch.
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A restore CD is not in any way the same as a "standard" operating system install CD. They are designed to only work on a specific "model" computer, or manufacturers "line" of computers. They will not work with all computers.
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OK, thanks all. The reason I was looking to utilize my current discs is that the InfoNazis at work are currently blocking internet access (WebSense) to non-work related sites. So, surfing on the company nickel is getting skinnier and skinnier.
I figured if I found a used laptop on the cheap (which may/may not have an OS) I could use it to access my dialup account and surf uninterrupted and unmonitored at work (on nightshifts).
Anyhow, my idea of doing it on the cheap precludes running WinXP, because any older, cheaper laptop would not have the horsepower to run it. Hence the need to run a 9.x variant.
I guess I'll look for one with an OS already installed. Hell, even Win95 would be fine, all I need it to do is surf, nothing else.
Thanks again for the input!
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Oh, and after I had posted my original inquiry, I was poking around some more on this site and found the following thread which closely parallels what I was thinking of doing, initially. There seems to be a workaround, though I'm not sure it would work with all OEM mfgr's software or not.
Also, this deals with Win ME, not Win98, but anyhow.....
http://www.computing.net/windowsme/wwwboard/forum/1522.html
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HOLD THE PHONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There might be a way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It may, however, be a "little" trouble on your part.FIRST, Do you JUST, ONLY, have the "restore" discs, and not the "Windows" disc (says something, like, "to be sold only with a new PC" or similar?
In other words, I'm trying to find out if you have a Whambox98 disc that WILL in fact allow an install, as compared to a "restor" disc, that ONLY is useable on the computer it was sold with.
IF NOT, here's how I "do" it sometimes.
What you can do is "burn" a cd that will "be" a useable, installable copy of Whimpos98 FROM A HARD DRIVE.
If you do not still have a hard drive out of the original machine that has Whendox98 on it, then get yourself an old, small, rickety hard drive, and using your original restore discs, create a good, working install of whambox98. IF YOU DO NOT have the "install key" use "regedit" to recover the key from this working hard drive.
Since this is an OEM install from a restore disc, there should be a folder somewhere with the ".cabs" files (C:\Windows\Options\Cabs) ??
Also, find the folder with the "dos" utilities (format, fdisk, etc)
Build yourself a bootdisk and MAKE SURE that this has fdisk and format (at least) on there.
Now, all you need to do, is burn the "cabs" files and the "old dos" files to a cd, and you can use your bootdisc to "make the cd bootable." When you get done, you will pretty much have a Whendox cd.
ALSO, the other thing you can do, is find a friend of yours with an OEM Whembox CD and do an install with it and with YOUR install key, to make sure it works.
THEN, all you have to do, is burn a copy of that cd
THIS IS PERFECTLY LEGAL, because it is actually the "install key" and not the cd itself which causes all the legal problems.
Since you own the "rights" to "your" operating system, and (I assume) you have "the key" and "the license" then you are all set.
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