Over the past two weeks it seems like I’ve been dealing with nothing but old Gateway computers. You know the old Gateways that used to have everything integrated and used a PIII processor? I’ve had to open just about every one of them to do various things like RAM upgrades, and every single one of them is a freaking pain in the ass to open.
Let’s start with their standard case. Sure you can get into it by unscrewing the screws, but what’s the point? Once you’re inside there is nothing you can do! The RAM is non-standard, so only one brand of RAM works. Everything else is integrated into the motherboard, so there is nothing to upgrade. Well, maybe you can upgrade the hard drive, but for a PIII there really isn’t a point.
Then let’s say you need to do something like get the front panel off to fix the power button. You can press the easy access tabs all you want, but you’re still going to need two people to pry the damn thing off. Then good luck getting the front of the case back on!
Now let’s say you’re lucky and you have one of those screw-less Gateway cases. It might as well have screws, because not having screws is just going to make in harder. Just to get the side panel off you have to hold the two tabs in the back, while you stick a flathead screwdriver in between the sides to pry it off. Unless you have three hands, that’s another two person job! Then to close it up, someone has to be holding the tabs while another person violently beats on the side of the case to get it to reattach.
Now it isn’t all bad. The non-tower case is actually pretty good. You just have to unscrew a thumb screw and pull two tabs while lifting to take off the case. It’s actually really easy, but who owns that form factor anyway? The majority of computers are towers, so you probably won’t run into a non-tower case often.
I just wish Gateway would have taken some more consideration into their cases back then. I know the average consumer isn’t suppose to open them, but then why sell an easy access case? So, what are your experiences with the older Gateway computers? Have any tips on opening them, because it looks like I’ll be dealing with them for a while (my school just got a whole shipment of them)?
7 Comments
RAM non-standard? I highly doubt that.
Try any other kind besides Mushkin and it won’t work. I’ve tried the same kind of RAM (SD PC133) and it won’t at all.
Mushkin is crap RAM. You have to make sure that the PC133 module is not single sided as most older computers cannot support them. The chips have to be on both sides of the module.
Well, that doesn’t make much sense, because the Mushkin RAM is single sided, and I’m trying to use double sided RAM.
At work I had a lot of problems opening up the new precision workstations by dell. the opening of the case was rather easy, however, removing the digital versatile disc - read only memory drive was the problem. there was one screw attached to the chassis so i removed it. then i was stuck. it was still anchored on the other side, but there was no way to remove the other side off the case. so i was perplexed. then i asked a kid who worked there for advise and he figured it out. i had to remove the safety tab, then push down on the locking clip, then at the same time, push out the drive bay. i would had never guessed to do that in a million years. there was no diagram, nothing to explain how to remove it. ok, sorry, there was ONE down arrow. nothing about the safey clip nor anything else. i mean, totally dumb.
Those Gateway cases are terrible! I had to service them at my old job, and actually had one for a while. With regards to the non-standard RAM, you may be talking about RDRAM, which the later P3’s and earlier P4’s used. It’s not bad RAM, but you’re right, it’s hard to come by, and almost twice as expensive. AMD systems never used RDRAM, Intel treid to push it but then DDR came in and turned out to be faster and cheaper. The worst part about RDRAM is that the sticks have to be used in parallel. You can’t even have empty slots with it, you have to use Continuity RIMMs, which is kind of retarded. But anyway, there’s no easy way to deal with those Gateway cases. I got really good at removing the front panel. You have to remove BOTH sides of the case and push release latches on each side while pushing the front top away with both fingers. You do the top releases first, and they’ll stay undone while you do the bottom ones. Then pull the front up and out. To put it back, insert the bottom latches into the wholes, then snap in the releases starting with the bottom, then the top. You get used to it, lol.
Oh, also… If you have one of these that you’ll be popping the front off of particularly often, do yourself a favor and throw some thumbscrews on the opposite side to speed things up a bit
Post a Comment