Updating Windows 98

[Guest Robin]

I am a very low tech techie but I have some knowledge. My MIL's computer

currently is running Windows 98, not the 2nd edition. This is what it shows

as a 'version': 4.10.1998. Yes, I know it's old but how do I update it or do

we have to buy new software?

 

Thank you,

R

[Guest Roxana]

Re: Updating Windows 98

 

It's not 'old'; it's venerable. :-)

 

By update, I suppose you mean you're thinking about going to W98 second

edition (or some other microsoft operating system) and not about getting

Windows Updates. <s>

 

If this is the case, you'll need at least an "upgrade CD", to upgrade from

W98 to W98se, or an XP upgrade CD (same purpose).

 

These are available at places like Amazon or eBay.

 

for example:

http://search.ebay.com/windows-98-second-edition_W0QQfsooZ2QQfsopZ32QQlredZwindowsQ2098Q20secondQ20editionQQrprZ126

(URL / line may 'wrap')

 

Good luck

"Robin" wrote in message

news:3459C235-77C1-4F47-9C88-963A108D69DE@microsoft.com...

> I am a very low tech techie but I have some knowledge. My MIL's computer

> currently is running Windows 98, not the 2nd edition. This is what it

shows

> as a 'version': 4.10.1998. Yes, I know it's old but how do I update it or

do

> we have to buy new software?

>

> Thank you,

> R

[Guest Robin]

Re: Updating Windows 98

 

I have a Win98 SE CD but it says for computers without Windows. I guess it

isn't an update, huh?

 

Here's stupid question #2: if I uninstall W98 and reinstall with that CD,

would I lose anything on my hard drive?

 

"Roxana" wrote:

> It's not 'old'; it's venerable. :-)

>

> By update, I suppose you mean you're thinking about going to W98 second

> edition (or some other microsoft operating system) and not about getting

> Windows Updates. <s>

>

> If this is the case, you'll need at least an "upgrade CD", to upgrade from

> W98 to W98se, or an XP upgrade CD (same purpose).

>

> These are available at places like Amazon or eBay.

>

> for example:

> http://search.ebay.com/windows-98-second-edition_W0QQfsooZ2QQfsopZ32QQlredZwindowsQ2098Q20secondQ20editionQQrprZ126

> (URL / line may 'wrap')

>

> Good luck

> "Robin" wrote in message

> news:3459C235-77C1-4F47-9C88-963A108D69DE@microsoft.com...

> > I am a very low tech techie but I have some knowledge. My MIL's computer

> > currently is running Windows 98, not the 2nd edition. This is what it

> shows

> > as a 'version': 4.10.1998. Yes, I know it's old but how do I update it or

> do

> > we have to buy new software?

> >

> > Thank you,

> > R

>

>

>

[Guest Roxana]

Re: Updating Windows 98

 

I should have added this (a rough copy / paste from Ron Badour's post about

W98se installs and upgrades)

 

<paste>

RETAIL FULL INSTALL:

This CD will upgrade W95/98 to W98SE or can be installed onto a blank hard

drive.

 

OEM FULL INSTALL.

This SE CD is designed to be installed to a blank hard drive; however, there

is a possibility that you can trick it into upgrading.

An OEM disk might be customized for installation on a particular computer;

however, this will probably be primarily with a used disk.

http://home.satx.rr.com/badour/html/upgrade.html

 

RETAIL UPGRADE INSTALL:

This CD will either upgrade W95/98 to W98SE or you can install it to a blank

hard drive.

When installing to a blank drive, it will ask to see the qualifying system

(the W95 or W98 disk).

 

UPDATE CD:

This CD will only update a functioning copy of W98 to W98SE.

MS sold them with ProductKey for $20.

Some vendors sell them and advise using the W98 ProductKey, which may or may

not work. Don't get stung.

 

RECOVERY CD:

Some companies will brand an OEM CD and call it a recovery CD.

You should avoid these unless it is the exact recovery CD you need, as many

will only install on the equipment they were intended for.

 

</paste>

 

Good luck

 

"Robin" <Robin@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:3459C235-77C1-4F47-9C88-963A108D69DE@microsoft.com...

> I am a very low tech techie but I have some knowledge. My MIL's computer

> currently is running Windows 98, not the 2nd edition. This is what it

shows

> as a 'version': 4.10.1998. Yes, I know it's old but how do I update it or

do

> we have to buy new software?

>

> Thank you,

> R

[Guest Roxana]

Re: Updating Windows 98

 

Hello again. :-)

 

I just posted an "update" to my previous post, which provides more of a

description. It should be there momentarily.

 

If you have a "retail w98se CD" then that can be used - I suppose - if it's

not already being used on another computer (Microsoft EULA about the

operating system being for only one PC unless one had purchased multiple

licenses).

 

Well, yes, if you "un-install" the operating system and there's data in

there because the hard disk is unpartitioned, you will lose everything

that's in that part of the drive.

