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Gateway p6860fx problems - New member looking for help

post #1 of 24
4/18/09 at 2:10am
Thread Starter 
Hey guys I'm new to this forum but I've actually lurked around for a bit. I come to you guys needing some serious advice on how to fix my laptop.

I own a 6860fx and it's a great laptop. Currently I'm having issues with it.

The computer crashes all the time. I cannot seem to run it for more than 30 minutes before it crashes. The screen just blacks out and the computer resets.

Things I've tried:

Resetting bios settings to factory - Does absolutely nothing

I believe it's a memory related issue anyway

I have switched out the memory with PNY 2x2GB PC5300. That memory failed memtest86 and is unstable running with both sticks.

I have tested out a brand new set of OCZ 2x2GB PC6400 memory. Memory failed memtest86

I have tested out 2x512mb ProMos memory from a DELL machine and these PASS memtest86 WITH NO ERRORS. The computer can run fine with this 1gb of memory.

I have tested the 6860fx with the original memory (samsung) from ANOTHER 6860fx that is working fine. FAILED MEMTEST86

I am now running it with 1x 2GB PNY (same one that crashed with 2x2GB setup) and it is running memtest86 fine with no crash yet. Looks good so far atleast....

Is there any super computer tech out there that knows what I can do?

TIA
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post #2 of 24
4/18/09 at 3:27am
Thread Starter 
after further testing, that single 2gb stick flawlessly passed memtest86 and so did the original samsung 1x2gb stick. I then inserted the other 2gb stick (to make the original 4gb) and then it failed memtest. I tested both slots with 1x2gb stick each and memtest passes.

Now I am way more confused.... anyone please have any suggestions?
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post #3 of 24
4/18/09 at 12:26pm
Gateway machines are notoriously picky with what type of ram modules they can accept. Search the net with online sellers that guarantee the working modules. If not, not running at max, is your best bet.

cheers ....
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post #4 of 24
4/18/09 at 3:47pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by qhn View Post
Gateway machines are notoriously picky with what type of ram modules they can accept. Search the net with online sellers that guarantee the working modules. If not, not running at max, is your best bet.

cheers ....
Well in regards to the memory, I did test the ORIGINAL memory that were working fine on another 6860fx. Those also failed memtest86 and so did MY original memory which are giving me problems as well.
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post #5 of 24
4/18/09 at 4:19pm
You are currently running with no issue on 1 gig stick - less than max ram. Your old ram could be possibly bad.

This is being recommended as replacement (&stock) ram.

In between, you might also want to defrag and perform a chkdsk on the drive.

cheers ...
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post #6 of 24
4/18/09 at 4:46pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by qhn View Post
You are currently running with no issue on 1 gig stick - less than max ram. Your old ram could be possibly bad.

This is being recommended as replacement (&stock) ram.

In between, you might also want to defrag and perform a chkdsk on the drive.

cheers ...
I forgot to mention that I have already reformatted the computer after I got it to work with the 1gig of memory.

Right now it runs STABLE with 2gb of the original memory. With the 4gb it will crash...

