Gateway 400SD4 won't boot up... HELP!

Hello! I have my uncles 400SD4 and it won't start up. When you press the power button, the power light comes on and it shuts down VERY abruptly. Almost instantly. Does anyone have any idea what this may be? Any and all help is MUCH appreciated. Thanks!

Brandon <><

Check out my band at www.uncondemned.com.

 

Can you power it on with just the AC adapter?
Is the battery charged?
Is the battery taking a charge?

If you have it plugged in and it's shutting down, it could be the machine itself.

 

Nope, it's plugged in. I let the battery charge over night, and it did... I woke up to a green light, but it still does the same thing. Any ideas? Could it be the internal power supply? Thanks!

Brandon <><

Check out my band at www.uncondemned.com.

 

It's quite possible that machine needs to be serviced. If the battery is getting power and charging, the charging circuit seems ok. Do you have the same problem if you try to turn it on w/o it being plugged in? The only other thing I can think of is some devices have a lock or switch which prevents current from flowing to/from the battery. I would check your documentation to see if your machine has that feature otherwise you might need to send it in.

 

My guess would be the power supply. It could also be something shorting out power on the inside. If your mechanically inclined, I would open it up and look around and see. It's possible a piece of conductive material got inside somehow and is causing this.

Jack

 

Hey! Thanks for the replies. The computer will do it plugged in or not. You push the button, it makes a slight noise like it wants to start up and the power light flashes, but that's it. I've been working on computers for about 4 years, but this is my first laptop. I may open it up. We're trying to avoid sending it back because it's not under warranty. Thanks for your replies! I may open it up tonight and look around. Do any of you know of how I could possible test the PSU? Thanks!

Brandon <><

Check out my band at www.uncondemned.com.

 

i have an 400sd4 does the smae thing. Capacitor behind power plug internal in laptop needs replaced. it is a surface mount cap (very small).

 

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

 

do you have any idea where to get an internal power supply for the 400sd4, and possibly the model number. mine won't power up, but I don't even get the light comming on. I think the internal power supply is shot, I am trying to figure out if I can find the part and replace it. thanks<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by Godsguitarist

 

Was this ever figured out? I have the same problem. I can charge it all night but after about 5 minutes of it being on, it will just shut off, even while its plugged in.

 

Try reseting the hard drive. I'm not sure if you can do it on this model bu there should be a reset hole on the bottom. Paper clips work well.

 

I currently am studying abroad in Spain and have brought with me the same lap top. Since I aquired it three months ago from my brother it has always had power issues. In order for it to function it all, longer than about 5 min, it needed to be plugged in. However at least every half hour the screen would start flashing as to say that there was no battery power left. Eventually it would go on to power safe more. Usaually i had to push the adapter in tighter to the back of the computer to remedy the battery situation. Occasionaly this would not function and the computer would shut down on its own.

Yesturday evening the computer abuptly shut off. I tried restarting it over and over.... A few times it would turn on.. however before I was even able to log in it shut down.

Finally I got it to start. About two hours later it shut down and since then I have been unable to restart it....

Since I am in Spain I am unable to go to a Gateway store... So if anyone can help PLEASE!!!! ( Perhaps the only issue is with the AC adapter)

maya

 

bump

 

I have a 400SD4 that I recenely acquired (I traded in my Radeon 9700 Pro for it.)

But, mine does this.

For no reason at all, it will just stop working, lock up...everything stops. Screen freezes and I have to hold the power button 7 seconds to shut it down (normal). But, sometimes when I try to restart it, it will NOT come back on. Everything but the screen powers up, the CPU feels like it is putting out all 108 watts of heat (max this CPU is rated for) and I have to turn the thing off and on alot of times, then it will boot. Then it will usually freeze a couple more times, then after I get it going (like now) it wont bother me for a couple hours, then it will do it again.

I am assuming this cap is the problem?

How hard is it to replace? When you say surface mount, I am assuming you mean the small rectangular ones? I have a 7 watt soldering pencil, but that might be too much for such a small device.

Do you have any information on this cap? Where can I get one? How much would it cost to get it replaced (I want to keep this laptop, I like it ALOT! It just angers me when it locks up). I noticed that if I take it in my car and ride it around, it gives me ALOT of problems.

