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Miscellaneous laptop discussions : Gateway 7422GX
Gateway 7422GX
by jake100 - 2/21/05 7:45 AMDoes anyone have anything to say about gateway's 7422GX
laptop (with the athlon 64-bit processor).
I am think of buying one---looking for more reviews, user input, etc...
Thanks.
Compared to the Gateway 7405gx
by ohlang - 3/4/05 10:17 PM In reply to: Gateway 7422GX by jake100I bought mine from Bestbuy for $1249.99 during one of their usual specials. I don't play PC games, so I couldn't tell you much about that aspect of it. I can however tell you how it runs compared to the 7405GX (Athlon 64 3200+, 512MB RAM, DVD+/-RW, ATI Radeon 9600 64MB). It features a faster processor (3400+ 2.2GHz making your cpu dependent programs run faster), a better Wireless Card, and a better Optical Drive (DVD+/-RW DL). As for it's Radeon 9550 I don't know what to say about that. In the system properties it reads as a 9600/9700 card, it actually runs off the old 7405GX drivers. Wireless is better, in that it offers better range/connectivity, the Optical Drive is not only a upgrade, but it runs a lot faster than 7405's. Also the sound/speakers are much louder than the 7405's. I almost forgot it also features 1GB of system memory, so upgrading is pretty much pointless, not to mention a waste of money (which is a plus for you).
The only complaint against it is preloaded OS (not to mention you have to burn your own driver disk and keep the partition configuration as is or lose the recovery software which is located in a protected partition. I went out and ordered me one for $20 bucks but haven't received it yet from gateway/emachines. Not only that but how the factory configured the OS is awful, it makes the system seem slow during bootup. Only after bootup does it run at it's normal speed. Aside from that, it's a great deal! Beautiful Glossy WXGA screen, comfortable and attractive form factor. 6-in-1 media reader (has CF which i hear is becoming obsolete and not availible on many laptop systems made this year or the previous year for that matter, 4 USB ports, suprisingly quiet (although I guess it owes that to it's truely mobile CPU vs the modified desktop versions found on most other DTR's).
Overall, like i mentioned above it's a great deal. Fast, powerful, attractive, relatively cheap price, what else can you ask for.
Hope this helps in your decision process.
recovery software
by rama01701 - 3/12/05 3:03 PM In reply to: Compared to the Gateway 7405gx by ohlangI too brought this same machine it is excellent..I am not sure about the recovery process or backup recovery disk..Should i do any backup for the software and I am not sure about it and I need to do because i have not done yet one
i did not understand what you are getting from Gateway for 20 dollars
Recovery Software
by rmsutton - 4/29/05 2:19 PM In reply to: recovery software by rama01701The recovery software is not distributed as a set of CD's or a DVD with the system. Instead, Gateway decided to dedicate a 4gig partition on the hard drive. A set of 6 blank CD's are included so that you can burn the recovery discs yourself.
