Gateway Laptop Won't Switch On

Orlando_Virgin

Hi Guys,

Hopefully someone can help me with this.

I bought a Gateway MT6832 Notebook from Tesco a couple of years ago. I've had continuous problems with getting it to charge since day 1 (due to the connector on the charger bending and not getting good enough contact), but up until the guarantee ran out I just used to get the charger replaced from Gateway.

Since then I have had to have it soldered at the back and it has been working fine for months until a few weeks ago, I came to use the laptop and it won't turn on. I have a few friends at work who know a bit about IT and they told me to try it plugged in without the battery in (to eliminate battery as the issue) and it still doesn't have any life.

Tested the charger seperately and thats fine too. Rung Gateway support and they said it sounds like the motherboard which would cost me £55 just to send in and then a further 150-200 quid to replace it. IS there anything else at all I can try, before going down this route? Someone suggested that I could try a replacement power jack??

Any suggestions welcome! I need a working laptop I'm starting a part time degree in Sept!!

JonnieHACK

It does sound like the motherboard to be honest.

If you have friends in IT. You really have three options.

1. See if you can source a motherboard/replacement laptop for spares or repairs with a working motherboard (ebay or other places) thats the SAME model as yours and see if you can get one of your friends to change it for you.

2. Pay up.

3. Instead of paying £200 to gateway, see if you can get a replacement laptop for £100 and save yourself some wonga.

I always source spares for my laptops. Its good practice, like backing up your stuff.

Esqui

Obvious one: Have you tried an ATX reset (i.e. removing the power and batter, holding the on/off button down for 45 seconds, then plugging it in without the battery and trying it)?

totalsolutions

The power socket needs re-doing I think. Solder is only a soft material, worth a strip down again.

Orlando_Virgin

JonnieHACK wrote: »

1. See if you can source a motherboard/replacement laptop for spares or repairs with a working motherboard (ebay or other places) thats the SAME model as yours and see if you can get one of your friends to change it for you.

I will probably go down this route should the power clip route fail, which it likely will.

JonnieHACK wrote: »

2. Pay up.

Don't say that!!! If I do have to pay up, I might consider getting a new laptop altogether.

JonnieHACK wrote: »

3. Instead of paying £200 to gateway, see if you can get a replacement laptop for £100 and save yourself some wonga.

See above!

JonnieHACK wrote: »

I always source spares for my laptops. Its good practice, like backing up your stuff.

Thanks for your input, I will keep you posted on what I do, its looking likely I will have to try and track a motherboard down, either way I don't think there's going to be a cheap fix, one of those things.

Orlando_Virgin

totalsolutions wrote: »

The power socket needs re-doing I think. Solder is only a soft material, worth a strip down again.

If that was the case would I not at least get a flicker?

Orlando_Virgin

Esqui wrote: »

Obvious one: Have you tried an ATX reset (i.e. removing the power and batter, holding the on/off button down for 45 seconds, then plugging it in without the battery and trying it)?

Yeah nothing, thanks though, looking more and more like the motherboard!

Orlando_Virgin

No luck with the power clip at the back so it must be the motherboard.

Its 52 quid just to have an assessment done by Gateway, and if it is the motherboard estimated 150-200 quid to have it replaced by them..

New laptop anyone?!