cmos settings incorrect

[sheryl]

I have a Gateway Esssential 1100 with an Intel 1100MHZ Pentium lll processor.
128 MBs SDRAM (I had an additional 256 MBs but removed it)
Integrated Intel 3-D Graphics
20 GB Ultra ATA Hard drive
20x min/48x max CD-Rom
90 Watt power supply
5 USP ports
"no" ps2 ports
Winxp professional

Recently, this computer wouldn't boot up. I thought it was the motherboard or cmos battery, so I replaced the battery, and took out the jumpers on the motherboard, then replaced them. It still didn't boot up. No sound, no nothing but a black screen,
I then decided to remove ram (should have done this first) and after removing the 256 MBs, the computer "tried" to boot up but it gave me an error saying the cmos settings were wrong. I had 2 options. Press F1 to get into settings or F9 to load default, only the keyboard doesn't seem to work so I can't get into settings.
In the mean time, I had bought more ram. Another 256 MBs and ended up bringing it to a repair shop since I had no idea how to fix the Cmos settings without a keyboard.
I had them check out the computer to see what was wrong and all they said needed to be done was fix the settings. So I paid them to do this, plus they installed the 256 mbs of ram I had purchased.
2 days after getting the computer back, and having it seem to work fine, I updated the video card drivers and installed NAV. I then wanted to check and be sure I didn't have any yellow exclamation marks and noticed the computer was only showing 128 mbs of ram instead of 384, so I took out the new 256 mbs, so I could return it.
Now the computer won't boot up again, and is telling me my cmos settings are wrong, like it did before I took it to the repair shop.
I figure I'll have to take it back to the shop and hope they don't charge me again, although I have a feeling they will, but why would my settings get messed up again? Was there something else not working that they didn't catch the first time around?

One other thing I noticed, when taking out the ram, my hard drive, CDrom drive and some of the parts on the motherboard, all felt extremely warm to the touch. Could the computer be over heating? Would this mess anything up?
The computer was on non stop from Friday till Sunday afternoon when all these problems occurred.
Sheryl

[Bronx1]

Is the key board working this time. Xp is very funny when you change any hardware. Reinstall the ram them get to your cmos and see if it reads the256. If not you may have bad ram or your computer will only allow you to install the Gateway ram. Look under the support for your computer to see what memory it excepts. Also try removing the 256 and start in safe mode see if it boots. Good luck

[sheryl]

Thaks for the suggestions.
I ended up taking the computer to the repair shop and they said the computer didn't want to recognize more then 128 MBs of ram. It's suppose to be able to take 512 MBs of ram.
Right now it's working and running winxp on 128 mbs, but it's very slow. It's my son's computer and he said he can't play some of his games because it's probably too slow.
I ordered another 256 mbs of ram and hope when I install it, it doesn't mess up the cmos settings again.
I also hope it will work and register the 256 mbs plus 128 mbs.
Sheryl

[A+Net+MCP]

Your Power Supply will be 250 or 300 Watts, no such thing as 90. How many slots do you have for the ram? If you have 3 then you should be able to put a 256 in each one to get 768 max.  Ram can't mess CMOS settings. It is possible that the Ram you bought is not compatible with that board. Many boards are finicky about what brand of Ram is used and list the brands and sizes that are. You are right to want 384+ ram because XP will use more than 256 and since you only have 128 now it will be slow because it will be using virtual memory all the time. Once you put in the new 256 check when the computer boots up to see if it counts 384.
 http://images.thetechguide.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\'B)\' />

[Bronx1]

You may want to up date the bios on this. How old is it. Gateway does have a 90 watt power supply. They even use it on P4's.

[sheryl]

The computer is only 2 years old and yes it only has a 90 watt power supply. I had to replace it last year because it stopped working.
I believe the reason it stopped working was because I had a power surge run through my home. It fried the power supplies on 3 computers.
The computer worked fine after I put the new 90 watt power supply in, until this summer when my son, who's computer this actually is, started getting all sorts of errors and running out of memory. I guess one of my MBs of ram was going.
I just received a replacement for the bad ram today, but I'm kind of afraid to install it. I hope it doesn't mess up the computer again since it's been running ok all week, except for the fact it's very slow.
Sheryl

[A+Net+MCP]

http://images.thetechguide.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':blink:\' />  Sorry but never seen a power supply less than 200W and that was 10 years ago. If Gateway is putting 90W PSU's in it amazes me that they can even boot-up. One word "JUNK". I wouldn't and don't build PC's with less than 300W.  I had to upgrade my PSU from 300 to 350 because it was being strained. Does it have a special connector for the motherboard like Dell or can you use any PSU. I see 200W PSU's selling for $5 bucks CDN so 90's should be free.  No PS2 ports! What planet did this pc come from?  http://images.thetechguide.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wacko.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':wacko:\' />

[Bronx1]

Go ahead on install the memory. If it doesn't work just return it. It the memory you are buying recommended by Gateway ? The psu and other parts are always cheap an Dell's compaq Gateways etc. That is how they can sell a neww P4 for $599.00. Here the old saying . You get what you pay for. Does the computer start in safe mode with the new memory?

[CJTech]

WOW, I wonder how Gateway gets away with it. Intel will not warranty a CPU if it is fried do to a brown out of power. I guess this is another reason I do not like Gateways.

[sheryl]

I added the new 256MBs of ram and I thought it worked ok, since the computer booted up and recognized the ram.
My son brought it back to school with him and it worked for awhile, then wouldn't boot up again because of the new ram. Once he took out the new 256 Mb, it booted up again.
I don't know why the computer doesn't want to run with more then 128 MBs of ram. It worked for over a year with it and now it doesn't like it.
I think I've decided we're going to junk this computer and buy a new custom built one. In the past, that's all I've bought is custom built computers but I thought this computer would be better for my son since he's in college and limited on space.
I learned a very expensive lesson.

[Bronx1]

If you do junk it . Remover the hard drive and beat it with a hammer. You do not want anyone to get any kind of info from it. Reformating will not be safe enough. Good luck on your new computer. Go with AMD.

[A+Net+MCP]

Formating is safe enough. Really how many people out there know how to recover info from a formated HD, about .000000001%. Go with AMD to save some $$. Go with an INTEL P4c if you want wicked SPEED.

[CJTech]

Intel all the way http://images.thetechguide.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\'\' /> try format /mbr and format /u