I have tried to mix and match ram as well, and no luck.
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post #7 of 24
4/18/09 at 5:31pm
why ocz pc2-6400? you should try to replace that with the OCZ 2x2gb pc2-5300/5400 kit..
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post #8 of 24
4/18/09 at 10:39pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by fps_seanfx View Post
why ocz pc2-6400? you should try to replace that with the OCZ 2x2gb pc2-5300/5400 kit..
I don't have any OCZ PC2-5300 memory. I have PNY though which I used to test it and it does not work... The OCZ also do not work properly apparently. The stock memory also does not work properly it seems. Although they do ALL work fine with just 2 gig sticks, the 4 gigs is too much for the computer to handle right now.
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post #9 of 24
4/20/09 at 7:29pm
According to Crucial.com your laptop mem slot can hold DDR2 PC2-5300,DDR2 PC2-6400 with a maximum of 2GB per slot.* So, it should run equally well with DDR2 PC2 5300 OR PC2 6400.
With just one of the known good sticks of memory, try it in one slot reboot. If it works, take that same stick and try it in the other slot then reboot. Thus checking each slot individually with a known 2GB stick. Then, take the other 2GB stick and try it in one then the other slot
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post #10 of 24
4/21/09 at 12:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by tony321321 View Post
I don't have any OCZ PC2-5300 memory. I have PNY though which I used to test it and it does not work... The OCZ also do not work properly apparently. The stock memory also does not work properly it seems. Although they do ALL work fine with just 2 gig sticks, the 4 gigs is too much for the computer to handle right now.
You never did mention what version of Vista your using? are you using Vista 64bit with that 4 gigs of Ram? if your using 32bit Vista
,it won't read are use the whole 4 gigs on 32bit Vista,(it will say 4.00GB), but it can only use 3.25GB, but, it still shouldn't crash the PC tho?
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post #11 of 24
4/21/09 at 2:03am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by saugen48 View Post
According to Crucial.com your laptop mem slot can hold DDR2 PC2-5300,DDR2 PC2-6400 with a maximum of 2GB per slot.* So, it should run equally well with DDR2 PC2 5300 OR PC2 6400.
With just one of the known good sticks of memory, try it in one slot reboot. If it works, take that same stick and try it in the other slot then reboot. Thus checking each slot individually with a known 2GB stick. Then, take the other 2GB stick and try it in one then the other slot
I did mention that I tried a 2gb stick which passed memtest86 on both slots. I just can't pass the 4gb on memtest.

I'm also running Vista 64.
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post #12 of 24
4/21/09 at 7:39am
I have seen elsewhere on the net, that your problem could be caused by a needed BIOS update. Check at Acer to see if there is an update which specifically addresses this problem. If the update does not, I would not install it.
Seen another post on another forum where the fix was found in Vista SP1
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post #13 of 24
4/21/09 at 9:12pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by saugen48 View Post
I have seen elsewhere on the net, that your problem could be caused by a needed BIOS update. Check at Acer to see if there is an update which specifically addresses this problem. If the update does not, I would not install it.
Seen another post on another forum where the fix was found in Vista SP1
Can you please link me to that thread. I've looked everywhere for information. TIA
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post #14 of 24
4/21/09 at 9:25pm
I cant remember what I googled at the time but it was there
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post #15 of 24
4/26/09 at 2:42am
Thread Starter 
I'm still stuck with this problem on my 6860fx. I have not updated the bios because I have .29 and the latest is .28 on the website which makes no sense. I have tested lots of different memory to no avail. I already have windows vista 64 with SP1. I'm not really sure what to try next.
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post #16 of 24
4/26/09 at 11:28pm
You can try again running one ram module at a time, in one slot. Then move it to the other slot and test out again.

cheers ...
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post #17 of 24
4/27/09 at 4:19am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by qhn View Post
You can try again running one ram module at a time, in one slot. Then move it to the other slot and test out again.

cheers ...
Yes I have tried that already and they work fine with the 2gb of ram but when you combine 2 to make 4gb then things begin to go bad.
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post #18 of 24
4/27/09 at 10:19am
So it does not matter in what slot the module is being present? It is good, eliminating a failed ram socket.

I would try another pair of ram modules, some no name 667mhz/DDR2/PC2-5300

Download CPU-Z and take a look at your OEM ram module, pay attention to the CL and match that as well.

cheers ...
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post #19 of 24
4/27/09 at 9:14pm
Thread Starter 
It doesn't matter which slot the ram is in. The 2gb runs fine by itself in EITHER slot but when you make it 4gb then it becomes unstable. I don't have any other ram than the ones I have already tested which all have turned out to be unstable at 4gb but completely stable at 2gb.

CPU-Z says my ram is:

DDR2 DUAL CHANNEL
DRAM frequency 332.5 MHz
FSBRAM 1:2
CL is 5 clocks
tRCD 5 clocks
tRP 5 clocks
tRAS 5 clocks

how should i go about finding ram with these exact timings
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post #20 of 24
4/28/09 at 1:18am
There is a slot information within CPU-Z that gives you the module specs (Max bandwidth). What is it?

cheers ...
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