Windows 98 Product Key

[GandD]

I've been having a lot of problems with my computer lately and decided to reformat it and start from scratch. I wiped it out and started to install Windows 98 from MS-DOS. When it came to the screen that asks for the Product Key it would not accept the Key that I entered (that came with the CD). I asked a few computer places for suggestions and they said to get and valid product key from any friends who had the same program. I have tried about 5 and keep getting the same message: the product key you entered was invalid. What can I do??? I even tried skiping the product key using directions I found on a few sites online, but some of the files were not available. Help?!?

[Report_2]

This may sound like a stupid question but...

Are you trying to use the 20 character ProductID number instead of the 25 character ProductKey number?

[GandD]

No I am using the 25 character code that came with it. All 5 of the keys I have tried where 25 characters long.

[BIG JOHN]

I have never seen a problem with someone installing an OS using the original Product Key. However I have seen someone typing the letter0 when was supposed to be the #0, since we cannot & do not recommend any sites that supply product keys or even that you try someone elses key, both of which are illegal, other than telling you to contact Microsoft to see if they will give you another key we really cant help you here. BJ

[GandD]

That was the original plan, but the numbers I have - Micorsoft is only available on the weekdays. I was hoping to find an answer before that, but I do believe it would be my best bet. I too have never had a problem with an original ProductKey. This problem has aggravated me to no end. I made sure I was using letters for letters and numbers for numbers, I have checked and rechecked and still came up with Invalid messages. Oh well, I am still glad I came upon this site. Thanks. Hopefully microsoft can tell me what's going on with my machine.

[buf]

I haven't ever had a problem using the Product Key with my windows CD either. Assuming your computer was new, did your computer come with the CD you are trying to use to re-install win98? Or has there been an older win system on the PC before you installed win98? Maybe these are just stupid questions also.

If and when you are able to get it working again, do a search for Belarc, download it and let it tell you many things about what is loaded on your PC--including the Product Key, then print it and save the print out. Later, anytime you have a change to your computer the Belarc info will change also, ie. add or remove software; etc. Belarc is free BTW.

Lots of luck and let us know of your successes; etc.

[newbietech]

the manufacturer will have the code free of charge

[downtime]

Hate to burst the bubble here, but I have had problems with the product key a number of times. A couple of times, it was on hard drives that were getting weak, not quite failing, or even showing problems in scandisk. Usually once it accepts the key, the install is not a good one, full of bsd's, and freezing. But a couple of other times, there was nothing wrong with the drives. It just refused to accept the proper and legal product key. Not only on a machine that had been installed by the manufacturer, but a drive that had been reinstalled by myself for clients using the exact same disc and product key. The only legal solution without calling MS was to low level format the drive with the utility provided by the hdds manufacturer. It one case it was on a drive that had been hacked, trojan wise, in a serious fashion. After using the manufacturers prog to put the discs back to factory standards, the key was accepted.

[readrj]

Had installation problems myself some time back. It turned out to be a dead CPU Fan. Replaced the fan and windows installed ok.

[Report_2]

One more thought...Try disabling Virus something in the BIOS setup.

[Steve R Jones]

Microsoft KB:

Troubleshooting "Invalid Product Key" Error Message During Setup


CAUSE
This issue can occur if one or more of the following conditions exist:

The proper product key was not entered.

Anti-virus software is running during Setup.

The installation CD-ROM is damaged.

[jtdoom]

hi

I assume you boot off the CD itself
that is virus free.

I will also assume your drive is properly recognised by BIOS (iow, no overlay)

I will also assume that you have no more than four partitions

boot from the CD
you want to get to the dosprompt
if your CD does not have option to boot without CDROM suport, or to NOT launch setup, then do NOT accept licence

that brings you to a dosprompt.

fdisk /mbr
(if the motherboard AV kicks in, first disable the mobo AV, which requires a reboot)

again try fdisk /mbr
if you had another AV still in MBR, it might kick in. (doubtful)

fdisk /cmbr 2
fdisk /cmbr 3
(when you reach the CD drive it will give an error)

again boot off CD
reboot to dosprompt (no cdrom support if you can.)
format C: /U

reboot
and launch setup

this might work without having to format all partitions

Murf has a good site re format and fdisk
you can also read about some pitfals

[Chuck Mielke]

If I remember correctly, having done a number of Windows98SE reinstallations, the caps on key must be off. Typing the thing as it appears on the disk, in caps, IOW, will result in an error message such as you got.

Also, (side note here), I've seen a number of comments regarding the usage of someone else's Product Key. Since these comments surely must come from someone who knows what they are talking about, then there must be something to it - IOW, perhaps it IS possible to use someone else's product key. But I just have to say that I have some serious doubts about that.

Your experience is something we can all learn a lesson from - formatting a Hard Drive in an effort to solve problems is something that should only be done after serious consideration of the drawbacks and problems involved in doing that.

IMHO, the advice I have occasionally seen, to reformat a HD, is given far too casually.

[markp62]

The Product Key is computed during setup by a complex algorithm in a file named Pidgen.Dll located in the Precopy1.Cab on the install cd. The key is unique to that CD. You won't be able to dig it out or use another.
Maybe your CD has a tiny scratch right in a bad spot for that, and Pidgen.Dll is being corrupted during the extraction and copying to the temp install folder (C:\wininst400 or something like that) on your hard drive. If you have the room on your drive, copy the setup cabs from the Win98 folder on the CD onto your hard drive and run setup from there.

[jtdoom]

hi again

since you had already formated, you can do it again.
that format C: /U has the /U for a reason.

in light of what the last poster says.
instead of launching setup from CD
you could go like this

after the fdisk /mbr spiel and formating
boot with CDROM support

you get to see which letter was assigned to CDROM-drive

for instance E:

C:
md win98
cd win98
copy E:\win98

when that finished... setup

============

OH, and if you had to boot off a floppy all this time
make yourself a NEW one right away

as long as it gives you access to your CDROM, you CAN Boot from it, but I want you to make a virus free one.

again assuming CD is letter E:
run
E:\tools\mtsutil\fat32ebd\fat32ebd
it will prompt to insert a floppy
all data on it wil be overwritten

DO IT

then use THIS NEW floppy to boot from.
you may have another letter for CDROM now.
but that is normal.

then do that fdisk /mbr spiel
where I ask to reboot, you had better reboot.

come to think of it, like Mielke says, dont set capslock on.
it may be rare, but it can happen.