Gateway MT3423 Wont start.

Sounds like bad news. Try testing your ac adapter for the correct voltage.

Hey ,

I had the exact same issue with my MT3423 laptop in July. It means its probably your motherboard gone bad. I had to send my laptop back to gateway for it to be changed. I am writing this post on the same machine now! It is fixed but i hope nothing else goes wrong

How long have you had your Gateway MT3423?

I'm glad to hear that others have written here about this computer. It is an absolute LEMON. I have gone through 4 motherboards on this computer since buying it in August 2007. Now the motherboards are out of stock, and Gateway continues to insist on repairing it. This has infuriated me! I have no choice other than to file a complaint with the Attorney General. I informed Gateway that as of the fourth problem with the motherboard on the laptop requiring service on the motherboard I have lost complete confidence in the laptop. The motherboard on the computer has had to be replaced four times in less than 7 months, once in March 2008, twice in July 2008, and once again in October 2008.

Gateway's "Executive Response Team" which investigated the issue for me told me that the laptop cannot be replaced because it has not been sent in for the same problem more than 3 times. I countered that there has been something wrong with the motherboard on this laptop 4 times, and the amount of repairs on this machine have exceeded any reasonable level of consumer confidence. Gateway has informed me that the first problem I had was a “power” issue with the motherboard (due to a defective power control on the motherboard), and the 3 other times have been defective video card components on the motherboard. Gateway has stated that only if the video card goes out again on the motherboard will I be eligible for a replacement. However, my experience has been with this laptop that the motherboard in general is faulty.

Furthermore, to compound the frustration I have experienced in trying to obtain some redress with the problems with this laptop, Gateway has been “holding” the computer in their “repair depot” for now over a week in Texas, stating that the motherboard part is not in stock. As of today, after having first contacted them about the problem with the laptop at the beginning of October, no word on when the thing will be repaired, as if I would want it repaired anyway!

Does anyone else have a similar story with this horrible laptop? And what can I do about it?

Keep pounding the support desk and escalate and be persistent. All manufacturers have pain when replacing the whole comp, but they will do it.

cheers ...

That is pretty bad, is all this work being done under warranty on with your dime?

THis is all being done on Gateway's dime.

By now, they've spent at least twice as much in repair costs and postage costs to repair this laptop in their repair facility than this laptop is worth! You'd think some kind of common sense would take over here --- continuing to repair a faulty laptop over rather than replacing it costs them lots of money. That's the only minor satisfaction I'm getting out of the whole experience.

What state are you from? This definitely should be applicable for the lemon law.

Pennsylvania. I didn't know there was a "lemon law" for computers.

To anyone searching Google and finding this post while considering this model laptop, DON'T DO IT!

I had the exact same problem and Firedog figured it out for me. There are two slots for RAM on the bottom of your laptop (mine had 1 GB per slot), and apparently one went bad. When they removed the RAM from the bad slot, all is well, though I only have half the RAM now- either way, it's working!

I purchased my unit in Sept 2007 from Circuit City, and this issue occured in October 2008, roughly one month out of warranty. While Firedog was helpful (Mary, the local tech here in Sarasota, actually sat on the phone with Gateway for over an hour on my behalf trying to get a warranty extension), Gateway has offered dismal support. I'll use this one for a bit longer I suppose, but rather than dropping another $100 on a 2 GB chip for the remaining slot (with the chance the computer fails further, since this was my second issue with it in the last couple months), I'll likely buy another one (obviously NOT an Acer/Gateway product!)

I'm not hard on this laptop; in fact, it is only used when I travel on business, so maybe once a month. The durability isn't even my concern here- it is the indifference of Acer/Gateway support when a clear manufacturing defect arises so close to the warranty expiration. I even offered to split the cost ($450) with them, and their Level 1 and Level 2 tech support declined. I'm not angry, really I'm just disappointed....on to another company I suppose. Buyer beware for sure!

MT3423 ... continued problems...

Thanks for the info about the RAM. Gateway has not indicated that they checked anything with the RAM. They keep claiming that they have to replace the motherboard.

I wrote my original message in this thread in October. Well, amazingly, Gateway/Acer still has my laptop sitting in a warehouse "awaiting a part." I asked them a million times to replace it. They keep refusing to do it.

Anyway, any suggestions on who to buy a laptop from, I will be happy to hear it. I'm about to give up on ever seeing this laptop again, fixed or replaced.

Same thing with my NX570XL. It has to be the MoBo. But mine is out of warranty. Less than 2 years old but it's toast. Not sure yet if I will spring for a new MoBo... or just get another laptop... made by someone other than Gateway.

I don't know why I am updating this but I just thought about it recently and it got me all spun up again. Gateway is useless. My NX570XL mobo failed when it was 1 1/2 years old and already Gateway was out of mobos. You couldn't even get a new one. Got to hope to get a refurb or a take off for like $275... just so it can fail again? What a joke. The fact that there aren't new ones available from the mfg tells me that they had a very high failure rate and they used 'em all up on warranty replacements. Unfortunately mine failed just after warranty expired so I have a $1300 doorstop. BTW when I removed the mobo it was obviously not a quality piece. Looks like it was made in someone's garage in China. Gateway, never again....

Sure you can send the notebook to Gateway for repair. You will get charged for it. But I would recommend that you find a local shop and be done with it. Good lucks.

cheers ...