I used to have a 95 full version disc. It has disappeared into the void over one of my many moves.

So, my 98 upgrade disc needs to be validated with a previous version of windows.............or does it?

I have an upgrade version of XP. Could this possibly work to validate my 98 disc? Does MS only check for 'another version' or specifically previous versions?

If XP won't work, is my 98 disc a coaster now?

The poster has two disks:

- A Windows 98 Upgrade disk
and
- A Windows XP Upgrade disk

Can the poster install Windows 98? If so, can they use the Windows XP upgrade disk as validation?

Can the poster install Windows XP? If so, can they use the Windows 98 upgrade disk as validation?

I have no experience with either scenario, but it seems neither of you addressed the actual issue.

humbled by the master tech again thanks 4 the info!!!

You sure don't need to install Win98 first. When you install an upgrade version of XP, you will just be prompted to insert a Win98 CD

Sorry, you need a previous os before using the win 98 upgrade cd.
Thats why upgrade disks are usually half the price.

Surely you can find someone, a friend etc, with a Win98 cd & key, and there will be no registation issues with it. (you dont have to register it online like with xp)

Then you can use your xp upgrade cd, after installing 98.

Hmm... i think that's why i advised them to find a full version 98 cd. becuase i knew they were both upgrade cd's initially, and since full ver win95 was lost. I thought at this point it would easily be the posters decision which ver they wanted to run. 98 or XP.

Im imagining this could save at least 30 to 45 minutes then. cool.

And that makes three ;-)

Thanks for the responses. I'll try to clarify a bit.

Objective: Find a way to validate my 98 upgrade CD.

As stated, my 95 cd is gone, or else it's buried somewhere deep a box. That is what I used before to validate my 98 upgrade.

I also used to have Win 3.1, but I may not have that anymore either. Typically I hold onto old stuff like that but I don't know what has happened to them.

As far as the system specs, ect. This system used to have 98 on it. It's an old one. I'm putting 98 back on so that my roommate can use it. The XP disc was installed on my newer system that I currently use.

Years ago I experimented and pinned down exactly what files 98 looked for to validate the upgrade, but I have forgotten all that now. I can do it again, but I'll just have to hope I can find either my lost 95 or 3.1 os's! Bummer!

"this system used to have 98 on it."

What does it have on it now?
Do you have all the necessary drivers for the hardware? Not everything is included with the OS.

And more importantly a much cleaner install.