I have an old Gateway 286 computer, my first. I am wanting to RESTORE it to original for nostalgic reasons but my original widows disks have been lost.

Does ANYONE have the original Microsoft Windows 3.11 operating system installation diskettes?your best bet is ebay

Mmmmmm.....Windows 3.1.......EbayYou can download a huge file and create the floppy discs
To been very nostalgic, do it on the old 5 1/4 disks!
for a download SITE, just Google it. Download a huge file from where?DOWNLOADING Windows 3.1 from anywhere would be ILLEGAL. Please don't suggest that again.

Nerdherder, your best bet would be to try eBay.Make sure you get the original Windows 3.11 and not Windows 3.11 For Workgroups because that will only run in 386 enhanced mode, and you can't (obviously!) do that on a 80286 processor.For a 286 I would run FreeDos with a copy of Gem for a GUI when I want it. FreeDos has alot more modern support for hardware, networking, etc. All DOS programs work on it, uses almost no memory with mouse support.
Gem is a GUI like windows that run does programs and a bunch of great programs made for it. It runs great on a 286 and has alot more moderm support in drivers then 3.11

Joe