ok my last question was locked for me supposedly scamming Microsoft. so if I installed 98 could I update it to xp w/ out a xp cd? or is that a scam?I am only doing it to 2 computer not all 5. one i have a legal copy of xp so no need to help that one and one i have a legal 98 copy.I still have my 98 disk and key.I just need 2 computer of mine w/ xp 2. what is my cheapest, easiest,& LEGAL way? should I order a nother key for the xp cd or try w/ 98?

"so if I installed 98 could I update it to xp w/ out a xp cd?"

No. You would need an XP CD/Product Key to upgrade from 98. You would run an upgrade installation from within 98. (A fresh/clean install is preferred over an Upgrade install.)

However, you would run into the same conundrum. It would run for 28 or 30 days (all the while bugging you to Activate). If you don't activate, it will only run in Safe Mode. When you do try to activate, the chance exists that Microsoft will refuse Activation if the XP CD you used is already installed/activated on another machine.

would it be cheaper to by an xp upgrade or buy xp full disk? and

"You would need an XP CD/Product Key to upgrade from 98" how would it give me a fit if I had the key for 98 and bought a key for the upgrde? All Im asking is what is the cheapest legal way?

"would it be cheaper to by an xp upgrade or buy xp full disk?"

Get an Upgrade CD. You can still do a fresh/clean install with one of these as long as 95 or 98 is installed on the machine you wish to upgrade, or, you possess a 95 or 98 CD.

You start the machine (boot) with the XP CD, start setup, and if setup finds 95 or 98 on the machine, it proceeds with the install. If you've formatted the drive (or otherwise blanked it out with fdisk etc), setup will ask you to insert your 95 or 98 CD into the drive and hit enter (or click OK). Once it verifies you have a previous Windows O/S CD, it proceeds through the drive setup process. (Partitioning/formatting based upon your choices. It lists the hard disks found, and the partitions on them if any, and asks where you want to install and if you want to partition/format fresh etc.) Then you need to reinsert the XP CD and things continue. (Setup will tell you when to switch CD's again.)

"... if I had the key for 98 and bought a key for the upgrde?"

The 98 Product Key isn't required (other than to install 98 of course). As I mentioned above, the XP setup just wants to find the O/S on the machine, or read a 98 CD, that's it. It's the XP Product Key which you will need. You'll get it with a purchased XP CD (Upgrade or Full), or, Microslop might sell you one (a Key) to use with your existing XP CD. You would have to check with them.

I hope I explained this clearly.

yes. thank you