Installing Windows on a custom built system.

My desktop recently died and I'm going to build a new system from scratch. My problem is with Windows. On my old system I had Windows 95 pre-installed by Compaq. I had no Windows disk, only a Compaq Restore disk with Windows on it, but also all the drivers and custom Compaq programes. I later recieved a free Windows 98 upgrade disk from Compaq, which I installed onto my machine.

I want to install Windows ME onto my new custom built system. Please don't tell me to stick to Windows 98, for one reason or another I'm going to go for ME. However, the FULL VERSION of ME is quite expensive, and I can save a lot of money if I buy the UPGRADE VERSION. However, to install the UPGRADE VERSION of ME I need a PREVIOUS version of Windows on disk.I have only the Compaq Restore Disk and the Compaq Windows 98 upgrade disk[it is not marked Windows 98 but "COMPAQ UPGRADE"}. Can I use these in the install process and then load the UPGRADE version of ME?

I recently bought an Advent laptop with ME installed on it. I have an Advent Restore disk with Windows ME on it, Advent drivers and programes. Can I simply use this disk to install Windows ME onto my new custom made computer? Will the utilities and drivers on the Advent disk cause problems with my new hardware?

I've heard that people have used friend's Restore disks to install Windows onto a custom made PC. While I agree this is piracy, surely there should be no problem with me using my Advent Restore disk?

I intend on upgrading to XP in October but I cannot wait until then, and I don't think it is fair of Microsoft to chrage me $150 for the Full version of ME and offer me no free upgrade to XP.

Your compaq restore disc is made for compaq's, and the hardware inside them. I strongly doubt you will have any luck. If you went from Win95 -> Win98 -> WinME, that's going to mess up Windows a little bit too.

--
Intel inside, AMD outside.

If you buy your new system parts from a reputable retailer that retailer may have an OEM agreement with microsoft.
Which simply means when you buy a mass storage device (hard drive) from that retailer you can buy Windows software at a reduced (OEM) price.
As for your problem of wanting WinXP but can't wait until October to build your system well you're #### out of luck unless you can find a sucker who will let you borrow their copy of WinME or Win 98se
As previously posted it is always better to have the full Windows disk. I have wasted way to much time installing Windows then installing an immediate upgrade.

often in a folder called CABS, i.e. C:\windows\options\cabs


Next time you wave - use all your fingers

It shouldnt do- normally this is a ghost image of the original drive, though there are sometimes other options such as "restore original registry" and other such choices, these are only really used to hopefully get the user into windows in order to back up stuff.

Next time you wave - use all your fingers