98 to XP upgrade

[Gary Bikun]

Iv'e just built a new computer and my version of 98 has
more problems than it's worth to install. Does the
previous operating system version need to be loaded prior
to the installation of the XP upgrade, or do you just need
the 98 disk and key?

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP-Windows Shell/User\)]

No, if there is no operating system installed, at some point during setup
you will be asked to insert the disk or CD containing your operating system
for verification.

 

[Tom Foolery]

You do not need to install the previous OS. As long as it's a retail
version (not an OEM) you will be prompted to insert that disk during the XP
installation in order to confirm that it qualifies for upgrade. Otherwise,
you will need the full version. Be sure to run the upgrade advisor app to
check for hardware compatibility issues before loading XP.