BleepingComputer.com: OS restore MCE 2005 from Gateway OEM restore disk

Hi Cryptodan,

Not exactly sure what you're asking for - and again, I can't afford a new motherboard if that is your plan (what exactly are you suggesting)? The company that rebuilt the computer replaced the case so the new motherboard would fit (something like the Gateway mobo was a righty and the new one is a lefty?)...anyway, they kept the old case that had the Gateway computer number/customer number on it and I did not write it in the book for posterity sake -- never imagining that I'd need it again. The old system was a Gateway GT4010 Athlon 64 3500+ 2.2Ghz with C51G chipset/ 1 GB DDR PC-3200/ 200GB HDD/ DVD+RW DL/ Flash Reader/ nVidia Geforce 6200 integrated/ XP Media Center 2005. I do not know what motherboard was on the computer (don't really remember). I customized the system by adding Happauge 250 Tv tuner and also installed additional RAM, a 2nd optical drive, a 2nd hard drive and a GPU (GeForce 6600 GT 128MB). I did not disable the integrated Geforce 6200 because Gateway said it was not necessary and I never had any problems.

The current computer: MSI K9VGM-V 7253 mother board with VIA K8M890 North Bridge chipset/ AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+, MMX, 3DNow - believe its 2.3 or 3.3 Ghz, but not sure/ 2 GB DDR2 PC-5300/ WD 1TB HDD SATA internal + WD 300G HDD IDE internal/ WD 1TB HDD external USB/ Flash Reader/ nVidia 7600 GT (no integrated GPU on this board). They did the new system a little over a year ago.

Don't know what else I can tell you. If I have to spend money I would rather buy a full install OS disk than replace the motherboard at this time in the hopes that Gateway update would work. What happens if something else fails and I have to go thru all this again with a disk I can't use? If you can find some information instead about how to unlock the Gateway restore disk, that would be optimal.

KTBC51G - Gateway Athlon Motherboard (System Board) - 124.99

Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate Full Version Retail Box w/SP1 - $136.99

Thats if you want Vista

Microsoft Windows XP Pro Full Version Retail Box (includes SP2) - $278.99

Thats if you want Windows XP Pro

Microsoft Windows 7 Professional Full Version Retail Box - $252.98

Thats if you want Windows 7.

As you can see a replacement motherboard for your computer will be far cheaper then getting a full version install Disk of Windows. I will not provide any assistance with you getting around OEM locks that are put in place by OEM Makers. If you want that assistance then you are on your own.

Hi Cryptodan,

Appreciate you looking that stuff up - I know you're comparing OS price to the cost of mobo, but Tiger has Microsoft Windows XP Media Center 2005 (OEM, but still full install without the proprietary locks) for $119.97 (already priced them out):

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Se...AIN#detailspecs

If I were to go for the mobo I would have to purchase RAM (current RAM won't fit that board) at an additional ~$35.00 per 1GB stick (and would have difficulty finding in-stock on older sticks now); the Gateway restore disk I have is for an 86, not a 64. There is only a 30-Day guarantee. I also cannot find detailed specs on PCI/PCIE slots for that board...and really doesn't matter because I don't believe that the MCE 2005 was released by Gateway in a 64 format -- they probably released that with Vista. And, even if I were to be able to find an exact mobo with the onboard GPU and everything, when you log into Gateway you need your customer number to get any updates -- which I don't have anymore. So it really is out of the question. The particular mobo you link doesn't say if its SATA or IDE. If its IDE for HD's I'm looking at having to purchase additional HD's to fit all my stuff. I could end up monkeying around with that to get it back up to what I need and drop close to $400 - just to meet my current needs.

Great site though! I'm saving it to FAV's. Is there somewhere else on the site that gives a more complete detail on the mobo's that I'm not seeing?

Cryptodan, I seriously cannot say how much I appreciate the time you took to do all that, but I have been over and over it in my mind for three months now and I think the only thing I can do is purchase the OS from Tiger. I'm still waiting on MS Support engineer to get back to me about whether or not he can help me install with the restore disk first. Next step is to use the restore disk (regardless) again and simply do everything in a different sequence and see if I can use my backup .bkf file from before. I'm going to borrow another HD to save everything not OS in current system just in case. If that still fails me I'll have to spend the money for the OS from Tiger.

I'll report back hopefully Tuesday about what's happening.

All the best.