Windows98SE retail vs. OEM

[Loopy]

What's the difference between the retail version of windows 98 second edition as compared to the OEM version? would I be able to use the retail version to upgrade my original oem version of windows 98?
p.s. the oem version won't upgrade it.

 

[blah]

well, the main difference is that OEM does not require Product Activation and retail does, but if that does not bother you, you can get cracked OEM CD and that will take care of your trouble with OEM activation which is required on Retail CD. On the other hand if you have Retail Activation Code it can take care of the cracked OEM CD as well. Good luck.

..this is very useful and helpful place for information...

 

[Loopy]

I don't understand, could you go into more detail please?

>>>>well, the main difference is that OEM does not require Product Activation and retail does, but if that does not bother you, you can get cracked OEM CD and that will take care of your trouble with OEM activation which is required on Retail CD. On the other hand if you have Retail Activation Code it can take care of the cracked OEM CD as well<<<

 

[Zoron]

When did Win98 start requiring activation?

<font color=red> If you design software that is fool-proof, only a fool will want to use it. </font color=red>

 

[Crashman]

98SE full version upgrades 98 and 95. 98SE OEM doesn't, unless you do a trick that allows it to.

One file is checked by the OEM version to see if you're performing an unauthorized upgrade. If you delete that file (from your current 98 installation), 98SE OEM will install over a previous 98 installation simply by replacing the older files with newer ones. It will do that because it won't know that the software already there is a previous version.

I believe the file is called Win.com.

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>

 

[4Ryan6]

would I be able to use the retail version to upgrade my original oem version of windows 98?

Yes but if you're upgrading, and are buying the upgrade disk anyway, why not upgrade to WinXP Home.

p.s. the oem version won't upgrade it.

If you have an OEM full version of Win98SE, just backup your files and do a complete install from scratch, and transfer your files to 98SE, you haven't been real specific about exactly what disk you have, but I don't know of the existence of an OEM upgrade disk, I think all upgrade disks are retail anyway, and by inputting a legal license key at the prompted time you can do an install from scratch, with any upgrade disk. Installing from scratch is a better idea with 98 or 98SE anyway, it gets rid of all the old garbage on your system.

 

[VistaCruzier]

Hey :
1st -Q- OEM has no free support from M$, Retail ones have 6 mos free support, last time I seen it.
2nd -Q- Retail Win 98SE has written on it what it will upgrade, probably ,the only upgrades are win 3.1 and win 95.

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by VistaCruzier on 08/02/05 01:04 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[Zoron]

Also, there was no retail 98SE... only OEM. There was a time you could purchase a 98SE Upgrade CD... if you can find one of those it would upgrade 98. However, it's just easier to do what Crash suggested... delete win.com.

<font color=red> If you design software that is fool-proof, only a fool will want to use it. </font color=red>