**Official eMachines M68xx Thread**

[Paul S]

Did anyone try installing SPII in safe mode?

Last year I talked to a Microsoft tech support person who spent a lot of time helping me remove SPII. He said that when I try to reinstall SPII I should do it from a Microsoft update disk, and be sure to be in safe mode. I have never tried this because I am afraid of going back to square one and having an inoperable, or poorly operating machine. I would guess that the best route would be to load the BIOS update, then install SPII in safe mode. I wonder if that would work. I did have Microsoft send me the free SPII update disk.

My home desktop HP Pavillion a250n runs just fine with SPII installed over a dialup connection on the internet.

I am tired of my 6807 telling me that there are updates for me to install!

What am I missing by not having SPII? Are most of you running without SPII?

Is eMachines tech support still saying that there is nothing that can be done about SPII not working on the 68XX series? They basically told me that it wasn't their problem. My one year tech support has expired so I haven't called. I wish I had purchased the extended warranty from eMachines, but I didn't get it taken care of in time. I did end up purchasing the Circuit City extended warranty for just under $300, but this does not give me access to eMachines tech support.

A friend proudly showed me his new Gateway notebook computer. It looks exactly like my eMachines notebook with the logos switched. I did not talk to him about specs, but I know all the ports are exactly the same, and he has a DVD-RW. The screen has a shiny finish though, not a "flat" finish like mine has.

 

[Connoisseur]

Originally posted by: billpool
>>Still looking for someone who has loaded the BIOS update that is supposedly only for the 6085 (according to eMachines tech support) specifficaly onto a 6087.


Hello:

I installed the 6805 official bios in my 6807 in hopes that I'd be able to install SP2 and have it work. NO DICE. After a 5th install of SP@ after the flash. Same thing, the machine is inoperable with SP2 installed and once more I failed back to XP SP1 and am working happily but somewhat pissed since I am still well within my 3 year warantee and thought that I'd get better tech support from the e twirps.

Don't try the shadow k8 bios that emachines provides. go to the op's post and download the latest 6807 or 6810 bios on that bios download site and flash that. it worked for my m6805

 

[Paul S]

What do you mean by "go to the op's post"?

 

[ShellGuy]

He has what is likened to the Bright View Screen. Not sure what Gateway calls it. Also is your Lappy tellin you that there are updates because there are updates and you just don't want to install them? As a Tech support person I would NEVER tell you not to install SP2 if you had the option. It fixs alot of bugs and puts in a much better Firewall. If you do have updates and you don't want to install them then go to the UPdate site and hide them so it won't try and send them to you.


Will G.

PS as for SP2 in safe mode no i didn't try it. I just ran it straight through then updated my XP cd with a Slipstream.

 

[Paul S]

I am anxious to install any updates that I can, including SP2, but I installed SP2 once & it was a disaster. I won't take the chance again until I am sure it will work. I can't waste days trying to straighten out a machine that I depend on every day for my work.

I believe the only update that is waiting is SP2, at least when I start the update process, that is the only one listed.

I am guessing that my original 6807 BIOS is the problem with SP2, but even folks who have updated their BIOS have still had problems on these eMachines with SP2.

I should try eMachines tech support again, but my 1 year of free tech support is over. Happy to pay them for their assistance if they will solve the problems, and not just blame them on Microsoft or me.

 

[Paul S]

Just noticed on Big Fix:

UPDATE: Required Upgrade of M6805/M6807 Computer System BIOS for SP2 Usability

By Golly! I just took the time to look at the "fixlet" in the Big Fix program again. Now it states that the BIOS upgrade is for BOTH the 6805 and 6807. I would sware on a stack of Bibles that when that fixlet first came out it was listed as only for the 6805. I have been ignoring this message all along because when it first came out it was listed as only for the 6805, and the tech support folks told me not to install it because the "company line" was that this was only for the 6805.

Guess I should install that BIOS upgrade now.

Anyone had any problems after installing the upgrade on a 6807?

 

[billpool]

Originally posted by: Connoisseur

Originally posted by: billpool

Hello:

I installed the 6805 official bios in my 6807 in hopes that I'd be able to install SP2 and have it work. NO DICE. After a 5th install of SP@ after the flash. Same thing, the machine is inoperable with SP2 installed and once more I failed back to XP SP1 and am working happily but somewhat pissed since I am still well within my 3 year warantee and thought that I'd get better tech support from the e twirps.

Don't try the shadow k8 bios that emachines provides. go to the op's post and download the latest 6807 or 6810 bios on that bios download site and flash that. it worked for my m6805

THANKS VERY MUCH.

I'll save this info and give it a try later.

