Problem re-installing OS on Gateway laptop.

Joelitozv · 15 Dec 2017

Hi there! Need help with my uncle's laptop (Gateway M-6843) which is now useless. Why? Because the HDD went dead and when I try to install its original win7 Home 32 bits on a new HDD, the BIOS doesn't allow the keyboard to work in the final steps. At the beginning, I get this message "X:\windows\system32>". I make it go through, but when I need to type the Computer's name, the keyboard is dead. I have tried with an external USB keyboard but it didn't work either. Please, help me to solve this problem.

TechnoMage2016 · 15 Dec 2017

Have you tried resetting the BIOS to factory defaults? The keyboard and built in mouse are controlled initially by the bios.

Remove all power from the laptop. Then remove the main battery, then remove the CMOS battery for at least 30 minutes to totally reset the BIOS memory.

Restore the CMOS battery, main battery and power supply/charger and see if the laptop will boot up and accept the keyboard. If not, look for a new laptop. Used laptops, even ones running Windows 7, are pretty easy come by. I have several I'd sell really cheap.

Good Luck!

Snick · 16 Dec 2017

Here's a like to lifewire in regards to BIOS (basic input/output system) reset click here.

Megahertz07 · 16 Dec 2017

You should have mentioned that you're trying to install Vista 32 Bits Problem re-installing OS on Gateway M-6843 â€” Acer Community

Where did you get the Vista installation disk?

SIW2 · 17 Dec 2017

You seem to be missing drivers.

You should be able to find vista/win 7 drivers.

Integrate them into boot.wim image 2 and install.wim ( whatever image number you are installing).If you are installing win7 Ideally you should integrate into winre.wim image 1 also.

https://drp.su/en/laptops/gateway/m-...=windows-7-x86

Joelitozv · 17 Dec 2017

I'm trying to install the original Win Vista Home 32 bits that came with the laptop. It's the original disc from Gateway!!!

SIW2 · 17 Dec 2017

Is there a driver disc also?

mrjimphelps · 18 Dec 2017

Have you tried a different keyboard, or have you tried plugging your keyboard into a different USB port?

If that doesn't work, then you could test the condition of your laptop by installing Linux Mint on it. The new hard drive is empty, so you won't erase anything in the process. And you might find that you like Linux Mint better than Windows.

Go to the following website and click on the Xfce 32-bit link:

https://linuxmint.com/download.php

This will download an ISO file to your hard drive. Put a writeable DVD (DVD+R) in your drive and then double click on the ISO file that you downloaded. This will allow you to make the DVD into a bootable Linux disk.

Boot the laptop with the DVD, and this will bring you into Linux Mint. At this point, you can either run it from the DVD (which means that you don't need to install anything on the hard drive), or you can click on the Install icon to install it.

If you got this far, and your keyboard works, then there is nothing wrong with the keyboard or with the computer. However, if your keyboard doesn't work in Linux, then you likely have a hardware problem with the computer or the keyboard.

looked · 18 Dec 2017

Joelitozv said:

I'm trying to install the original Win Vista Home 32 bits that came with the laptop. It's the original disc from Gateway!!!

The original installation disc might not have the SATA drivers for the hard disk (during installation Windows might ask for it) so you'll need to disable SATA from within the BIOS (sorry don't remember how it's called there) and once the installation is finalized you can install the SATA drivers and enable the function in the BIOS.

Megahertz07 · 19 Dec 2017

If he disable the SATA drivers, how is he going to install Vista on a SATA disk?