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Install Win98SE that asks for CDkey AFTER Driver/Software installation?!?

J

joshg

Golden Member
Hey gang, I was wondering how I can install Windows 98 SE so that I install the program fully, then I can go into the system and install other programs, all the hardware drivers, and set everything up, burn it in make sure it's working good, then set it to where the next time it boots it asks for the CD key and the Reg. name? Someone please shed some light! I know it can be done I've seen it where you had to enter the CD key like this before! Thanks!

- Josh
 


<< Honestly, I've yet to see it installed this way. >>

It's the way OEMs do it. I've seen it lots. You buy an OEM machine, and on first boot it will ask you for the CD Key. After you enter it Windows finishes loading, and you are ready to go. All your software and drivers are loaded already.

joshg: I believe that an OEM license does not have to be exactly the same code as a retail license, I think they can modify it to some extent, this probably isn't possible with a regular windows version.

 
Maybe Microsoft is adding &quot;Product Activation&quot; to all their old OS's through Windows Update =)

But seriously, I think whenever you saw that it was an OEM using their unattend.txt file to perform the Windows Setup. You might be able to set something like that up, but I think you have to use the script to setup windows and it doesn't actually get setup until you enter the Serial Number. You can check out TechNet on the MS site to see if you can find anything further.
 
I *think* that it's a SYSPREP utility that computer manufacturers use once everything's set up on the computer. I believe that the SYSPREP utility is available for free from MS for Windows 2000, but it's only available to large OEMs for Win98.

JW
 
Hi thanks for the responses.. I did a search for both unattend.txt and sysprep on Dogpile, everything I could find had to do with Win2k or NT, can any of you point me to a good URL or place where I can find how to do this with 98? Thanks again!

- Josh
 
that's an OEM feature, Win installs the main files and then asks for your product activation before you can install any of your own drivers. I'ts a pain because it's not an unattended install, if you don't enter the serial it just sits half installed until you return,
pain in the ***!
 
OK then do you know how to do it then? The way you say it makes it sound like they are using that unattend.txt file and just having windows install. So how do you do it?!? 🙂 Can anyone enlighten me please via email/pm/reply to this post? Thank you very much!

- Josh
 
josh, I dont think it can be done like you suggest with the retail version, however I have an idea that just might work similar to what you are looking to do.
We all know that Win 98 stores the key in the registry, you could install it, make your CD, than have a program that will modify the registry when it is run (either before or after windows boots)
ie. a little VB program that asks for your key, than modifies the registry
I've never tried it before, but you should be able to remove the old key from the registry after you've installed it, although I've never tried it, nor do I know if windows will run without it...
 
i just had an after thought
if windows will not boot after you have removed the key than a little dos program would work.
this would be a good thing if you plan on distributing it because it requires each user to put in their key before it will work...
 
spyordie007 thanks for the tips, so what you're suggesting is make a program that DELETES the CDKey I enter from the registry. Then have another program made in VB or something that adds the new CDkey to the registry? What happens if the user enters an invalid CDKey?

Or does windows automatically prompt for the CDkey if it gets deleted from the registry?

Do you have any source code I could maybe take a look at to help with this? Thanks again!

- Josh
 
What you are looking for is called a &quot;preinstall&quot;, which is done using tools on the Win98 CD. Sysprep is only used for WinNT, Win2k.

Skel
 
Skel thanks for the heads up, I'm at work right now, so I don't have access to my 98 CD, do you think you could post any tips for me so that I know what to do and especially what NOT to do whenever I do this? I'm looking for some kind of How-To here. Thanks!

- Josh
 
Try running OEMSETUP.exe. Not sure what this does, but it is worth a try.

You might also want to look in the tools\admin folder and see if there are files there that will help.
 
The files you need are on any OEM copy of 98. With the CD you can extract the files so that you can make a preinstall disk. Basically it will set up a floppy to fdisk, format and load the OS with your settings for you. A nice start it, wait 5 min while it copies, pop the floppy out and walk away thing. (it is an improvement for MS)

I don;t know what the command is though. It is a wierd string for an exe file on the cd. A /help will not tell you what it the command is either. If you search the web I am sure you can find the stuff anywhere. There are directions that come wiht every 3 pack of 98.


S.
 
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