OK, I think I covered everything. Thanx for the help.

:gateway:

 

Bump on this one becuase I got a no boot now!

What can I do about this cap?

Can I remove it?

Can I solder on a new one myself?

 

Boooooo....cmonnnnnn! What happened to you guys?!

 

Check with Gateway help. That should keep you busy for a month or so.

 

I just said screw it and popped the cap out last night...now it doesnt work at all. Someone get that dude that originally said it was a cap, I need to talk to him to find out where I can get a replacement for this little cracker.

 

I purchased the same computer (Gateway 400SD4) from a local Gateway store two and half years ago. It costs me $ 1,600. I did NOT purchase extension warranty. It had worked fine until exactly one year and one month post-purchase. It would not power on no matter how long you pressed the button. Complete silent. I went to the local Gateway store with the computer. They ruled out the power supply error by replacing a newly charged battery into the computer, because the computer was still not powered on. Then I was told that it would cost $ 399.00 for repairing at Gateway, no matter if it was caused by just a fuse burn-out or a bad master board. And you have to ship it to Texas Center and there is no warranty after the repair. I thought it was not worthy to do it, because I thought this is a manufacture defect. Even they fix the problem this time, what about it occurs again and I have to pay for another 399.00?

So, I purchased a dell desk top computer till now. My gateway laptop 400SD$ has been sitting there in the corner just like metal junk.

However, a few days ago, I tried to plug in the computer and see what happened the first time after about one year it was dead. IT TURNED ON !! AND I was happy and thought it is ok. However, I can not power on next time.

My computer friend opened the computer and found out a small fan at the left upper corner is spinning when I press the power button. But the computer kept silent.

I DO NOT KNOW HOW SHOULD I DO FOR THIS COMPUTER RIGHT NOW? I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURE FEFECT. THE GATEWAY SHOULD KNOW IT. DOES ANY COMPUTER COMPANY DO THE SAME THING AS THE AUTOMOBILE DOES? THEY SEND LETTER TO THEIR COSTUMER AND FIX THE MANUFACTURE DEFECT FOR FREE. ANYWAY, I THOUGHT I JUST HAD A BAD CHOICE FOR PURCHASING THE GATEWAY AND IN THE BAD LOCK, I GUESS…

 

I am having the same problem. The laptop will not power on with a fully charged battery, or just the AC adaptor. I contacted gateway and they performed out of warranty service on it for ~$300. About 2 months after having the machine "fixed", I ended up with the same problem again. The laptop will not power on, and their service warranty is only 30 days, so they want to charge me another $300 to have it fixed.

It seems like this is a common problem with this laptop, and I am absolutely amazed that the service they performed on it only worked for 60 days. They will not refund the money, and will not fix it under the previous contract.

Has anyone had any luck fixing this on their own?

 

Guys this same thing is happening to me.. please someone email with possibiliys of what this might be... I got a 400sd4 and i love this notebook to death, anyways my brother had it first and he put the wrong charger on the notebook and fried the motherboard... so, i went to ebay and bought a 100percent tested good motherboard and had it installed, i was happy that the notebook was working again, but after 20 minutes it shutted down on me, then i tried to put on again it did the same thing... now the gateway doesn't even go on, the lights blink twice like it wants to go on, then it just doesn't .. please god, don't let this be the motherboard, i just bought a new one.....
Somone help me!!!! email me some information at
[email protected]
please someone help!!!!.

 

guys, hope this helps those who owns a 400SD4 too.

I was having problems with my 400SD4 for over year, so I bought a new HP laptop. Since I have a new main laptop that I use, I finally can try to find out and hopefully fix the problem on my Gateway 400SD4. I would like to fix it and give it to my sister who only does email, and web browsing.

The symtoms are: sometimes the unit will power on, only to hang while showing BIOS info or the Windows XP logo screen while booting.

Sometimes it will work for hours, then suddenly power-off by itself. Sometimes it will run for days, then power-on with blank screen next day.

Finally the laptop won't boot at all, and just hang and power-off during boot-up (that's when I bought a new laptop.)