I was furious when i discovered this. The minute I got home with the system, I formated it deleting all partitions in the process. Once i got XP Pro loaded, I discovered that just about everything didn't work. No sound, no wireless, hot-keys didn't work and a bunch of system drivers had the generic microsoft drivers installed. I called Gateway and they told me my only option was to send the machine back to them for reimaging. They didn't even have the recovery disc's for my system because it was so new. I was completely disturbed this. After being a loyal Dell customer for the past 8 years, I was reluctant to buy a system from Gateway. I should have went with my gut, Gateway tech support SUCKS! No one there has any clue what they are doing. I had called up about the recovery discs, and I explained to the tech that I deleted the partition and formatted the drive. He told me that my system was not compatible with Windows XP Pro and they won't support anything other than Windows XP Home. I could not believe the ignorance. Where do they find these people? To make a long story short I finally got a supervisor on the line who I could level with. We sat on the phone for 3 hours while he google'd 3rd party drivers for my system. We managed to get almost everything back in order but it still was just not the same. The next day I was totally bummed out about the situation, so I decided to try and find the rest of the drivers myself. I then noticed that my screen had a small blot of discolored pixels that you could only see over a white background. Lucky me, I brought the system back to Best Buy and got a brand new one, boxed. So as you see, sometimes you learn the hard way but thankfully I lucked out. The first thing I did when I got home was backup my drivers =)
Gateway tech support SUCKS is right
by smithpe - 5/29/05 12:24 AM In reply to: Recovery Software by rmsuttonAnd the drivers from their website that they swear up and down are the right ones for the machine work except the intel chipset driver (completly wrong chipset), the modem and soundcard drivers do not work either. I am willing to bet that they also do not match the hardware in the machine. You are aright about the level of support from that bunch and their intelligence level as well. However you forgot to mention how rude the majority of the support tech are. My Gateway goes back to BestBuy 5/29/05
Drivers
by LDMcFear - 5/29/05 6:56 PM In reply to: Gateway tech support SUCKS is right by smithpeOkay Folks since most of you are having issues finding drivers that work for this Notebook let me help you out.
Chipset Drivers: Via Hyperion 4in1 v4.56 Found here http://www.viaarena.com/default.aspx?PageID=2
Video Card drivers: Ati Omega Drivers they can be found at http://www.omegadrivers.net/
Audio Drivers: Vinyl AudioCode v590b which can be found at http://www.viaarena.com/default.aspx?PageID=2 click Windows Xp > Audio >VIA AC97 codecs incorporated into VT8233, VT8233A, VT8233C, VT8235 and VT8237 South Bridges > and then the driver at the bottom of the page there are only two choices Multilingual and English.
As far as the Modem goes the drivers are ApachePCI-HCFXP2000 drivers You can find them at Gateways site. They work but I didn't install them when I reinstalled XP because I have no use for a dial up Modem.
and the Rest of the drivers can also be found on Gateways Site the Code for each is...
9528157
9528158
9528159
these should be the Wireless Ethernet card. The Touchpad drivers, and the Multi port Memery card reader.
Gateway 7422GX
by Ness7386 - 3/12/05 7:27 AM In reply to: Gateway 7422GX by jake100Jake100, there are several reviews on this product. Just type the name in your browser's search window and you'll find them all. I give it an overall 9 on a 1-10 rating. Only because it doesn't come with much software. But it's top of the line when it comes to hardware. I haven't had any problems with mine so far. I purchased it from BestBuy on 2/2/05 and lovin' every minute of it. Good luck. Ness7386
I just bought one
by talvarez9294 - 3/31/05 7:26 AM In reply to: Gateway 7422GX by Ness7386I just bought and open box model at best buy for $1150. Have you ever had problems with the DVD player. Mine is not working right now and it's probably the reason somebody brought it back. Are you still enjoying yours?
Take it back quick.
by R. Proffitt
- 3/31/05 7:29 AM
In reply to: I just bought one by talvarez9294
The office is quite happy with the new 64-bit laptops and desktops...
Bob
I just bought one also
by Grantcounty - 4/14/05 7:38 PM In reply to: I just bought one by talvarez9294Yes I am having trouble with the DVD writer/player. I spent 2 days trying to burn a DVD. After using help desk resources, I returned it. Best Buy convinced me it was a bad box of discs. I came home with a new box of discs and had some success, but not able to burn discs that would play in my home dvd players. I then started getting more errors. By the time I returned I was 2 days past my 14 days to return the unit. They burned one disc while I was there and said there wasn't anything wrong with it, but it wouldn't play on any of their players in the store. I insisted they send it in for repairs. It cam back today. I burn't a disc using one that wouldn't load before. It worked great but they put a slower drive in it. Mine was 8x, this one is 4x. I insisted they make put the correct drive in. It is in transit now. This srory goes on...
