Can I use my OEM Win. xp home edition on another computer i have?

[biz3]

I have a Compaq laptop running 98SE and tried installing a netgear wireless usb adaptor. During the setup it asked for files off the 98SE disk, which I don't have anymore. So, I copy the files off of my office desktop which runs 98SE. I completed the setup and the laptop says it's connected to the belkins 54g router. But, when I just try to connect directly through my dialup (the computer connects, but won't open internet explorer (page can not be displayed error appears, and outlook express does not bring up my mail). Earthlink support said that I probably deleted some files during the setup and needed the 98SE disk to recover the files. I don't have the 98SE disk.

I haven't ran the xp network setup wizard yet on the computers in the network. I got to frustrated and quit. The network is a belkins 54g router with a HP laptop that has the belkins software intalled on it, and the laptop running 98SE. The laptop running 98SE says that it's connected to the belkins router, but I can't access internet explorer through the network either. Maybe it's as simple as running the network setup wizard on both computer so the recognize each other?

I don't like operating the laptop without the 98SE disk. Every time it crashes I have to pay someone to reintall the operating system.

I have 2 OEM XP Home Edition Versions from my Gateway laptop and ABS desktop computers that I'm using at home. Can I install one of the OEM disks on the laptop, and finally get rid of the 98SE operating system? Will Microsoft let me activate the CD key since I'm using it on the computer at home?

What would be the easiest and best thing to do?
Thanks for your help.
:confused:

[BipolarBill]

We cannot advocate the illegal use of any software here at SysOpt. You can only legally install XP on ONE PC.

Try running INETWIZ.EXE on the Win98SE laptop and specify LAN connection in the wizard.

May I suggest that you copy the Win98 CD and save it next time? If you have a legitimate Win98 product key, you can legally do that.

Keep in mind that XP needs a strong CPU and lots of RAM (256MB at least). If you have that, fine. If you don't, installing XP won't help a lot. It will be slow as molasses. If you are going to install it, buy an OEM version at Newegg.com for <$100.

[crossedup]

Find someone that has the 98se disk and just make a copy of the CAB files on it or put them on your HD. Thats all you really need. Should be nothing illegal about that.

Check around on your HD now and see if the CAB files are possibly even there. Usually under Windows/Options/cabs, could be elsewhere though.

Could just buy you a XP keycode, install with your disc and just use your recently acquired keycode. M$ has instructions on how to do this on their site so it has to be legit as well. Cheaper to.

[biz3]

Thanks for the information. I'll check the cabs on the office desktop which runs 98SE and see what's missing. Then copy them to a floppy and install on the laptop.

I'll also try running the command that Bipolar said and specify lan connection, and hope that it can connect to the internet through the router. So, I don't have to reinstall the OS.

Thanks