How to determine licensing ver of Windows 95, 98, ME?

[4tified]

The title isn't especially clear, but basically, I am curious as to how you can determine the difference between older version of Windows (ie: Retail vs OEM). I know with Windows 2000 and XP, you can verify by means of PID and the volume label, but Windows 95 thru ME didn't use distinctive volume labels to differentiate between versions.

Is there a way to determine the difference between these without:

a: Having the physical media
b: installing to see what type of key the install accepts and/or EULA

Thanks for the help and clarification!

[compgeke]

On 95 and 98 FE the keys for OEM would be something like "xxxxx-OEM-xx...".

[98fan]

First look at SETUPPP.INF in one of the PRECOPY.CABs
PRECOPY1.CAB for WinME
PRECOPY2.CAB for 95 or 98
PRECOPY3.CAB for some language versions or floppy versions of 95 or 98

Search for a string that reads ProductType= in SETUPPP.INF
ProductType=1 is a retail type install
ProductType=2 is an upgrade or stepup install
ProductType=9 is an OEM type install
ProductType=9 plus the line OEMUP=1 is an upgrade that accepts OEM keys
ProductType=3 is a floppy install
There may be one or two others.

Then you will have to examine the file SETUPX.DLL with a hex editor, it is inside the same PRECOPYx.CAB where you found SETUPPP.INF. The number you are looking for is near the tail end of the file.

Retail type install
Type 101 is full retail and accepts retail keys
Type 110 is "select" licensed for many computers and accepts a narrower range of retail keys
Type 111 is the MSDN version and only accepts the MSDN key as far as I know
Type 100 is said to be an internal Microsoft release, it doesn't ask for a key

Upgrade install
Type 102 is the upgrade version bought in stores
Type 112 is the stepup version
Type 116 is the upgrade sold under an OEM license, accepts OEM keys

OEM install
Type 115 is the ordinary "full" OEM CD
Type 120 is found on OEM restore discs, accepts OEM keys



A hex editor showing the difference between the retail and MSDN version of SETUPX.DLL

Hope this helps

[4tified]

First look at SETUPPP.INF in one of the PRECOPY.CABs
PRECOPY1.CAB for WinME
PRECOPY2.CAB for 95 or 98
PRECOPY3.CAB for some language versions or floppy versions of 95 or 98

Search for a string that reads ProductType= in SETUPPP.INF
ProductType=1 is a retail type install
ProductType=2 is an upgrade or stepup install
ProductType=9 is an OEM type install
ProductType=9 plus the line OEMUP=1 is an upgrade that accepts OEM keys
ProductType=3 is a floppy install
There may be one or two others.

Then you will have to examine the file SETUPX.DLL with a hex editor, it is inside the same PRECOPYx.CAB where you found SETUPPP.INF. The number you are looking for is near the tail end of the file.

Retail type install
Type 101 is full retail and accepts retail keys
Type 110 is "select" licensed for many computers and accepts a narrower range of retail keys
Type 111 is the MSDN version and only accepts the MSDN key as far as I know
Type 100 is said to be an internal Microsoft release, it doesn't ask for a key

Upgrade install
Type 102 is the upgrade version bought in stores
Type 112 is the stepup version
Type 116 is the upgrade sold under an OEM license, accepts OEM keys

OEM install
Type 115 is the ordinary "full" OEM CD
Type 120 is found on OEM restore discs, accepts OEM keys



A hex editor showing the difference between the retail and MSDN version of SETUPX.DLL

Hope this helps

This is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks!

[emart85]

Does anyone know where in Disk 2 of win95 floppy disks setup is stored the user information? The first time you use a set of floppy disks for setup of Windows 95 system asks User name and Organization. Next time you try to use these discs the setup will say that these discs were already used and the previous user and organization info is already stored.

I know that this info is in Disk 2. Is is storted in setupx.dll ? I managed some years ago to edit one of the precopy2.cab files (I think it was setupx.dll) to erase user name previous information. I don't remember how I did that and now I cannot find anything related to it in Internet.

Any clue?

[Voyambar]

First look at SETUPPP.INF in one of the PRECOPY.CABs
PRECOPY1.CAB for WinME
PRECOPY2.CAB for 95 or 98
PRECOPY3.CAB for some language versions or floppy versions of 95 or 98

Search for a string that reads ProductType= in SETUPPP.INF
ProductType=1 is a retail type install
ProductType=2 is an upgrade or stepup install
ProductType=9 is an OEM type install
ProductType=9 plus the line OEMUP=1 is an upgrade that accepts OEM keys
ProductType=3 is a floppy install
There may be one or two others.

Then you will have to examine the file SETUPX.DLL with a hex editor, it is inside the same PRECOPYx.CAB where you found SETUPPP.INF. The number you are looking for is near the tail end of the file.

Retail type install
Type 101 is full retail and accepts retail keys
Type 110 is "select" licensed for many computers and accepts a narrower range of retail keys
Type 111 is the MSDN version and only accepts the MSDN key as far as I know
Type 100 is said to be an internal Microsoft release, it doesn't ask for a key

Upgrade install
Type 102 is the upgrade version bought in stores
Type 112 is the stepup version
Type 116 is the upgrade sold under an OEM license, accepts OEM keys

OEM install
Type 115 is the ordinary "full" OEM CD
Type 120 is found on OEM restore discs, accepts OEM keys



A hex editor showing the difference between the retail and MSDN version of SETUPX.DLL

Hope this helps

How did you even find this? Now anybody can pretty much use any key they want.

[Battler]

I believe the OEM pre-install kit floppy versions of Windows 95 have yet another Product ID number.