Windows XP Upgrade edition questions

[dirtydog]

I know that you can use the Upgrade (retail) version of Windows XP if you have Windows 98/98SE.

What I would like to know is:

1. Does it matter if the Windows 98 you have is OEM, or does it have to be retail?
2. Can you do a clean install of Windows XP, or do you have to install 98 first and then install XP over the top of it?

Thinking about question 1, presumably given that the OEM version of Windows 98 would be licensed for use on one single machine only and not transferable to new machines, you wouldn't be able to install your Upgrade version of XP on unlimited different machines (but one at a time) either?

 

[dirtydog]

I had a feeling you could do that I just have a suspicion it won't like OEM Windows 98 though.

The reason I am asking is because I want to use Windows XP when I next upgrade my PC. I am currently using an OEM license which will not be transferable to a new machine of course. Given that XP is being discontinued in about six months, I will be buying it some time before then (even if I don't actually use it for a while), while I still can.

It occurred to me that it might make more sense to buy the 'retail' version so that I could use it for future, subsequent new machines in future. XP Home retail is £150 odd, and XP Home upgrade is half that. I'm thinking that buying Windows 98 cheaply might be a cost-effective route to getting XP Home retail.

I do actually have a Windows 98 'system restore' CD from an old Packard Bell machine - I wonder if I could use that to satisfy the XP Home Upgrade installer?

 

[dirtydog]

That seems to mean that Windows 98 OEM would only allow me to install XP Upgrade on one machine then. To install the XP Upgrade on another machine in future, I would need another, separate Windows 98 license. Correct?