Gateway XP Problems

[scuddlebutt]

I purchased a Gateway computer 3 years ago that came with an Athlon 1100 MHz and Windows Me. I recently upgraded to XP and have had problems ever since.

Symptoms:

The computer takes multiple times (sometimes a dozen or so) to boot up if it has been turned off. The first time it tries to boot, it may make it to the Gateway screen and then shuts off. Sometimes it gets stuck and you have to do a hard boot, and other times it begins the reboot process itself. The next time it tries to boot, it may make it past the Gateway screen to the BIOS screen and then crap out. The third time it may make it to the Windows XP screen and then die, etc.

Once I FINALLY get it to boot successfully, it will be working fine and then all of a sudden it will click off and begin the reboot process, which may or may not be successful. This often happens when on the internet or using e-mail, but has also happened in WORD. Sometimes it also just freezes up and I have to reboot.

My first thought was that the heat sync was off, but it has been resealed with no improvement. I also replaced the memory card, with no improvement.


Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[zkiller]

my best bet would be that you have conflicting hardware. i have had problems with XP assigning the same IRQ to multiple pieces of hardware in the past. if that's not it, i have no clue.

 

[Ian C. Mann]

Gateway lack of customer service & product

I have read some (but far from all) of your comments about Gateway's problems, which evidently begin with purchase. Amazingly, corporations (or their ego's) don't agree. They don't know the truth of the worst customer service and product support I have ever seen, even though I have dealt with more vendors than they have, both as a consumer and as a professional liasion. Take this Gateway - Maxtor! HP! Anyone! - All better, even me!
Here is a story for you, the consumer:
In early 2003, after thought and research I bought what should have been the best bell ringing, button popping, fastest, slickest laptop money could buy, plus free shipping. Well that would have then been Gateway's 450SX4 notebook. Shipped delivered, $2300.+ - included XP Pro, CD/RW/DVR, Small Business Office, extra batts, car/airplane dc charger adapter and extra 1 year warranty extension. I made this decision after a very good education - B.S. Computer Science / Accounting 1982 Washington State University - several years in the field and many more buying and selling computers and telecom equipment (which will become soon, I hope my new business arena). I expected warranties, user manuals, and something a MAN could use.
Multi-part story: First I will describe what I asked for, then I will tell you what I was actually shipped, then I will tell you all about Gateway.
Ordered: Gateway Notebook 450SX4 Pentium IV, 2.0 Ghz processor, 30 GB HD, included CD RW/DVD, internal wireless internet (bundle) plus the stuff I mentioned above.
Received: Upon shipment I inventoried everything and found immediately I was lacking the "bundle" and any kind of reasonable documentation - according to my standards. But in fact, the darn thing was awesome! I had enrolled in an XP class and had a great teacher and the notebook hacked itself online all by itself within minutes of the first time I turned it on. Music was loud, Applications were quick. I was happy and my friends were envious. That was mid January 2003. I noticed it seemed like it was running hot- like not to be operated on a bedspread. I did buy this notebook for a very good reason in that I was planned on leaving Washington State in an R.V. and five months later I arrived in Fort Smith, AR. Within two weeks I had a really badly overheating Gateway notebook. Bet some of you were expecting this!
Began To Awaken:
Continued in part two

 

[Ian C. Mann]

Gateway lack of cust svc & product - part 2: Awaken

Part 2: Began to Awaken
What I Really Got:
Describing my Gateway 450SX4 PIV purchase in 2003. Now I am in Arkansas. I have invested in internet programs, I have office, and I am in a new world. Within two weeks of June weather in Arkansas my computer started having extreme overheating problems. As it turns out, Gateway had abandoned Fort Smith just two weeks prior to my arrival, so I sent my properly packaged notebook to be repaired to the Gateway Repair Center in Ivring, Texas. Three weeks later they sent it back, supposedly repaired. Guess what? In less than ten hours the notebook's left speaker grill melted and wonder of wonders all that it could do was that annoying XP "I promise I'm starting" bar - remember Win-98? Anyway, I had also asked about a clearly defective OEM screen burn hole right in the middle of my nice 15" screen - also not repaired. Maybe they unhooked the cooling fan? Whatever!
It Got Worse:
Weeks went by. I called and called the so called repair center. Over 35 hours of 1-800 time - my time - and after badge numbers, names, times, dates, broken promises and outright lies, they finally admitted they had lost my laptop! Its still not over though ... I wrote Gateway owner and probable dunderhead Ted Waitt in North Souix City, SD on January 20, 2004, slightly over one year of my purchase of Gateway's highly inferior notebook, the contents and results of which I will have to call Part 3, Burned Twice! Stay tuned to the horrible conclusion of my biggest conmputer mistake!

