[Brian090888]

I have a new Gateway laptop, MT6821 I believe is the model number, with 2 gig ram and 1.6 dual core processor. It's worked like a charm up until now except for the power supply. At first, I thought I had a faulty power cord so I went and bought a new one two weeks ago. It worked, but then I ran into a similar problem... the battery wouldn't charge unless I bent the cord to the left.. otherwise it flickered on and off, on and off. This isn't my main problem, though, just the background.

After the night where it started flickering on and off, I can no longer boot up my computer. I can run the BIOS(PhoenixBIOS), but as soon as it completes POST it goes to a black screen where the Windows loading screen should be. I cannot boot into safe mode. I cannot boot from CD. The screen is on, just blank. I tried removing the memory and reinserting it. I'm not sure what else to try. I spent a couple hours on the phone with Gateway support, and they're sending me a box to send it in.. but I wanted to make sure none of you had any ideas on possible fixes before I abandon my precious PC for the next month. I've tried running on just AC Power, just Battery power, etc., nothing seems to work. I have unplugged every peripheral that was attached to it, but to no avail. I would really love any suggestions you could offer.

[Wasper]

Sounds like to me that your power cable port (where you plug into with ac power) was no good. You may think its a "backround problem", but I think this is the root of your problems now.

Just by you saying that you had to giggle it tells me that there was a problem. You may have shorted something out in the computer by continueing to run it while there was a possible faulty power connection.

If its new, and under warrenty, then you are doing the best thing you can. Send it back and let them fix it, tell them about the power cord and how it would make your computer turn on and off. They should fix this pc if its under warrenty, it doent sound like you had it for long... so dont take it back untill its fixed, put yer foot dwn and tell em to fix yer baby!! :P

[Brian090888]

Thanks. They'd better fix it. They said they might charge me if it was user created problem, but I also have a Circuit City 2 yr accidental damage policy that covers everything except a tree falling on it.

[Brian090888]

Do you think my data is/are gone forever? Because that would suck. Also, what kind of policy do they have about browsing your computer, do you know? I have some confidential data stored on there - ssn, passwords, usernames, etc.

[ladeau]

I had the flickering problem on my Gateway also; here’s what worked for me. The root of the problem was that the connection from the computer to the screen that passes thru the notebook hinge is somehow compromised. What I tried, and it usually worked, was this. With the notebook on the desk in the normal (open) position, I moved the top part of the notebook rapidly back & forth maybe 20 times. That cleaned the connection, at least for a day or so, and I could view the screen.
One way to verify that this is the problem is to attach the notebook to a second monitor—almost all notebooks have a connection to do that—then switch the display to that monitor (<Fn>+<F4> on my notebook). If there’s no flicker on the second monitor, then the hinge connection is the problem.

[JohnWill]

You REALLY need to fix that power jack! This is one of two that I got too late to solve the problem, needless to say, the motherboard was NOT usable.