Random values in the key will not work, but often the product key from
other products, such as a Microsoft mouse will work! I am not
encouraging this, but it could save a lot of trouble at times. At my
college, we have a site license as well as many individual copies of
Windows floating around. It becomes a chore to keep up on all the keys.
In my lab, we often use one key for multiple installs - it is legal for
us to do the installs since we have a site license.

Peter
The NoSpin Group

-----Original Message-----
> if possible, do a START|RUN|regedit and search for "ProductKey" (all
> one word). This will give the key that windows was installed with.
> This page may or may not tell you if it was an OEM or upgrade. Either
> way, good luck.
>
> Winston Pike
----------------

If, for some reason, Winston's idea doesn't work, I'm pretty sure you
can enter any combination of letters and numbers. Unless the owner plans
to register the product, Win98 doesn't seem to notice. If I'm mistaken,
then you'll just have to abort the install. ( A computer studies
instructor taught me this trick ). hth

Al Thompson

             PCSOFT maintains many useful files for download
                     visit our download web page at:
                  http://freepctech.com/downloads.shtml