WIn 98 product keys without CDs

Originally Posted by ilyaz

Recently I picked up a grocery bag full of Windows 98 install CDs. These came in their original shrink wrap together with "getting started" booklets.

Also in the same bag came a bunch of booklets with COA product keys but without their CDs. Questions (probably fairly basic but I could not find definitive answers by googling or searching this forum):
1. Are those product keys stored on their accompanying CDs and do they basically get compared during install with they key you enter?
2. If the answer to the above is no, would it be legal to make multiple copies of one install CD and distribute those copies with the CD-less keys?



Thx

If I'm not mistaken a cd key can only be used x amount of times before it becomes invalid. Their just like cd keys on any other piece of software. The installer has a set of random numbers it'll accept to install and if the key is in range of these, it'll install. If not it won't accept it. Reguarding the install cd, you can but you may run into a problem where people scream piracy or whatnot so I'd be careful.