a4guy

I just installed a new motherboard into my Gateway laptop. I put in the 7426GX. Some times it will boot up and run no problem. Other times it wont even make it to the loading screen. When I am using a program like photoshop it will freeze up for 3 seconds then shut down. I found that when I am using any program that puts stress on my computer at all it will do this. My fan also does not turn on when I know it should. Is this maybe a safety thing so it doesnt over heat? Here are a few screen shots I took of my perfomance while idle and while opening a program (paint)

Idle:


Opening Program:


Any help would be great.
Aim: a4guy
Email: a4guy@hotmail.com

TriggerFinger

hi a4guy,

it could be overheating. have you checked your temps lately? get NHC or Speedfan and observe the temps while you run the applications that usually end up in shutdown.

suspecting it to be overheating, check your vents for any obstruction. get a can of air and shoot some into the vents/heatsink to blow off dust and residue.

post back what you find out.

a4guy

Pulled it all apart and cleaned it all out. Still having the same problem. Checked my temps and its around 97-99 degrees ferinhight.

TriggerFinger

so you get the shutdown at around 97 degrees Fahrenheit? that is too low to be an overheating problem.

try running a linux live CD. if it will still shutdown, you may have a problem with your motherboard or video card. you might as well run some tests on your RAM too. Use Memtest86+. Test the RAM sticks individually.

if it does not shutdown using linux live CD, you may have a problem with your HDD.

a4guy

I am trying to run a scan called "gwscan12". Its an ISO program that gateway told me to run. I boot from cd and tell it to run but it crashes right there. Now for somereason it won't even start up at all. I hit the power button and nothing happens, no lights, no beeps nothing. I have the power cord plugged in also.

TriggerFinger

does not look good at all. could be the motherboard already.

remove the battery and the AC adapter. press power ON for 30 secs. attach battery and AC then power ON as normal.

if that does not give you any sign of life, strip it down to just the RAM, keyboard and LCD remaining. yes, remove all devices (HDD, CD drive, WiFI card, etc.) then power ON. i strongly suggest to replace your RAM with a known working one just for isolation purposes.

if this still does not work, it could be your motherboard. i suggest you bring it a repair shop as they have the tools to fix such things.

a4guy

Ok I will do that and let you know whats up.

a4guy

Ok, did exactly what you said to do and no sign of life. What could have happened. Even if the motherboard went to hell it would still show some sort of activity wouldn't it? I guess I will be sending it to gateway when I get home from vaccation. Thanks for your help.

a4guy

Gateway wants $150 just to look at it. Then another $250 to fix it. If anyone can help me here that would be great.

TriggerFinger

if the motherboard is toast it would not give any sign of life at all. from the looks of it, it could be a component related to power. shops charge high because it is either they will repair it or replace the motherboard. pre-owned motherboards cost about that much in eBay; others even higher.

a4guy

Yeah, thats where I got the motherboard I put in there. The guy said tested and that it worked. a day later poof. Is there anything that could be causing this? The first one went bad because something got spilled on the laptop. I was told it could be the fan but I had the cover off and the fans were spinning and it still crashed. I pulled everything completely apart and checked it all over, I did not see any soder burns or anything. I put it back togeather and still the same thing. If you were in my shoes what would you do. I really like the labtop ( when its working ) but I dont want it to keep nickle and diming me.

TriggerFinger

i noticed you do not have an integrated video card, am i correct?

a4guy

It is is an onboard video card. I can also plug in a monitor and S video.

a4guy

Oh actually there is a chip in the bottom side of the computer that two wires plug onto for the LCD.

TriggerFinger

ah ok if it is integrated (soldered on the mobo) i do not think there is any other way. i was thinking it could be a malfunctioning video chip but as i read the thread again, i noticed you tested it with an external monitor.

usually in eBay they say they have tested it which i think they do but not really burn it in. at most may be they boot it up to BIOS (IMHO).

just to review the things we have done so far (kindly validate if correct):
1. tested with a bootable CD - same symptoms (shuts OFF seconds later)
2. stripped down to just RAM in place - same symptoms (RAM tested OK)

basically, it did not give you a successful boot during the tests, correct?

a4guy

a4guy

Sorry for the huge pictures. Is the chip in the bottom the wireless?

No boot at all during any tests. All back togeather and still no boot or sign of life.

TriggerFinger

it is your WiFi card. did you try to remove this and test without it installed?

i really find this strange because initially it was intermittent (first post of this thread says it boots sometimes but shuts down when used with photoshop and sometimes no screen at all during boot at all). and now we cannot even get a successful boot or a screen.

a4guy

Ok then the vid card is on the mother board.

TriggerFinger

it is your WiFi card. did you try to remove this and test without it installed?



i really find this strange because initially it was intermittent (first post of this thread says it boots sometimes but shuts down when used with photoshop and sometimes no screen during boot). and now we cannot even get a successful boot or a screen.