 

I must admit, I've never tried installing a full retail OS on top of what I

already had. For that matter, I've also never un-installed my W98se

operating system either. Having done a dirty re-install of my OEM OS, I did

manage to lose some stuff just the same. Not everything, but enough.

 

Someone else will surely enter this thread and elaborate and clarify for you

(and correct any of my errors as well). Sorry that I cannot be more helpful.

 

Roxana

 

"Robin" <Robin@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:F209192E-1977-4D80-958A-1375E2EF1B1E@microsoft.com...

> I have a Win98 SE CD but it says for computers without Windows. I guess it

> isn't an update, huh?

>

> Here's stupid question #2: if I uninstall W98 and reinstall with that CD,

> would I lose anything on my hard drive?

>

> "Roxana" wrote:

>

> > It's not 'old'; it's venerable. :-)

> >

> > By update, I suppose you mean you're thinking about going to W98 second

> > edition (or some other microsoft operating system) and not about getting

> > Windows Updates. <s>

> >

> > If this is the case, you'll need at least an "upgrade CD", to upgrade

from

> > W98 to W98se, or an XP upgrade CD (same purpose).

> >

> > These are available at places like Amazon or eBay.

> >

> > for example:

> >

http://search.ebay.com/windows-98-second-edition_W0QQfsooZ2QQfsopZ32QQlredZwindowsQ2098Q20secondQ20editionQQrprZ126

> > (URL / line may 'wrap')

> >

> > Good luck

> > "Robin" wrote in message

> > news:3459C235-77C1-4F47-9C88-963A108D69DE@microsoft.com...

> > > I am a very low tech techie but I have some knowledge. My MIL's

computer

> > > currently is running Windows 98, not the 2nd edition. This is what it

> > shows

> > > as a 'version': 4.10.1998. Yes, I know it's old but how do I update it

or

> > do

> > > we have to buy new software?

> > >

> > > Thank you,

> > > R

> >

> >

> >

[Guest Roxana]

Re: Updating Windows 98

 

You might find these Ron Badour links to be of some use

 

UPGRADE WITH OEM CD.

http://home.satx.rr.com/badour/html/upgrade.html

 

W98 RESTORE DISK AND INSTALLATION PROCEDURES.

http://home.satx.rr.com/badour/html/w98_restore.html

 

So, if you can back-up to some safe locale the items that you don't want to

lose, you should do so.

 

 

"Robin" wrote in message

news:F209192E-1977-4D80-958A-1375E2EF1B1E@microsoft.com...

> I have a Win98 SE CD but it says for computers without Windows. I guess it

> isn't an update, huh?

>

> Here's stupid question #2: if I uninstall W98 and reinstall with that CD,

> would I lose anything on my hard drive?

>

> "Roxana" wrote:

>

> > It's not 'old'; it's venerable. :-)

> >

> > By update, I suppose you mean you're thinking about going to W98 second

> > edition (or some other microsoft operating system) and not about getting

> > Windows Updates. <s>

> >

> > If this is the case, you'll need at least an "upgrade CD", to upgrade

from

> > W98 to W98se, or an XP upgrade CD (same purpose).

> >

> > These are available at places like Amazon or eBay.

> >

> > for example:

> >

http://search.ebay.com/windows-98-second-edition_W0QQfsooZ2QQfsopZ32QQlredZwindowsQ2098Q20secondQ20editionQQrprZ126

> > (URL / line may 'wrap')

> >

> > Good luck

> > "Robin" wrote in message

> > news:3459C235-77C1-4F47-9C88-963A108D69DE@microsoft.com...

> > > I am a very low tech techie but I have some knowledge. My MIL's

computer

> > > currently is running Windows 98, not the 2nd edition. This is what it

> > shows

> > > as a 'version': 4.10.1998. Yes, I know it's old but how do I update it

or

> > do

> > > we have to buy new software?

> > >

> > > Thank you,

> > > R

> >

> >

> >

[Guest Tim Slattery]

Re: Updating Windows 98

 

Robin <Robin@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>I have a Win98 SE CD but it says for computers without Windows. I guess it

>isn't an update, huh?

 

No, that's an OEM CD. It won't want to upgrade an existing

installation, it will want to start over from scratch.

>Here's stupid question #2: if I uninstall W98 and reinstall with that CD,

>would I lose anything on my hard drive?

 

If you just delete the Windows directory, your data would not be

disturbed. But you would probably have to reinstall a lot of programs.

Any program that makes use of the registry - MS office for example

makes *very* heavy use of the registry - wouldn't work anymore.

Everything in your start menu and on your desktop would disappear.

Things in those places are nearly all shortcuts, so the shortcuts

would go, but not what they point to.

 

Do check out Ran Badour's site (Roxana posted the URL) that talks

about tricking an OEM disk into upgrading an existing system.

 

--

Tim Slattery

MS MVP(DTS)

Slattery_T@bls.gov

http://members.cox.net/slatteryt