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General discussion

Gateway 7330Gz accidently dropped and damaged please help

by Archangeldawn Feb 4, 2009 2:06AM PST

Hello everyone
I am disappointed to say that last night I dropped my Gateway 7330Gz Laptop from the couch from like 3 feet...and it restarted but I turned it off, and well I was trying to turn it back on. Once I turn it on the "inconvenience message" appears giving me options whether to run windows normally, safe mode, or last known configuration. On any of those Windows will start loading, sometimes as far as go to the desktop when all of a sudden the laptop shuts itself down. I hear the fan going faster and then shutting off just as the laptop shuts off.

I don't think this is a software issue, but a hardware issue. If anyone has had any experience with dropping laptops by accident, please offer some guidance here. What laptop part could have been damaged?

I don't know if I should take it to the geek squad at best buy (or recommend someone else). I am experience with changing parts for a PC tower, but I have never opened a laptop. Should I just avoid trying to open it up and exploring what could be wrong?

The specs are : Windows Xp SP2, 1GB RAM, Pentium 4.
Model : Gateway 7330Gz

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1 Posts

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This is indeed the Pentium 4 HT CPU!

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Feb 4, 2009 3:05AM PST

Those models with the P4 HT are well known to have issues with the heat sink mounting. The drop didn't help.

After you backup all your stuff and are ready, the common fix is to tear down the laptop to the motherboard then clean off the old heatsink paste, put on new and then build the machine up taking the usual care to see that every mount and connection is secure.

You don't want 3 out of 4 heatsink mount points but all 4.
Bob

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