7422GX Doesn't Work on Battery Power

My brand new 7422GX is not working when running on battery power. I think it is a video card issue. Within 3-5 minutes on battery power, it will crash in a number of ways - it usually just flicks dark - I think it is still running, but can't see anything. Sometimes, it will fade to white slowly from the sides in. And sometimes,it flicks to like 600x800 resolution and a dialog box pops up to say that the video display is not working correctly. When I reboot, a dialog box always pops up to say that Windows has recovered from a major error. If I report, it says that the problem is related to the ATI video card. It is a known problem, but there is no known fix...

Anyone else having this problem??

Thanks to everyone else's advise, I actually bought the over-priced service contract from Best Buy, so I am happy when there is a problem like this as it hopefully will count towards my three problem lemon replacement.

Matt

 

Hi, Matt
I haven't had that particular issue with my 7422. But I have had a problem where it would not come on. I found that the power button on the back right corner of the keyboard face had somehow slipped a little off the center of the hole through which it emerges and would not allow the computer to come on. I had to take a knife, push it between the button and the surface of the laptop and twist it to recenter it. Oh well -- Mom's ingenuity, I guess.

So far, I'm enjoying this unit, and treating it like kid gloves hoping it doesn't turn sour.

 

If anyone cares, I did take my 7422GX in to the Geek Squad folks. He did some tests and declared the video card defective. I had gotten the computer as an Open Box, and despite the fact that the same model had been discontinued, the new model was on sale for $1399, they would not exchange mine for one in a box which still had a $1399 sticker on it. They wanted me to pay an additional $125. I told them I would rather just have them fix mine, to save me the trouble of reloading all the software.

The computer was sent back - I told them to have the broken hinge fixed at the same time. While I am out the computer for a week or two, I will get credit for at least one defect towards my three-defect lemon. While I hated doing it, I am glad I spent the $$ on the BB extended warranty. The Geek people were very nice to deal with.

Matt

 

I had the same problem with the off centered power button and bascally the same solution. I used a scratch awl to pop it back over though.

I have also found it runs a bit slower on battery power too.

 

A bit? That's an understatement. THe processor drops from a 2.2 GHz core clock to an 800MHz core on battery (which can't be changed) and the graphics card throttles down a lot (this can be fixed by going to "Display Settings -> ATI Powerplay" or something like that.)

--------------------
I guess when Gateway bought eMachines, I should have run away, eh?

 

Does changing the power settings to 'always on' thru control panel reduce the TIME the computer is operable on battery? I.e, for watching a DVD?

 

Lowlymarine,

Go to control panel and set power management to "Always On". Reboot and it will stay at full speed on battery. You can also go to bios and disable RF Power Control under the advanced tab. This will disable all power management features.

Dan

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by notgnostic

 

I don't get crazy with my7422gx, works good for me.

Anyone find a car adapter for it yet. Gateway is useless in helping. Use this thing alot in a car and battery is useless. Even an effecient one wouldn't last for the 22 hour drive to Florida..Hour and a half with gateway this morning. Told me a belkin and kensington would work. Go to their website and they specifically (Kensington anyway) state a tip is not available...Any suggestions....Scott

 

Take your laptop and go personally with it to Best Buy and have the Geek Squad fit it with an adapter IN YOUR PRESENCE.

Did you buy a warranty from your retail store? That's the place to go. Gateway phone tech support is not helpful with the retail machines.

Blessings,
Not Gnostic

 

I am now on week three waiting for Gateway to fix my computer which I had for one week. It still says "repair in progress." Frustrating to say the least.

 

Mine froze Saturday night. Had to do a "Destructive Restore" and wipe my hard drive THREE before I could get it up and running. Volume buttons got stuck and froze the whole machine. Had to turn the unit off and then could not get back into Windows. Norton says, "The 64-bit machines are still being researched as to how well they are protected by NIS and/or NAV.

Blessings,
Not Gnostic