Windows 98 CD

lukin

I am using the Windows 98 operating system but my Windows 98 CD was stolen.
Now my Internet Explorer won't work and I am using that lousy "Opera" browser instead.
Can I get a replacement Windows 98 CD from Microsoft by quoting the serial number on my Windows 98 users manual?
I would be prepared to pay the original cost as it is very important that I get the disc.
Please do not suggest contacting the agents that I bought the CD from as they are no longer in business.
Would appreciate a reply.

Boston

this is whay you they allow you the legal right to make back ups. i dont think theres anything you can do,

PPC

Get a friends copy of Windows 98 (make sure its the exact same edition [Either 1st or 2nd). And copy that.
You can legally copy the cd as you have the licence.
You can have as many copies as you want as long as you have a licence for them.
But if you dont have a legimate licence its 100% illegal.

Boston

wrong, that is totaly illegal.

PPC

not according to Microsoft.
Once you own the licence you own the software.
You can make backups of the software if you own the licence.
Also only one licence per machine.
Well thats what Microsoft told the shop i work for.

GoneShootin

lousy "Opera"

HEATHEN !!

wat is LEGAL in this topsy turvy world

Why do you need the disk for IE ?

phobos

When you purchase software, you are not paying for the actual thing on the CD, disk, etc....

You are paying for the right to install and use it. It does not cost anything to make a second copy of software, so the money goes in to licensing it.

;-phobos-)

Cake Fiend

Originally posted by Boston
wrong, that is totaly illegal.

Please refrain from speaking directly from your rear end.

What you pay for a Windows 98 package is mostly for the right to use the software contained on the CD, and a small percentage is for the medium itself (the physical CD). Once you have paid for a registration key you have a legal right to install and use the software, whether you are in possession of a copy on CD or not. There is nothing legally wrong with using a friend's CD to install the software, as long as you enter your personal registration key to validate it. I reccommed you copy said CD if possible, to make sure you have a backup copy of the software you paid to use.

Originally posted by PPC
Once you own the licence you own the software.

Incorrect. What you probably meant to say was: Once you own the licence, you own the right to use the software - the software code itself remains the property of the developer (i.e. Microsoft).

Boston

there is nothing illegaly worng with using a backup, any back up if you have the liscense, correct, but it is illegal for your friend to create a back up, and give it to you, his rights of back up dont extend to you. You can use his his original to install the software, but you cannot get another copy of him.

check it out, you will find im right.

Cake Fiend

Again, wrong. It is illegal for anyone to lend someone a Windows 98 CD and a registration key to validate the software. This is software piracy - the recipient of the CD and key has not paid for the privilege to install and use the operating system.

If, however, both people have paid for two seperate registration keys, the Windows 98 EULA does not disallow two people sharing a single item of distribution medium to install the software. Keep in mind that every Windows 98 SE full installation CD is exactly the same - it's the registration key (and hence the right and means to validate, install and use the software) that you really pay for.

A parallel on this: I work in an internet cafe comprising of 60 PCs, all running Windows 98 SE. The company owns 60 Windows 98 SE registration keys. I installed the operating system on all 60 PCs from a single CD but using 60 individual registration keys. This is perfectly legal, as we have paid for the right to use the software on 60 PCs, as laid out in the End User Licence Agreement. It is my job to know this. Furthermore, we have an order on the way of 68 PCs with Windows XP pre-installed. We will not get 68 individual Windows XP CDs - there is no need for this; we will probably get 10 actual discs at most. We will, however, get 68 Windows XP registration keys - this is what makes it legal for the company to use 68 installations (of the exact same code, keep in mind) on 68 seperate workstations.

Boston

think about it, how would you go about proving it or disproving it if you were asked.


For all your talk you have yet to show me were on windows site it can back up anything you have said. wild conjecture isn't very wise.
I may be wrong, just as you maybe wrong. but untill i see some evidence from you im not going to take it at face value.

Anyway the point is mute, if he had a friend with the cd im sure he would have just asked for it weather it was legal or not.
If or when you have said evidence you can pm it to me, but this thread is back on topic as of now

Cake Fiend

All you need to know is contained in the End User Licence Agreement "Licence.txt" in the Windows 98 system root directory. Nowhere in this EULA does it prohibit a valid licence-holder installing the OS from another valid licence-holder's CD.

To return to the topic: Lukin, I doubt Microsoft will send you another copy of the CD if you quote your Product Key to them (for reasons of moral judgement rather than legality - whoever is on the other end of the phone can't really tell for sure whether you actually have paid for this licence as you say you have, or whether you've nicked it from a friend or work or whatever), especially if you have not fully registered the product with them (to give them a record of your name, address, date of purchase, etc) but it's always worth a try. To be honest, an MS support tech would be more likely to tell you to borrow someone else's CD to get you off his/her back. The best option in this kind of situation would be to go back to your PC dealer, but unfortunately in your case this is impossible.

