Because they do not care about you, only about your money, you have already
paid, so they are all right.
HWtn

If you have the original certificate of authenticity then the product
code on that should be valid.

Perhaps you are reading the printed code incorrectly.  In some
versions the font used can be a bit confusing at times, especially
with certain letters.   I have often confused G and 6, or 8 and B on
some of the printed product codes.

Another common mistake is getting the wrong product code entirely,
such as one from Microsoft Office or other Microsoft product.
Product keys are only valid for one specific version of a given
product and will not work with anything else.   I can recall going
almost berserk one day until I realized that the C of A that I had in
my hand was for Microsoft Works and not for Windows 98.

Good luck

Ron Martell     Duncan B.C.    Canada

Either you are not entering it correctly or if you are installing over the
top of the existing system, you are not entering the product key that is in
the registry.  Here is my standard blurb about the product key--note that
your statement about not being able to call is wrong:

The W98 ProductKey is generally found on the Windows user manual, the
certificate of authenticity, a sticker on the PC or a sticker on the sleeve
or jewel case the Windows CD came in.  The Key also might be available from
the system.

If the system is working in either safe or normal mode:

Open regedit.exe to this key and look in the right pane for the entry
ProductKey:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion

If the system is not working, start the computer with a floppy startup disk.

At the A: prompt, type:  C:\Windows\Command\Find /N "ProductKey"
C:\Windows\System.dat
(Note:  ProductKey must be typed in upper and lower case letters as shown
and there is a space after:  "Find"     after:  "/N"    and after:
"ProductKey"

If the hard drive has been formatted, US customers can contact Microsoft at:
1 800 642-7676.  They will issue retail and OEM product keys after verifying
data located on the W98 CD.