Member Avatar for serider

I own a Gateway 450ROG laptop. the problem all started two weeks ago when i was using it and a popup balloon said low virtual memory. Next time I went to start the laptop it would try and start up but I would only see a black screen, a faint gateway image, then the thing would shut down. I ordered new 256 memory for it thinking that was it but what do i know? Read on here to take the memory out and try to boot it back up with without it. I did and didn't hear a beep so does that mean my motherboard is shot out? Guess I should have went to MIT! anyway I have a new laptop, so good thing the gateway will end up being my backup.

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A concise diagnostics summary and next steps for , building on 's point that the low-memory balloon is probably incidental.

The symptom — a faint Gateway splash then an immediate shutdown, plus no audible beep when RAM was removed — points at an early POST or power/display failure rather than a Windows-level issue. Lack of a beep is not definitive: many Gateway laptops either have no internal speaker or do not give audible POST codes. The following checklist isolates the likely causes in a safe, ordered way.

  1. Check the DC side first - confirm the adapter LED is steady and the printed voltage matches the supply; try a known-good adapter or measure output with a multimeter.
  2. Watch for POST signs other than beeps - fan spin, HDD activity LED, Caps/Num lock LED behavior (press lock keys to test LEDs). Note any blink patterns.
  3. Test external video (VGA/HDMI). A working external display with no internal image isolates the LCD/inverter/LVDS cable.
  4. Try a minimal hardware POST: one known-good SODIMM in one slot (test each slot), HDD and optical removed, wireless card removed. Record whether behavior changes.
  5. Perform a power-rail discharge: remove mains and main battery, hold power button 20–30 seconds, reconnect mains only and test. If comfortable, a CMOS coin-cell removal for 1–2 minutes can clear BIOS settings.
  6. If LEDs show model-specific blink codes or the machine powers but produces no video anywhere, the fault shifts toward motherboard/BIOS or GPU circuits.

Warranty and ESD cautions apply before opening the chassis. If adapter voltage is correct, external output is absent, and the minimal-boot test fails, a board-level diagnosis is likely required rather than simple parts swaps.

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Member Avatar for Bob_180_Bob

Hi,
It is unlikely that the low memory message had anything to do with you current problem.
Try cleaning out all the dust from your machine, if you can strip your machine as far as you are game and blow out all dust from the fans and cooling vents.
Try booting without the main battery, and then without the mains, just the battery to see if it makes any difference.
256 MG is very small and if that is all you have your machine might be freezing regularly but not causing these problems. Hopefully you have at least 2 X 256 MG RAM sticks.
Maybe someone else here can offer some more assistance but for me if you have no joy with anything I have suggested, I would think it would be best looked at by a repair tech, make sure you get a quote first.

Member Avatar for serider

Hi,
It is unlikely that the low memory message had anything to do with you current problem.
Try cleaning out all the dust from your machine, if you can strip your machine as far as you are game and blow out all dust from the fans and cooling vents.
Try booting without the main battery, and then without the mains, just the battery to see if it makes any difference.
256 MG is very small and if that is all you have your machine might be freezing regularly but not causing these problems. Hopefully you have at least 2 X 256 MG RAM sticks.
Maybe someone else here can offer some more assistance but for me if you have no joy with anything I have suggested, I would think it would be best looked at by a repair tech, make sure you get a quote first.

Thanks Bob 180 I will give that a try. The machine has two slots for memory. I did purchase another 256mb of memory hoping that would fix the problem. I do have a 1GB memory stick on order. I thought if the 256 worked that I would just take the (2) 256's out and just use the 1GB stick. You are right I'm sure that the unit does need to be blown out, I purchased this computer from the co I work for and I'm sure it is time to clean it on the inside.Thank You for your input.

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