98se, OEM vs Retail vs Branded, help!!!

[mikeford]

What I have now are a stack of "for dist only" manuals with COA, a stack of "companion" or restore CDs, one real MS 98se update CD with a xeroxed "for dist only" COA, and one CDR backup of a OEM 98se CD (which has a working key printed on it, but also works fine with several of the manuals I have a stack of).

I want to be able to install on any of the hardware I find and use the legal COA that I have as much as possible. The only reason I want plain 98 is so that I can use my 98se upgrade CD and COA. 98se CD is so that I can stop using the CDR all the time, and that I should have at least ONE real MS CD anyway.

Will the Retail box 98se CD work with the "for dist only" COA I have now?

What are the practical restrictions on using OEM and branded restore CDs?
Thanks

 

[lucky9]

Depends on who/when it came from. My original ps was a Gateway. It came with a restore cd and a copy of Win98. I bought the "upgrade" cd from Microsoft's web site for $10. It requires that 98 be on the hard disk. The more normal upgrade disk doesn't, just put the oem disk in when it asks for it. I don't think the restore disks will do it, but maybe someone else knows for sure.

 

[mikeford]

What I have learned so far is that Restore typically means the CD has hidden usually encrypted files that it can put back on to your hard drive, If it can verify that your PC is the correct brand and often model. Restore often includes more than the OS, maybe even a full software bundled suite of applications. Restore is great, but ONLY for the brand and model. I can't remember if restore requires a Key, I think some do and some don't, so be sure to run one of the info programs that displays your Key before restoring.

OEM I think is the same as "for distribution" only with a new PC. Two flavors seem to exist, generic OEM that all the little shops buy from distributers, and branded with special features like Dell, Compaq, etc. use. OEM will always want a CD Key, but it isn't clear to me "any" 98se key will work, or if it has to be a OEM key. I don't think it applies to older OS releases like 98se, but XP apparently has a corporate CD which only works with corporate Cd Keys. I don't know if branded CDs always require a CD Key (my XP CDs from Dell apparently create a key automatically as long as you install on a Dell), or if the required CD is generic or branded.

All of the above CDs can be fussy to install, but I think at least the Retail Box CD should always work regardless of what is or isn't on the hard drive already. I think they also accept any type of legal KEY, but I am not sure.

Update or upgrade CDs are trickier to use, but sometimes will do a full install if you have some specific files on the hard drive, and those can be placed manually in dos etc. These require a KEY, but it isn't clear to me if the key is specific to UPdates, or just a valid Key for the product you are upgrading to.

Service Packs are NOT UPGRADES, they are the files you can download for free from MicroSofts update pages, or send in like $10 for a CD.

Thats what I know so far, please correct me if you know better, or point me to a better info source.