>Bruce:
>In your comments on the Windows ME thread (#418028), you mentioned that new boxes with other O/S platforms pre-installed are clean installed with Win95. How are the licensing issues handled. We have a Clipper DOS app and have concerns about how long our customers will be able to buy newer, faster boxes and still run our app. WIN98 creates problems with our 2rd party communication software, so a viable WIN95 solution might work.

Generally it is perfectly acceptable to use or purchase licenses for analogous newer versions, and then install older, obsolete ones. For example, I have a Win95 CD, and want to install it on a new machine as you say. However, suppose MS no longer carries Win95. Then, since the new machine came with a license/copy of a newer Windows version (like 98 or Me), it is quite acceptable to install Win95 on the machine without any new license. IOW, licenses are generally backwards-compatible.

Or suppose I need an Office97 Pro upgrade license for a new user, because that's still our standard - but Office97 is no longer available. So, I purchase an Office2000 Pro upgrade, and then install from the Office97 CD, and just lock up the Office2000 CD, unopened. Perfectly legal, if a bit wasteful not to use the latest versions...but sometimes you need to do it.