7422gx
by trayscott - 5/10/05 7:30 AM In reply to: I just bought one also by Grantcountyburned a couple of data dvds with no problem, thought I needed different software for video or photo dvds. My big problem is 12 volt adapter. Nobody has one and gateway is useless in helping. Hour and a half this morning with there sales. He would sell me anything but soon as you go to company web site there is no 7422gx listed....Have tried 4 inverters none will work, apparently the brick doesn't like modified sine way ac...the one rep from gateway said she never heard of using such an expensive piece in a vehicle. I have map software with gps and wanted kids to watch movies/ use it otw to florida, the sweet 2 hours of battery life doesn't cut it...Scott
Playing in home DVD players
by animekenji - 7/2/05 6:17 PM In reply to: I just bought one also by GrantcountyWhen burning DVDs you have to use the Roxio software (is that still included, I have the emachines M6811 which is the same machine and has Roxio) to eject the disc. If you try to eject the disc manually after a burn, it will close the disc in a proprietary format that only a PC can read. It takes longer to eject the disc with the Roxio software, but the disc should now be readable by other machines than a PC.
DVD on PC
by Jay R___well - 7/18/05 3:43 AM In reply to: I just bought one also by GrantcountyIf the DVD plays in the computer then it's correct, there is nothing wrong with it. In order to get a DVD to play in a DVD player, one for the TV, you have to use a special creation method to burn the DVD. Roxio is not the platform you want to be using to do this, as it has protections written in it to prevent you from illegally copying/making movie CD's. The bad part of this is that any legit CD's are also not going to be playable in a standard DVD player, while they will work in your computer. Don't blame the computer, go buy some better software. You think a legit manufacturer is going to give you the tools to start pumping out what might be illegal DVD movies? That's funny. No, they give you the basics and then you have to figure it out for yourself.
All this time you spent sending parts back and forth was a waste, sorry to say it.
Awesome Machine
by LDMcFear - 5/19/05 12:01 PM In reply to: Gateway 7422GX by jake100Okay I have had this machine for three months now and I totaly love it. The first thing I did when i saw the recovery partition was to Run Kill disk, then Format and reinstall Windows. I had no problems finding better drivers than the ones it shipped with for all the hardware in the machine. I have had no problems burning CD's Or DVD's. It plays games great (Note: the Video card in the machine is in Fact a ATi Mobility Radeon 9600 not a 9550) The only complaint I have if I where to have one would be the battery life, butr as a DTR I plug it in most of the time so it's not a big deal. I have recomended this laptop to all my friends, If you are having problems finding drivers for this laptop feel free to contact me.
Don't buy a Gateway
by smithpe - 5/29/05 12:05 AM In reply to: Gateway 7422GX by jake100The machine maybe wonderful, however the support from Gateway is the worst tech support I have ever seen. I bought this machine from BestBuy on 5/28/05. With the work I do I prefer to run Windows XP Pro. With Gateway on at least this pc forget, if you install anything but XP home you will not be supported. I have fought with them for 12 hours, all but one tech were smarta**s and downright rude. I had everything working with XP pro but the modem and sound drivers. They told me to download the drivers from the website, I did the motherboard drivers, the modem, and the soundcard drivers did not work. After they swore up and down the drivers on the website were the right ones they had no answer why it had me downloading a driver for an Intel chipset when the chipset on it is a via one, K8T800 to be exact. Don’t bother to try and talk to a supervisor they are the same broken record and when you ask to talk to their boss the answer you will get that their boss does not talk to customers. I would be willing to wager that the drivers for both the modem and soundcard are also wrong. Bottom line is if you buy this machine, if you change the configuration in any way away from the one that it had when you bought the machine, Gateway will not support it. The machine is not able to be updated. I am going to take mine back in the morning and buy an HP 6007 that has the ability to not only be upgraded but also comes with 128 MB ATI dedicated video memory on it. Gateway will never have to worry about supporting any of there junk with me again as I will never bother to buy one again.
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