What to do with a OEM restore disk and a Cert. of Auth.?

[deadken]

A friend of mine has an eMachine computer. It is a 'T1440', a 1.4Ghz Celeron w/40GB HD, etc... He has added a DVD-Rom and a stick of 256MB Ram to his system. About a week or two ago it stopped working. It seems that it needs a Motherboard (a 'Lomita' that seems to use the Intel 810e Chipset). EMachines wants $150 for this motherboard. I suggested that I set him up with a new mobo, CPU, and DDR Memory combo instead. He likes the idea of using the System Restore disks when he has a problem (which isn't rare with his 2 teenage daughters downloading tons of crap). I had posted a WTB thread in the forums hoping to find a used Mobo, and someone said he can use the Restore CD's if he stays with the same Chipset on the Mobo. It sounds doubtful to me.

My question is this: If we replace his mobo/cpu/memory, is his valid copy of M$ Windows XP Home no good anymore? Would I be able to use his Windows XP Home off of his Restore CD's? Would it make a difference if we/he kept to the same chipset?

I did swap a AMD Mobo into his case and try to boot from his HD. It keeps crashing before it loads Windows. When I try to boot into safe mode, it crashes at the same part everytime (I can't remember the name of the file offhand). I was tempted to throw in his restore CD and see if I could re-install from it, but I don't want to format his HD without permission. Any ideas?

 

[Dahak]

What most manufactures do is write some identifying information into the board bios, and the restore cds are tied to that. And depeding on how the restore cd is build it may not like the motherboard change (ie most hp/compaq/toshiba/acer restore cds ive used are all an image of the system as it was once install was done). If it is just a regular xp cd then you should beable to change the motherboard without too many problems. (had to do one to a dell, and the dell restore cd is a standard xp with some custome install options)

What you can do is get a copy of xp home cd(ususally has to be oem) and install that as the CD key is still a valid licence. (although will not have all the drivers and preloaded programs that the restore cd has)

The reason why it is blue screening on you when you swapped the motherboard is because the mass storage controller (ide controller) is different, and windows does not like that

 

[jackschmittusa]

I've also seen several EMachines boxes with really light PSUs in them. That could present a problem, depending on what you add to it.

 

[deadken]

Thanks, right now it just has a Soyo KM400 Mobo, Duron 800, and 256MB Kingston PC3200 ValueRAM in it. If I can save his O/S (and therefore $100), then I will upgrade him to whatever CPU/PS/Memory is within the budget.
If I can't save his O/S, then he'll probably just order another eMachines Mobo :disgust:.

Thanks for your help.

 

[imported_Phil]

Originally posted by: deadken
Thanks, right now it just has a Soyo KM400 Mobo, Duron 800, and 256MB Kingston PC3200 ValueRAM in it. If I can save his O/S (and therefore $100), then I will upgrade him to whatever CPU/PS/Memory is within the budget.
If I can't save his O/S, then he'll probably just order another eMachines Mobo :disgust:.

Thanks for your help.

The restore CDs will load the Intel 810 IDE driver, which you won't be using. The only way round that is to use the Recovery Console to disable and enable certain services (and therefore drivers). This is not something he will be wanting to do himself, and I doubt that very many people would be happy doing it.

 

[timswim78]

After installing a new mobo and using the Xp license on an unbranded CD, you could make a recovery disc for him with one of the many ghosting utilities.

 

[deadken]

Thanks for the input. I am still not sure which way he/we will go. I appreciate the help/ideas.

 

[vman]

This is NOT to advertize per se, but if he really is in the market for a mobo from an e-machines T-1440, I can get him one for WAY less than $150, as I just pulled apart this same machine to upgrade. Definitely works.

 

[deadken]

Cool, Thanks for the offer. I have sent you a PM asking for more info.