You could always give the built-in System File Checker (SFC.exe, in the Windows\System directory) a try - it's not usually worth bothering with to be perfectly honest, but you have nothing to lose by trying it (it scans your hard drive for Windows system files that have been changed or corrupted, and replaces them - in some cases, however, you need your Windows CD for the program to replace the files from). If you do get your hands on another CD to reinstall from, I reccommend you copy the contents of the Win98 directory on the CD to your hard drive (the conventional standard location for these files is C:\Windows\options\cabs FYI) so you can install components and reinstall the operating system at any time without the CD.

PPC

Originally posted by Sico


Incorrect. What you probably meant to say was: Once you own the licence, you own the right to use the software - the software code itself remains the property of the developer (i.e. Microsoft).

Yeah sorry thats what i ment.
Would be cool if ya bought windows and then owned most of Microsoft .

lukin

I tried unsuccessfully to copy a Windows 98 CD some time ago so I know for a fact that doesn't work, but I'll probably borrow a copy of a mate and re-install it.
I'd rather have my own copy for peace of mind though.

Cake Fiend

If you reinstall from a mate's CD, copy the contents of the Win98 directory off the CD onto your hard drive like I said above. That way you can reinstall the operating system without the CD.

Boston

some people actually prefere to do it that way, but its allwasy handy to ahev a bootable Cd handy.

The reaso nti probably failed is the software you used. Try clonecd, it will make a nice bootable copy for you, not that i would know anything about that:o

Clinical Waste

But if you really do want the Original Disk back, you can ring Microsoft (support line) and for a fee (£30 I think last time I did it) they will replace the missing disk.

Personally I think a copy is acceptable to MS (regardless of law) if you have purchased the original license (Key) but having the original disk will leave no doubts.

Boston

if he asked on the sales board, he probably buy a copy of win98 second hand cheaper then that

Clinical Waste

Very True.

The sales board is a good place to get a bargain.

lukin

What number is the Microsoft support line?
And what is the "sales board"?

lukin

Originally posted by Gone Shootin
lousy "Opera"

HEATHEN !!

wat is LEGAL in this topsy turvy world

Why do you need the disk for IE ?

I need the disk to get Internet Explorer working again.

Clinical Waste

Go to the top of the page to Classifieds and you will find For Sale and wanted Boards.
You want the Wanted one. Ask & ye shall receive.

or


Microsoft European Operations Centre (EOC)
Blackthorn Road
Sandyford Industrial Estate, Dublin 18
Telephone: 001-353-2953826

GoneShootin

Internet Explorer

i understand that, but what files are you missing that wont allow IE to work ? Can you now just get IE from a Cover Disk [pc live] ?

Or are you stuck for the dial up networking files and all that jazz

lukin

I tried re-installing IE from a cover cd but that made no difference.
It's a problem in Windows I'd say.
I recently backed up my entire system and IE went down after that. Eveything else is O.K. though, strangely enough.

TacT

what version of ie are you using and do you have the OS patched from http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com

have you tried the repair IE option if you try to remove it from the add/remove software in control panel?

Occidental

My God, enough of this. lukin, send me a PM and I'll sell you a copy with Certificate of Authenticity for 1c(to keep the mods happy).

Sico,

Did you really go round with a list of 60 different Win98 codes and put a different one on each PC.


Now where did I put that Hamster

Boston

what mods? send him what ever you like, i dont care if its legal or not once your not using the forum to organize the met and and the drop

fredthebread

Originally posted by lukin
I tried unsuccessfully to copy a Windows 98 CD some time ago so I know for a fact that doesn't work, but I'll probably borrow a copy of a mate and re-install it.
I'd rather have my own copy for peace of mind though.

nti works fine. u just have to clear " copy to harddrive first" option. And copy it directly without testing etc. Also make sure the cd drive ur using can read copied discs.

By the way microsoft will replace the disk if u broke it etc. But I think u have to have proof of purchase or be registered. Nice to see so many legal eagles on the site.;)

Arion

That is the great thing about GNU, You can forget all about that ****e, although having that said, I for the most part, forget all about that **** anyway.

Legally, it is iffy wheather or not copying a Windows cd is legal or not. In reality, nobody really cares, because quite a lot of people do it anyway. It is extremely unlikely that Microsoft, or some other law enforcement agent, will have any problems with you installing from a friends cd.

The main problem I have with Win98 cd's is their low quality. There is black rot all over mine, and it is unbootable. Add that to the fact that my HD had a recent head crash and had tp be replaced, in which case I had to get a cd from someone else, which it turned out had to be a WIN2k cd, which is sorta ****e on my computer, as I only have a PIII450 with 64Mb Ram

What do you not like about opera? The only reason I use explorer myself(as opposed to Opera) is because explorer is installed by default on the computer(at college) I am using.