Computer Services

[#1]

Gateway laptop is barely 5 months old.  Windows 7 installed. Norton anti-virus and internet security installed also by Future Shop.

The computer freezes for no apparent reason and I cannot turn it off.  It has happened 3 days in a row.  Sometimes I'm online and sometimes not.  The only thing I can do is to unplug and let the battery run out and then restart the computer.

Can anyone figure out this problem?

Thanks.

[#2]

I don't own gateway, but before I do a battery pull, I recommend trying the following.

• Can you start up Task Manager?  Task Manager will be able to tell you which application is "not responding" and can allow you to force shutdown.
• What happens when you do Ctrl-Alt-Delete?  Can you start up Task Manager?
• hold the power switch for 5 to 10 seconds, most computers are smart enough to power off when you do this.  This would be safer than flipping the laptop over (disturbing the laptop) and running the hard drive upside down (also not healthy).

[#3]

Check for driver updates, Gateway has had an issue with a pair of their models and the drivers on them being out of date.  The symptom of this issue is that it will randomly switch to a black screen, it will appear to work, except nothing ever shows on the screen until it's shut off and back on.  A video driver update fixes this issue.

[#4]

The Gateway laptop is NV44, T4200.  I am not able to pull up task manager nor use ctrl-alt-del.  It is totally frozen, no mouse, no keys, nothing at all.

I don't get a black or blank screen.  It simply stops responding.

I checked out the Gateway site and see there is a download patch for the video driver but haven't tried to install it yet as it says it is for Windows Vista and I have Windows 7.  Also I'm not sure that's the right fix as I don't get a blank screen.  It just stops exactly where it is.

Do you think I should install it anyway?

I didn't know running the battery down was harmful.  Thanks for that info.

[#5]

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winston wrote:

I didn't know running the battery down was harmful.  Thanks for that info.

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To clarify it's the hard drive that doesn't like being run upside down... you will shorten the life span and lose data.

Battery doesn't matter.  It's the physical movement of flipping your laptop over that will cause a lot of motion that can damage the spinning hard drive.

Again, try holding down the power switch for 5 to 10 seconds to see if it will power off before trying a battery pull.

Here's another thought.... are you running your laptop on a soft surface?  How is the air circulation?  A common problem for freezing up is your laptop overheating.  All my machines have chiller pads or extra fans underneath.

[#6 · Accepted solution]

Here are direct links to the NV44 series video drivers for Windows 7.  You should determine if you have the 64bit or 32bit version of Windows 7, and whether you have onboard video(Intel) or dedicated graphics(Nvidia), then choose your proper driver below.  This is the first thing I'd try as it's quick and easy compared to other options.  Let us know if it fixes it for you!

Intel GMA 64bit Win7

Intel GMA 32bit Win7

Nvidia 64bit Win7

Nvidia 32bit Win7

[#7]

Ummmmm.  XL :  I don't turn the computer upside down at all.  I don't know where you got that idea. :-)

I unplug the laptop from the electrical outlet which then switches to battery mode.  It then eventually will shut down when the battery runs out of juice. (see original post).  I am then able to plug it in again and start the computer as usual.

None-the-less I will download and install any patches and updated drivers from the Gateway website and use the power off button as you suggest if it happens again.  Hopefully this will do the trick.  Thanks.

[#8]

Sorry.... I misread the "unplug from wall" as "unplugging the battery".  Most laptop batteries are accessible only if you flip the laptop over.

[#9]

Roparadi:  I did the download you suggested and for days now I've no further problems.  Thank you kindly.

[#10]

Having same problems as thread starter.  Laptop will freeze after anywhere from right at startup to 1 hour to ????  Upgraded to Windows 7 and thats when the problem started.

Have to hold power button to shut down.  Gateway had no solution they told me to reinstall windows 7.

I have tried a few different video drivers including the one posted here, you should note there is more current one on the intel website you can get.  I have also tried numerous other drivers for the other stuff on the computer looking for any new driver I can find.   It still freezes.   HELP!!!