One thing I noticed is that the 2nd fan (the fast, noisy, high-pitch, ear-piercing fan) turns-on a lot. And it seems that when it hang or power-on with blank screen, the 2nd fan was turn-on. so, I figured the P4 cpu was overheating, and would shutdown. This could mean that the heatsink must not be seated right or something wrong with the thermal interface material (TIM)

I googled and downloaded the Service manual for 400SD4 and began disassembling it. A lot of work, but with patience, I was able to do it. Some of the screws are hard to get. I also broke one of the nuts where cpu heatsink screws/bolt connects. The cpu heatsink got 4 screws which screws into 4 nuts(which are attached to the motherboard). to fix it, I just super-glued it. So those who's gonna try this, be careful.

Anyway, after removing the heatsink, I found out that most of the old TIM have dried out.. and not making proper contact to the heatsink. In fact only one corner of the CPU is making contact with the heatsink. I cleaned it with Alcohol, then put new TIM... I just used the regular white Silicon TIM, since I have a lots of it at home. I don't want to order those nice Silver TIM, since I want to re-assemble and close the laptop asap.

I powered-on the laptop... boots straight to Windows. woohoo!!. ran some software for where the CPU is 100% loaded for 2 days.. didn't reboot, didn't power-off by itself. been stable and using it for 5 days now.

Also, the 2nd fan very very rarely turns-on now. 1st fan will turn-on depending on the CPU temp and processor load.

CPU-Temp (Idle) is now 56C
CPU-Temp (Load) is now 67C
Before fixing it, Idle Temp is 64C-65C.

 

I am trying to fix a 400SD4 for my inlaw. the battery light will turn on, but nothing else happens ... nothing. I changed the power connector based on something I read somewhere else, but it did not help. I applied the plysynthetic paste to the CPU and fansink, but it did not help. Does anybody know who manufactured the motherboard? Quanta? Tks

 

I've got a 400SD4 with the broken power connector as well. Has anyone had sucess with just replacing the power connector? They're only a couple bucks on ebay and it would sure make it useful again.

 

I just had a breakthrough with the system I was trying to fix. As I said earlier, I took the system apart and I changed the power connector. They system still was dead, even the fan did not work. The were no signs of life. I then used my wife's hair drier to blow heat on the motherboard (around the area of the power connector), and the system booted up to windows. It is running windows now. I will have to monitor it for a while, but it is something. Why?
- if the system was working when it got shipped, it meant that it did not have shorts or open connections. If later the system got an open connection due to weather or bad defective manufacturing the only way was to restablish the connection.
- if the system got a short that was missed during the manufacturing check, the heat could still fix it.
My believe is that there was an open connection, and that is why it was so hard to find it when I did a visual inspection.
They system is running fine after 30 minutes now.
Once thing that I found weird is that I did not find any connectivity paste between the CPU and the heatsink. I would suggest to do this before trying the heating test. Hope this helps.

 

I also have the 400SD4. My power switches from adapter to battery intermittently and the screen keeps flashing. The battery is quickly drained too. I thought it was caused by power adapter so I soldered a new one in. This didn't fix the problem. What could be the problem? I don't want to send it to Gateway for $299.00, just to look at it.

 

I've had my 400SD4 for a while (4 years while) and i've upgraded pretty much everything on it. Hard Drive to a 60 GB, RAM 512, the problem with the power switching on and off i had that too so i had it fixed ($125) to get a new AC connector behind the laptop, as well as a new AC adaptor. The battery is next since it does drain in a whoppin 3 minutes! lol I'm satisfied with it, except the whole battery lasting 3 minutes thing. I can't take it anywhere without my AC adaptor. If you find a cheap battery let me know [email protected] oh is battery refilling ok for laptop batteries? it is cheaper than a new battery... yet what are the setbacks?

