Win98 disks off the bay - used, pirated, who knows

[legacyNW]

OK so I want to upgrade my emachines PC with a new mobo, has a OEM XP repair disk but it won't boot to the new bios/mobo. My conundrum - I don't want to have to pay for a full version of XP. I'll bite the bullet & pay MS for an XP home upgrade, but then I need a 98 or ME disk to qualify (I do not think the install will allow me to use my OEM XP disk to upgrade...)

So the next step is *bay. But how do you know if a 98 disk you buy off the bay will work? What if they already used it themselves to install a XP upgrade - I assume MS gets the code off the 98 disk and checks - aha, someone already used this license to upgrade.

Or what if it is apirated copy of 98 - will that set off the MS license checkers?

Ideas? Experience anyone? TIA

 

[nweaver]

get a non OEM with valid COA and hologramed media

If they used it as an upgrade, and then sold it, then THEY are violating their upgrade terms, and it invalidated their license

The code is NOT tied to XP, however, and it won't mess you or them up

 

[legacyNW]

OK,good to know. I think my bro-in-law is going to bail me out anyway, he went all mac while back so I can use his old install disk.

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: legacyNW
OK,good to know. I think my bro-in-law is going to bail me out anyway, he went all mac while back so I can use his old install disk.

That should pass the "sniff" test with no problem.