Evo N800c HDD shot, replaced, why won't it work still?

[tokemoke]

Hi everyone, I'm new around here and hope some of you brilliant people out there can help me out please. Here's my story.

I bought my Evo N800c from ebay last year. A few months ago I would sometimes get the message of an imminant hard drive failure during start up. It finialy gave out so I put out for a refurbished Seagate 60gb replacement. When I try to start the machine, the power light will come on but it won't even post or display anything. Before this HDD problem, it would do the same thing but If I was persistant I could get it to start up normally after a few tries. Now if anything comes up, its a black screen "Nonsystem disk or disk error" or a count of my installed memory. I have used this cd many times before so I know it works. I have checked to make sure it checks the multibay before the HDD.
Just before posting this I took out the battery inside to clean out the CMOS and all I get is black screen, hdd revs and the power button.
I am so frustrated with this so any insight is really appreciated.

 

[robisbell]

do you have a new, non refurbished, non ebayed hard drive available? you removed and replaced the bios battery right?

 

[tokemoke]

Just the old HD that stopped working (according to the laptop, not tested) and the refurb is from amazon (no big dif).

The bios bat was taken out, yes

 

[robisbell]

did you replace it?

 

[tokemoke]

i put it back in...:laugh:

 

[robisbell]

okay did some research, you're going to have to buy a new motherboard, that's the only way others have been able to fix the issue.

it's going to run you $140-160 plus shipping for a new one. while another whole one goes for $160-200 refurbished and with warranty.

 

[tokemoke]

So no suggestions on a fix or anything like that? Just "replace the motherboard". How can I check to make sure that is really my problem? Did I really need another HDD or is the old one any good? Btw, thanks for your help.

 

[robisbell]

well, you're welcome to google it. I just followed looking for similar issues that you're having, no display, etc. the results were that the only fix was to buy a motherboard, an then they had issues with the battery not accepting a charge so they had to buy new battery packs. that model seems to have numerous issues: pcmcia slots failin, audio failing, battry issues, charging issues, hdd failures. I'd say give it away and buy a nice new one, they're at $229 now with full warranty.

 

[tokemoke]

Seems like I could sell it for parts and just build myself a new one...

 

[robisbell]

you'll spend more to ship than what you'll make off of them, I saw on ebay someone sold the whole thing minus the hdd (was a dead board like yours) for $50, their appears to be a glut of parts and not many people wanting them.

 

[tokemoke]

The worst part of all this is... I just forked out about $120 for the new HDD and a DVDRW upgrade figuring the problem was the HDD. So on top of all the return shipping theres 15% restock fees... I'm probobly better off just reselling those.
Why would the damn thing tell me the HDD was the problem when it wasn't?
Reminds me of "Office Space", "Why is it saying paper jam when there is no paper jam. One of these days i'm just gonna kick the crap out of this POS"

 

[robisbell]

I know, and to get an answer from gateway would cost you, since it's not a warranty issue. I'd try selling the new hdd and dvd and put that towards a new (not used or refurbished) laptop.

 

[tokemoke]

Thanks for your help.