 

there could be many reasons for this. each of you may have the same symptoms but the cause could be varied. so in reality it could be a case to case basis.

i once tweaked and fixed a friend's toshiba satellite 1110 P4 1.8ghz notebook. the problem occured one day after he has been working out the whole night with his notebook. he switched it off to call it a night and the next morning when he woked up, the first thing he did was to power his system. good grief, the symptoms most of you described were exactly what he observed --battery seems to be charging but no power, AC is being used with the batt but still no dice. the machine attempts to power up (led lights power then die, fan rotates but stops, etc, etc., etc.). since he was in an utter straights to finish a school paper, he just bought a new computer.

he read in the manual that symptoms like this has something to do with the power inverter and/or mb failure. he called toshiba service center and was given an approximate, expenses for replacement and labor would cost him almost like a buying a new notebook. so rather than having it serviced he decided to get a new machine.

meanwhile, he did not touch his old notebook for weeks because practically he gave up on the computer. i told him to bring it to me so that i would salvage parts from it. when i got hold of the machine, the first thing i did was to power it up. lo and behold it powered up to a complete Windows XP boot. i was able to use it for a good 10 minutes before it froze, died and refused to resurrect.

so my initial prognosis was the hd drive is OK, the WinXP installation is still intact, the video, audio, mouse, ram, cpu, and its drivers are functioning, in short those things that usually are the culprit in the non-booting of machines are not the cause. i had to look at other causes of the problem. i was able to zero in on the following which actually was already correctly identified by others:

(1) battery memory effect. the battery does not hold a complete charge. it deceives you by indicating that it is fully charge but actually not. the machine functioned when it was given to me because the battery was completely drained and the power is directly drawn from the AC. i tried to use AC only sans the battery but this did not do the trick. it seemed that with his computer there is a synergy between AC and batt. why? strange indeed.

the solution was to get a healthy battery. that partially solved the problem because although it would power up and completely boot, it would suddenly freeze and die randomly within 10-20 minutes of use.

(2) overheating of CPU. this machine uses an early generation P4 cpu known for heating issues. my first experiment was to try to bring the machine's overall temperature way down. i worked inside a temperature controlled airconditioned room, where the room temp was at 17C, placed a cooling laptop pad under the notebook, and viola I was able to extend its working life to another good 10 minutes, making a total of an average of 30 mins. before it freezes and dies. the problem therefore is heating. i opened the machine, good thing the CPU is readily accessible. i cleaned the exhaust vent, the fan, cleaned the heat sink and cpu, and applied a new layer of thermal grease i.e. arctic silver and secured that there is perfect contact between heat sink and cpu. after the proper covers have been re-placed. i powered the machine, and since then the notebook worked like a charm. now he has two computers working perfectly.

now the problem is what would he do now with this old notebook? well, i told him to give it to me i can make it run on linux instead of buggy windows. he did not buy that idea. of course that is another episode of the never ending saga of machine troubleshooting. how exciting!

 

Ok, I had the same problem with my GW 400SD4, i was using it one morning i shut it down, i came back it would not start up. the green light came on and went right out. well i try a few thinng like pushing the reset on the bottom of the laptop with a paperclip, that did nothing, So I removed the battery and let it sit for about 3 days, I reinstalled the battery and it came up !!!!
So for anyone that has the same problem, try this, just recharge the battery and then remove it for a few days to let the memory and caps drain. I have been using my GW 400sd4 for a day now with no problems!

ronsky

 

Hi guys - I don't know if you all found solutions for your gateway 400sd4 but hopefully you did. Here's some additional stuff. I work on these daily. The 400sd4 IMO is one of gateways' best. With three cooling fans it generally has a long reliable life relatively speaking of course. Most common problems. The two most common problems = bad DC connector on back of laptop and Overheating. The DC connector can be replaced. It's one of the few components that can be replaced and resoldered on the motherboard. All other components are impractical to consider replacing and resoldering unless you have a high powered microscope and special materials used in soldering these small surface mount components. Even some of the best of us will not take this challange. A new or recycled motherboard is the only solution. Replacement of the motherboard is actually very easy [of course anything is easy once you know how to do it]. There are a lot of small steps but the laptop can be totally disassembled with a small philips screwdriver and a six millimeter socket or 6mm nutdriver.
The overheating is generally caused either by a cooing fan failure or more often, the cooling fan becoming plugged with dust and animal hair [if you have a pet]. The fan can be cleaned by removing the three little screws that hold the squirl cage [the fan blade assembly] from the housing and removing the dust and debris that collects around the cooling fins blocking the flow of air. I am actually considering doing a short video showing step by step disassembly of the laptop and the three repairs I mentioned. If I ever do I will post to this forum and let others know. HTH a little.