a computer question

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Dec 22, 2009 | 01:15 PM

tjc transport

Thread Starter

i ain't rite

Joined: Mar 2005

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From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.

a computer question

i am having some issues with the E-machines desktop pc, but can not find the windows xp restore disc.
i do however have the windows xp restore disc for the gateway laptop.
ya think the laptop restore disc will work on the desktop, being as e-machines and gateway machines are made by the same compamy, just named differently??

Dec 22, 2009 | 01:27 PM

mymechanic'sanidiot

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It might but probably not. The factory restore discs, if you got it when you bought the PC, are usually hard-locked to a particular piece of hardware (MB) or software (BIOS). If it does work, it still may not allow you to activate it with Microsoft. You can try it and see. What kind of issues are you having?

Dec 22, 2009 | 01:38 PM

tjc transport

Thread Starter

i ain't rite

Joined: Mar 2005

Posts: 65,426

Likes: 5,508

From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.

the desktop has slowed down drastically, and just plain stopped working on some things.
it did this once before, and it worked fine for 2 years after formating the hard drive

Dec 22, 2009 | 03:44 PM

Virto

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Joined: Jun 2007

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From: Des Plaines, Illinois

Chances are it will not. Most of the time, the discs are custom-tailored with a variety of drivers and bloatware for each particular manufacturer.

I wouldn't hesitate to try, certainly it couldn't hurt.

Also, since you own the product liscence (the key should be on a tag on the PC case somewhere) you can find and download a WindowsXP cd online, or borrow one if that's easier. Use your key when it asks during the installation. You can then use eMachine's website to replace any drivers that Windows doesn't natively support.

On average, I find it helps to wipe a PC every year or two and start fresh. People are often amazed by how much slower they can become over time.

Dec 22, 2009 | 03:51 PM

clux

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Joined: Feb 2002

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From: Carhenge

Quote:

Originally Posted by Virto

On average, I find it helps to wipe a PC every year or two and start fresh. People are often amazed by how much slower they can become over time.

By wipe you mean re-partition the drive or??????????????

Dec 22, 2009 | 06:14 PM

MoBill122

Papa Smurf

Joined: Nov 2009

Posts: 1,078

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From: Woodstock, GA

Clux.... Don't use the Gateway disks on the e-machine. You will be screwing up a lot of the motherboard hardware drivers, probably most of them.... and be worst off than you are now. One simple little trick to use, just make another USER ID.... then sign on the new user account...and see if computer runs better. Hopefully, you do have a current anti-virus software ....if so, have you run a scan for bugs, spyware, adware, etc.. ?