Need an eMachine FIC AM37 motherboard.

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vegasgmc

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Im working on a friends eMachine and the power supply and mobo are bad. eMachine wants $140 for the mobo. MSI has an identical board for $45. Problem is that the restore disks will only work with the eMachine board. Anyone know where I can get one besides from eMachine?
 
Which identical MSI board you found?

Dear VegasGmc,
I have a Compaq S4020WM machine with MotherBoard down. It is an FIC AM37 motherboard. I am looking for same OR similar MB so that Compac's Power button, LED connection, FrontUsb conenction can be connected. Since you found one MSI board similar to FIC Am37, can you please tell me what is the model# of that MB? Have you found any solution to your problem? Let us know your experience/findings. Thanks.
 
Ouija Board.........

Im working on a friends eMachine and the power supply and mobo are bad. eMachine wants $140 for the mobo. MSI has an identical board for $45. Problem is that the restore disks will only work with the eMachine board. Anyone know where I can get one besides from eMachine?

A true Emachine motherboard has a "tatoo" that is necessary to enable system restore. It summons and reinstalls Windows from the restore discs. You can't even use a genuine Windows disc in conjunction with one of these boards, it will ask you for an "administrative password".

So, while it is possible to find a board the same as the one in your computer, it likely will do you no good unless it's actually an Emachines board, or you're ready to spring for a copy of Windows.
 
I know this is an older thread...but...FWIW

Normally it is far less expensive in the long run to buy a new system rather than replace a proprietary motherboard. It really does not matter what name brand OEM computer it is, eMachine, Gateway, HP, Compaq, or Dell as all use a custom design motherboard for their systems.

Custom design motherboards provide the OEM retailer exclusive proprietary rights to their product line, combined with a substantial discount for volume pricing and licensing. Both Dell and HP/Compaq utilize Foxconn, Intel, or Asus as motherboard providers, but the motherboards are NOT off the shelf retail consumer designs in any case.

Sometimes you may find one of these OEM motherboards available from a supplier that purchases overstock from the aforementioned manufacturers. Then, and only then, will you have the option to buy an OEM design motherboard outside of the brand name storefront. Other retailers such as the Geeks will strip down running (return lease) systems to sell off the hard to find parts, then scrap the rest of the machine. So the bottom line is the parts, although scarce, are available if your timing is right. Now the guarantee they are good parts may be dubious to say the least.

Just surfing through eBay I can buy a used working Acer Aspire, or eMachine desktop computer with all the manuals, original CD's, and parts for less than one third the original cost, and all less than a year old. Often these low end systems will come with the original monitor as well. $250 US for a complete system including printer, monitor, speakers and the lot is but a fraction of the original price, and only slightly more than the cost of a new motherboard from the same manufacturer. A running econobox (just the CPU tower unit) like eMachine or Acer can be purchased for peanuts, often less than the cost of a new motherboard from anybody.
 
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