Gateway EC1803h

Is anyone having an issue with their 1803h and Windows 7 where they suddenly have crippling CPU of 100%? Cause I am.... Full description in my other post: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=477687

 

I am very happy with this computer. It truly is a cosmetically modified Acer Aspire 1410, Furthermore, the EC1803 is not even listed on Gateway's web site.

I got this last week from Tiger Direct after the free Windows 7 upgrade had expired (back in March, I think). Well, I don't use Windows anyway.

Upon installing Linux, I noticed fatal disk errors. Although I assumed bad hardware, I searched the Internet for clues and found that some users here greatly improving their Windows boot times by upgrading the BIOS using the Aspire 14010's BIOS upgrades.

I upgraded by booting to Vista and using the file ZH7_3310_x86.exe found in the zip archive from Acer's web site. This took me from BIOS version 0.3 to 1.3 something. Not only did the upgrade go flawlessly, Windows boot times improved greatly and Linux disk errors went away completely.

The best I've determined, is that EVERYTHING works under Linux Mint 8 out-of-the-box, and I've gotten everything to also work under Gentoo Linux, my normal operating system.

This computer replaces another Acer made laptop, the eMachine emd620, that was also a good machine.

 

I bought the EC1803u (which is the same, except with 2gb of ram and maybe hard disk size). After using it for a day, I think I'm quite impressed, with a few qualms here or there. Touchpad is showing wear already (esp with only about 6 hours of use on it). Keys are flat... a nightmare for touch typists. Core 2 Solo cannot handle 1080p from youtube (not that this screen goes up to 1080p). Battery life sucks (cmon, 4 hours?!). Slow recharge time (been plugged in for about an hour and a half, went from 5% to 45%.. really?). Stock BIOS performance is abominable. The BIOS that ships with this computer should not perform so poorly- not everyone goes to update their software.

Things I do like: I installed Windows 7 and did the BIOS update. The thing handles everything except flash video extremely well. I'm impressed. The materials they use in the chassis isn't bad either, its a very nice feeling plastic. The dimple palmrest is nice, finally a palmrest that isn't glossy! The thing boots and shuts down fairly quick too. And the computer is thinner than my EEE PC 901. Man, this thing is NICE.

Can't figure out what drivers to use for the wireless... right now I'm just going off stock Win7 drivers, would using Intel drivers improve wireless performance?

All in all, I like this laptop. But are the issues I find normal to this laptop? They're not a deal breaker, but they are things I notice (like the short battery life and poor HD flash performance).

 

Well 6 months after getting my Windows 7 Upgrade Kit, I finally managed to install Windows 7 over the rainy weekend, and Ubuntu 10.04 LTS right after that.

The upgrade kit contains 2 DVDs, one is the Gateway Upgrade DVD, the other the Win 7 upgrade. The leaflet instructs to first load the Gateway disc to run the upgrade wizard, then the Win7 one, then the Gateway again and that the whole process may take 2-3 hours. Of course, doing that on a netbook without DVD drive may be a problem. There is a QuickGuide html file that says a clean install could be done straight from the Win7 DVD. So I copied the Win7 DVD to a 4GB USB key that I formatted in NTFS and made bootable. I found instructions here. (Funny thing though, I did everything on Ubuntu and just needed one tool for everything, Palimpsest which is a GUI disk utility. No command prompt required! How's that for irony.

Boy was I glad I chose the clean install over the upgrade: I saved about 15GB of space over the Vista install (which I had tried to clean by removing all the cr*p I could find). And it took less than 30 minutes, same for the Ubuntu install.

Now I have to install the drivers from the Gateway upgrade DVD. I copied it on an external USB HDD (its content take more than 5GiB and I don't have any bigger USB key than 4GB), but for some reason, the wizard doesn't list Gateway PCs, only Acers. The disc is supposedly good for Acers/Gateways/Packard Bells. Since Win 7 is now operational, I'm going to try something else: I've created an .iso image from the DVD, and I'll mount it with Daemon Tools Lite.

I have a couple problems: Win7 takes 2 minutes to boot, and with Ubuntu I still have to add the libata.force=noncq boot parameter in Grub as I did with Ubuntu 9.10, or else it will take a very looooong time to boot, or hang on a black screen with white cursor.

From what I've been reading, flashing the BIOS may solve both problems. It's infuriating to see that we need to go to the Acer website, since Gateway's doesn't offer BIOS updates. The Gateway DVD has BIOS updates v3117 for EC14 and EC18 series. I guess I'll go with the Acer ones, which are more recent at v3310.

 

I also ordered the EC1803u for Tiger Direct. I've had the identical Acer 1410 with the SU3500 since they first arrived in the U.S. and have been extremely happy with it. I couldn't pass the EC1803 up at $350. Great little computers.

 

Just a follow up to my previous post, I did flash my BIOS with v3310 from Acer. And as many have already said, it solved the 2 minutes Win7 boot.

It also solved the Ubuntu problem: I no longer have to put the libata.force=noncq boot parameter in Grub. I should have flashed the BIOS months ago.

Really liking Ubuntu 10.04. It boots in 36 seconds, about 14 seconds faster than Win7.

As for the Gateway upgrade DVD, the trick with Daemon Tools seemed to work, but the wizard just offered to install the Intel video driver and the Gateway lauch thingie. I had to install the Synaptics driver manually. Didn't bother with any other drivers, everything else seems to work just fine.

 

Got mine today. Nice. I think I might like it a little better than the Acer. The only issue is there is some keyboard flex. Nothing a little double sided tape won't fix. Should be perfect for my wife.

 

What is this double-sided tape fix you talk about? I'm not really a fan of the keyboard flex, either.

 

Some Acer 1410/1810 owners have used double sided tape to hold the keyboard flat against the chassis.

1. Remove the keyboard.
2. Place tape on the back of the keyboard.
3. Install keyboard.
4. Press the keyboard down so that it will lay flat and the tape will hold it down.

 

So I read through all 11 pages and I just wanted to clarify before installing WIN7

I have the Gateway 11.6" EC1803H

CURRENTLY running BIOS 1.3(from Gateway website 7/13/2010 release ) and Windows Vista

Now I want to upgrade to Windows 7 ultimate x86, I've got it as an .iso file.

Now I plan on using this method :wintoflash

Question is the order of installing BIOS and Operating System (OS)

Which method is correct?

1) Install BIOS v1.3 (windows 7 x86) then OS Windows 7 x86

or

2) Installing OS Windows 7 x86 then BIOS v1.3 (windows 7 x86)


Thanks in advance!

 

I've been replacing a few components on this machine since I got it. The best solution I found for the worn out touchpad is to go to SkinStyler, Macbook Trackpad Protection Skin and custom-order a touchpad skin from them - it works great!

Also, on eBay you can buy the bluetooth module for this machine for about $15 - you order the Acer 1410 timeline module (it's the same)...

 

Probably not - I've had an impossible time looking for a replacement battery for this laptop! The only way I can find anything is if I search for an Acer 1410T battery - the best I've found is a 5200maH battery - has anybody found anything higher capacity??

 

Gateway's site has a 5600maH for $73....

 

how much of a difference in battery life would the original 4400mah battery be vs the 5600mah? i normally get about 4.5hrs on the original battery

 

About 2 hrs more run time.

 

Hi,

Has anyone had luck using the battery for the Acer 1410 or 1810 on this model?