Hey all,
I've got a hacker question for somebody. I have a nearly ten year old Gateway PC I was going to get tuned up for my kid, and it required a reformatting and reloading of Windows 98. Well, you guessed it, it wants the original registration code (25 digits?) before it will let Windows 98 launch. Guess what? I lost that years ago, even though it is the same Win98 that came loaded on the PC new that I bought. I worked on this dumb PC all night and finally thought I was almost there and this cropped up. Does anybody know a way around this, or does anybody know how to generate a legitimate code so that I can get this machine going? I sure would appreciate it.
Fordman3
These should help (from Serials 2000)
XJ3XX-YR4CJ-TQD6J-76QJR–GJMJB
G4YVH-2XCQJ-FD9J9-DD62T-C7G2W
B4DWD-2B3KX-KT7MR-GQXVB-WFMFY
BBH2G-D2VK9-QD4M9-F63XB-43C33
D4Y9Q-4QYBY-22WBG-249HD-VGGD8
F2HFQ-2Q82W-MQVJM-JYBGV-JRXM8
FT9CH-XVXW7-7BFCM-RPR49-VDHYD
HGBRM-RBK3V-M9FXV-YCXDK-V38J4
JHVBP-T6TMP-GX8XJ-CMGDP-K8CCX
K4HVD-Q9TJ9-6CRX9-C9G68-RQ2D3 <--This is the one I used eleven billion times - actually had it memorized
D8PZY-F7H7D-M8D6M-DY4KC-FD83D
KHHYQ-BFCFC-X99F9-DPR8Y-F93P8
W7XTC-2YWFB-K6BPT-GMHMV-B6FDY
RJHYG-KHCHF-DYYGK-3D9C7-GJR3Y
TT4JY-BHTJ4-YRGK8-MDTBW-CQ3Q6
P9XXR-T7GTW-HD7XY-BXRGW-W64WY
DBJRF-6RTGC-86Q7V-3D28H-VR3C6
CJFV2-KJYWD-YFJBB-KQ7QR-V7G43
Here's what's in my WindowsInstallCodes.txt file....
"How do I install Windows98 without using a product key and
bypassing the upgrade check?"
---------------------------------------------------------------
Method 1:
DISCLAIMER: THE FOLLOWING IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. DO NOT DO THIS. IT IS ILLEGAL IN THE UNITED STATES. IT VIOLATES THE MICROSOFT LICENSE AGREEMENT THAT YOU AGREE TO WHEN YOU INSTALL WINDOWS98. THIS INFORMATION WAS SENT TO ME ANONYMOUSLY.
I DO NOT KNOW IF IT ACTUALLY DOES WHAT IT PURPORTS TO DO. I DO NOT WANT TO FIND OUT. DO NOT DO IT.
ANONYMOUS writes:
"To bypass the product key on Windows 98, do the following:
copy the entire Win98 directory from the CD to a directory on
the hard drive
extract precopy1.cab pidgen.dll
debug pidgen.dll
-e 1ed7
xxxx:1ED7 39. 8b
-e 1edf
xxxx:1EDF 39. 8b
-w
-q
For those with a hex editor, patch offset 1dd7h and 1ddfh from
bytecode 39h to byttecode 8bh. Debug works fine (file is <64k
so no segment adjustments are necessary) for patching small
files like this one.
run SETUP and type in ANYTHING for the serial number. The only
exception is all zeros; that's apparently a backdoor that was
shutdown before pidgen.dll was released.
Win98 will use the modified pidgen.dll file instead of the
unmodified one stored inside of precopy1.cab archive.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Method 2:
This method only works with the OEM version.
1. Install Windows 98 as you normally would.
2. At some point when it is finished, it will reboot the machine and ask for the product ID. Abort it and shut the machine down when it asks.
3. Reboot the machine, and press F8 when it says Starting Windows 98. Choose Safe Mode.
4. Once in safe mode, use regedit to find the product id (HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion).
5. Change the product id to be anything you want. It doesn't appear to care what you enter as long as something is in there.
5. Reboot the machine. It should continue with the setup.
have them send you a new disc with the origonal software. It only costs $20, and they will give you the code if you lose it. That way you dont have to worry about it again.
I have a suggestion after you get 98 working ok go to: http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html
download the advisor run it then print out a copy. All your good computer information will be on the page or pages. Comes in handy if you crash and your other software programs want you to re-register.