Gateway tech support; real or scam?

[Jstpssng]

I bought a Gateway netbook last weekend at Walmart. The price seemed right but I should have known better. I brought it home and set it up; a bit of a pain as it wouldn't even allow me to use it until I set up an account; and I couldn't set up an account without being online.
I finally got it set up and used it for a bit, then it dumped my internet connection. My ISP sucks so I assumed that was the problem, but after doing some testing the machine doesn't even have the ability to connect with the internet. WTF?
Then the display crapped out... the bottom 15% of the screen is black, and shaky. Of course that's where the icons are...

I contacted tech support tonight with my problems and they asked a bunch of questions, which I answered. They then said "We will pass this on to a Master Technician. You will need to pay a one dollar refundable fee to sign up"...
At that point I said "I just bought this on Saturday. I will throw it into the trash before I will pay anymore to get it fixed."

I should have known better than to buy at WalMart. I wanted to buy a Dell, but the software deal on this seemed to be better. I used it just enough to get some personal information on it and don't know enough to take that off; so I can't give it away.
It will likely be the most expensive target I've ever used... then I will buy a Dell.

 

[Torvy]

I am sad. I worked at Gateway in Tech Support from '94 thru 2000. It was a good company.

My daughter got one of those laptops through Wal-Mart last year for college. So far, no problems. The name is about all that is left of Gateway...that and my really bold t-shirts.

Go directly to Wal-Mart are get it replaced.

 

[MountainBuck]

Search how to "factory reset" the version of windows that is installed on the computer, then return it. It will only be a couple of steps. This will clear out your personal data.

The bottom 15% of the screen should not be blank, I would suspect the connection to the screen needs to be cleaned and reseated, but if you open it up, you will void the warranty.

I doubt tech support could be any help to you at this point, other than helping you with your credit card!

I wouldn't be too mad at wally mart, these types of issues happen all of the time with most computer manufacturers.

 

[mikester]

Get a refund from walmart. Buy a dell online

 

[Jstpssng]

Search how to "factory reset" the version of windows that is installed on the computer, then return it. It will only be a couple of steps. This will clear out your personal data.

The bottom 15% of the screen should not be blank, I would suspect the connection to the screen needs to be cleaned and reseated, but if you open it up, you will void the warranty.

I doubt tech support could be any help to you at this point, other than helping you with your credit card!

I wouldn't be too mad at wally mart, these types of issues happen all of the time with most computer manufacturers.

Thank you. I will try that.

 

[Rock Crawler]

You bought an Acer PC with the Gateway name. Acer acquired Gateway in 2007. Return it to the store and go buy a Dell or an ASUS. We have an ASUS ROG that is around 8 yrs old that my son still messes around on. Stick towards the gaming end of laptops, they will have better hardware and better cooling. I have a few year old Dell G7 that still rocks it really well. I stay clear of entry level, try to be in the $800-$1200 low/mid range gaming laptops.

This would be about the level I would suggest, or above. You will not outgrow this quickly, nor will software. I do not have a use for touch screen laptops personally, so that is never a consideration for me. I do own one, just because the Dell I bought had it. I never use it. It adds no value to me.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/dell-g...om-grey-with-speckles/6510327.p?skuId=6510327

 

[Oaktree]

I bought a Gateway netbook last weekend at Walmart. The price seemed right but I should have known better. I brought it home and set it up; a bit of a pain as it wouldn't even allow me to use it until I set up an account; and I couldn't set up an account without being online.

I'm assuming it's running Windows 11? If I'm not mistaken you need a Microsoft account in order to activate Win 11. Not Walmart or Gateway/Acer's fault. I'm sure there's a way around it, but I'm not sure what it is...still running 10 here.

 

[ArlyA]

I am sad. I worked at Gateway in Tech Support from '94 thru 2000. It was a good company.

My daughter got one of those laptops through Wal-Mart last year for college. So far, no problems. The name is about all that is left of Gateway...that and my really bold t-shirts.

Go directly to Wal-Mart are get it replaced.

Gee, when we lived in Sioux Falls, everyone in our building worked for gateway.

 

[5030]

Last Gutway I had, I propped it up on a stump and drilled it with my 45, right in the hard drive.

 

[tacticalturnip]

I built my desktop, but the wife's laptop is from ASUS and has some limited version of Windows of it; it got her through her schooling, but it's a piece of work. That said, when it was dead on arrival, ASUS replaced it.

The market is a lot different than the last time I paid attention.

 

[Torvy]

Last Gutway I had, I propped it up on a stump and drilled it with my 45, right in the hard drive.

So your solution to the OP's problem is to destroy the new product and just eat the loss? Must be nice to have more money than sense.

 

[Jstpssng]

So your solution to the OP's problem is to destroy the new product and just eat the loss? Must be nice to have more money than sense.

That was one of my options, until MountainBuck told me what to do. It had worked just long enough for me to put some personal information on it.

I reset the drive, boxed it up and am returning it the next time that I'm in town. I also printed off the problems and included that in the box; in case they just put it back on the shelf, as Walmart sometimes does.

The new Dell is going to be a bit more pricey; in part because I will be buying the Office software, rather than renting it. All that I'll use it for is recordkeeeping, and getting online so it doesn't need to be very special.

 

[5030]

Very fortunate in that my cousin is a Dell commercial computer dealer in Illinois and I (we) get an excellent deal on their computers. My wife has a Dell gaming computer and I have high end Dell laptop and our cousin piggybacks us on his software licenses so there are programs on both these computers I have no idea how to even use plus we are on his security software as well.

Nice to have a Dell dealer in the family.

Gutway really went in the toilet....

 

[Jstpssng]

Gutway really went in the toilet....

Do you mean Gateway? They went bankrupt, and Acer picked them up. I'm sure that my issue was just a software glitch or three, but I don't care to spend time and money to get it fixed.

 

[5030]

Do you mean Gateway? They went bankrupt, and Acer picked them up. I'm sure that my issue was just a software glitch or three, but I don't care to spend time and money to get it fixed.

Gateway, Gutway, all the same and I've never had an Acer computer. They Chinese? Not that Dell isn't.

 

[cqaigy2]

I bought a demo Lenovo machine at Costco a few years ago. First thing i did was to reinstall windows, windows only, not the install from Lenovo, just the OS. I needed to have the number off of the Windows sticker, but it's worth not having all the bloatware, call back to company stuff on the machine. Now that im retired, my next machine might just be something like Mint or some other Linux distro.

 

[5030]

Lenovo makes a nice tablet and not that expensive either. I have one myself. Use it to fly my drones with mostly.

 

[Oaktree]

Nice to have a Dell dealer in the family.

Dells are nice PCs to be sure, my only issue with them is that a lot of times they use proprietary parts (like power supplies). I have no use for a tablet so I have no idea about them...I'd presume they're pretty much unrepairable anyway... I've had good experiences with HPs too.

 

[stuckmotor]

I am sad. I worked at Gateway in Tech Support from '94 thru 2000. It was a good company.
Snip

My old Gateway tower with Win95 upgraded to Win98 is my all time favorite computer. I'm sad too.

 

[Jstpssng]

It was a lot easier to return this than to deal with tech support. I didn't even have to sign anything.

On a side note, they had a sign posted out front which I had never noticed before... possibly because I don't go there very often.
It asks people to refrain from open carrying only.