 

[Ian C. Mann]

Conclusion of Gateway 450SX4 Story - Burned Twice!

Part 3 - My Biggest Computer Mistake: Burned Twice
Twice? Wait until you read this! Never experience Gateway! As I was saying I wrote Gateway Owner Ted Waiit, 610 Gateway Drive, North Souix City, SD, 57049 a two page letter detailing all my well recorded experiences regarding my lost laptop, last seen (as admitted) in the Gateway Repair Center in Irving, Texas - as well as some details of companies with far better customer service than Gateway.
Gateway's Pathetic Response
Probably, my letter never hit Mr. Ted's desk. However, some three months later, they sent me a replacement laptop. I had originally ordered, as previously mentioned, a Pentium IV 2.0 Ghz. top of the line laptop. They sent me (another) screen burned 1.6 Ghz Centrino Mobility machine, and two weeks later a bill for just under $1900.00! Gall unprecedented! Worse, my 1+1 year warranty was apparently melted like my speaker grill and lost like the laptop I had ordered, bought and payed for.
Its Still Going On
I still have problems with an over heating machine. I think that Gateway pretty much conceded the fact that they, unlike other companies are incapable of building a Pentium IV class laptop. Going to trust their Vista machine? Please join me in a class action. Ian Mann 722 N 19th St, Fort Smith AR 72901 [email protected]

 

[Ian C. Mann]

I read some of your stuff and I bet you can help

my best bet would be that you have conflicting hardware. i have had problems with XP assigning the same IRQ to multiple pieces of hardware in the past. if that's not it, i have no clue.

My Gateway laptop 450ROG recently decided to fight restoration, and will not let me reinstall its original XP OS. The original problem could well have been overheating. First, after finally getting a good internet and wireless combo ISP (AT&T Yahoo / Cingular High speed internet - 2wire broadband DSL), my freshly reinstalled XP Pro was working perfect. Both wireless and ethernet connections were perfect. Then, after I noticed it was warm (as though Gateway laptops don't run hot anyway) I turned it off. Two days later when I turned it back on I got that (you probably have read this) wonderful XP "I promise I'm starting" bar of nothing. Lost files, lost work. Anyway, I reistalled my OS and found to my dismay I had no "My Network Places" in my start menu and no wireless icon, and no internet at all. I was able to get my 1394 connection back but that was as far as I got. Did I do something wrong in my install? This is a replacement laptop with XP professional v.1.4 and a "restoration" i.e. Gateway Applications and Drivers 450 series v.3.1
I should let you know if you didn't already see my entry that I previously had a 450SX4 with XP professional v.1.1 and Apps and Drivers v.1.9 - is it possible I am confused with which goes to what? My previous reinstall was flawless, any ideas on what went wrong this time? Man, I could use some help! Sincerely, Ian C. Mann 722 N. 19th St., Fort Smith AR 72901 [email protected]

 

[Ian C. Mann]

I read some of your stuff and I bet you can help

Hello:
My Gateway laptop 450ROG recently decided to fight restoration, and will not let me reinstall its original XP OS. The original problem could well have been overheating. First, after finally getting a good internet and wireless combo ISP (AT&T Yahoo / Cingular High speed internet - 2wire broadband DSL), my freshly reinstalled XP Pro was working perfect. Both wireless and ethernet connections were perfect. Then, after I noticed it was warm (as though Gateway laptops don't run hot anyway) I turned it off. Two days later when I turned it back on I got that (you probably have read this) wonderful XP "I promise I'm starting" bar of nothing. Lost files, lost work. Anyway, I reistalled my OS and found to my dismay I had no "My Network Places" in my start menu and no wireless icon, and no internet at all. I was able to get my 1394 connection back but that was as far as I got. Did I do something wrong in my install? This is a replacement laptop with XP professional v.1.4 and a "restoration" i.e. Gateway Applications and Drivers 450 series v.3.1
I should let you know if you didn't already see my entry that I previously had a 450SX4 with XP professional v.1.1 and Apps and Drivers v.1.9 - is it possible I am confused with which goes to what? My previous reinstall was flawless, any ideas on what went wrong this time? Man, I could use some help! Sincerely, Ian C. Mann 722 N. 19th St., Fort Smith AR 72901 [email protected]