Scott Mueller's Upgrading and Repairing PCs Forum

Hello Scott (and others)

I have good Windows XP Pro and Home OEM Discs, however I don't have Windows XP MCE 05 OEM Discs. I did buy these once for a customer but forgot to copy them

Is there a reliable (official, legal, safe source of the XP MCE 05 media so I can install XP MCE 05 on a computer with a XP MCE COA???

The customer has left his install disc at his previous address, and his recovery system was only CD based. His Motherboard is dead.

The machine is a Packard Bell but the question is for all XP MCE 05 machines

Many Thanks

David McMahon

If you have a , you can download of licensed Microsoft software, including Windows XP MCE. You can also get Windows MCE 2005 from (3-pack only it seems) or , among other places. Scott.

Thank you Scott

Think I might have found an example of "Rip off Britain" The US price for a technet sub is $349 http://www.xe.com converts this to £210.046 but in the u.k it £234!

Previously Adobe software has been the most infamous for Rip-off Britain!

I wonder if it is possible to get a US subscription rate for technet?

http://www.techradar.com/news/software/ ... ike-604276

At its US version of the store, the Design Premium version of the software currently costs $1,799 – around £1,097. In the UK store it will now be more like £1,578.

Obviously if you have a friend or customer with MCE you can copy the disks. There is a lot of disks out there...I must have half a dozen sets lying around.

But I will point out that MCE is System Builder only and if the motherboard died then I believe so did the license ... not that it stops people from reactivating, just saying....

Thankfully only the Motherboard has died..... well not entirely it is a MSI 7301 V1 board in a Packard Bell and as far as I can tell only the USB ports have failed, I have tried all manner of Linux and test installs of XP but no joy on the ports, I have also tried the Bios options, The machine works with a NEC chipset PCI-USB card so assume motherboard is dying.

The customer uses a HSPDA USB modem (or did!) with this system so would it be a good idea to recommend using that device with a powered USB hub in future, I'm thinking better to blow a hub than a board!


http://support.packardbell.co.uk/uk/ite ... PB80110601

OEM disks for XP MCE are still available from the UK supplier Ebuyer.com
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/114051
Although only 5 in stock at the moment!

I think you have to replace like for like so for example I will be trying to find a motherboard with a same/similar chipset and of course a µATX motherboard.

The replacement doesn't have to be the same, or even similar. Of course the less similar it is, the more other parts you may need to replace (i.e. processor, RAM, etc.). Scott.

Thanks Scott I heard a while back that it has to be a similar board, IIRC this is so you can replace an OEM board normally one still in warranty (i.e HP/DELL etc would normally swap the board and reactivate the OS)

Any board will do, you merely install Windows from scratch, then use the OEM COA key to activate. This will require a phone call, and once you verify that this is for a "repair", they will issue you an activation code. Scott.

So glad I bought your book, I actually recommend it to the IT-aware kids/teenagers on my travels and call it my Bible!

Access to this forum for me is now a major selling point of the books, so perhaps could be advertised more?? (just an idea)

Thanks for the kind words, and for recommending the books! While it really isn't "advertised", the forum is mentioned in the front matter of both URPCs 18th and the upcoming 19th, as well as URWindows 2nd. Scott.