 

[ShellGuy]

Good luck.


Will G.

 

[imported_Woody]

I'm familiar with WereSHARKS's web site documenting the dismantling of the M6805 but I'm having trouble with mine.

I can't figure out how to get the keyboard out and see behind it like in the first screenshot he posted. I've removed all the screws from underneath but the problem seems to be the keyboard is screwed to the base of the chassis while clipped to the top of the chassis and there is no way to access the screws that hold the keyboard down. I'm able to lift the front of the top case half barely enough to see screws in there that I can't access.

I spent about an hour poking around and just figured I'd ask here and try again later. Anyone know what i'm missing here?

 

[lionsh]

Hi everybody.

I have M6807 with WIN XP sp2...

I heard that the new win xp 64 bit is out...

Did someone try it? I mean is there any compatibility problems with the drivers and the hardware ? like wireless, memory cards reader, usb2.0 , ATi video card, or anything else?

thanks to all.

 

[Haywire]

Well, eMachines has done it again. Since all eMachines ship with Windows XP Home Edition, we will not be able to upgrade to x64 for free (unless you bought professional). I asked if they would have any 64-bit drivers and the rep said that the company just found out about the x64 release (BS) and that all 32-bit drivers should work since XP is the same sub-system (BS again). I have a feeling that eMachines Customer Service and Support is going to end up being worse than Dell's.

 

[MDE]

I just installed Fedora Core 3 on my M6805 and I can't get the display to 1280x800. I know I saw a fix somewhere but I can't find it. Anyone care to help a Linux n00b?

 

[soflawill]

Haywire wrote:
Well, eMachines has done it again. Since all eMachines ship with Windows XP Home Edition, we will not be able to upgrade to x64 for free (unless you bought professional). I asked if they would have any 64-bit drivers and the rep said that the company just found out about the x64 release (BS) and that all 32-bit drivers should work since XP is the same sub-system (BS again). I have a feeling that eMachines Customer Service and Support is going to end up being worse than Dell's.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Drive's me nut when you look at emachine's sites and all say "We recommend XP Pro" yet everything in their lappy division shipps with home

 

[mrif]

Paul,

Do you have a .fxm file on your machine for bigfix? For that matter, does anyone

I upgraded my M6805 to XP Pro, so naturally the .fxm file for emachine fixes isnt there. Ive looked around on various forums and havent found one yet.

Anyone know any way to get bigfix to talk to the m6805 fix list? I think I need a copy of the .fxm file for the M6805, but thats just a guess.

m

 

[imanewguy]

currently having a problem running nero on my lappie...can still read dvd's/cd's, but unable to write. Able to detect the writing speed as 32x, but once I put in an empty disc, I get 2x max, and then it's unable to write at all.

Reinstalled nero 2x, got an updated version, tried other discs...still same result.

Currently have SP2 installed, flashed bios with DME's link to the bios site (I believe I used one of the 6811 bios'...shows how good I keep records...).

Is there a way that I could update a hardward driver on my cdrw drive? Strikes me as generally fairly odd, but this has only happened since I reinstalled windows (had 3 consecutive crashes...couldn't pinpoint exactly why, but I searched the exact error out, but as to WHY the error occured...no idea)

Anyways, any suggestions on how to fix the writer drive?

 

[DragonMasterAlex]

Has anyone tried x64 edition with the m6805?

Jason

 

[imported_Woody]

Originally posted by: Woody
I'm familiar with WereSHARKS's web site documenting the dismantling of the M6805 but I'm having trouble with mine.

I can't figure out how to get the keyboard out and see behind it like in the first screenshot he posted. I've removed all the screws from underneath but the problem seems to be the keyboard is screwed to the base of the chassis while clipped to the top of the chassis and there is no way to access the screws that hold the keyboard down. I'm able to lift the front of the top case half barely enough to see screws in there that I can't access.

I spent about an hour poking around and just figured I'd ask here and try again later. Anyone know what i'm missing here?

**BUMP**

I hate to quote my own post but I was hoping some of you hardcore M68XX users may be able to help me here. Primarily I simply want to be able to get in there to clean out any dust to make sure this thing doesn't start overheating. I overclock my laptop quite a bit and want to make sure it stays as cool as possible.
____________________________________________________________________

On the 64bit Windows topic: I don't know that all the drivers are available but the first post of this thread has a FAQ list with links to driver sites that may yeild results. ATi now officially supports 64bit Windows and includes a 64bit version of Catalyst on their website. ATi also supports all mobile chips but unfortunately, ATi requires the OEM to officially support the installation of the new drivers or the installer will refuse to run on your notebook. Guess what? eMachines has not and probably will never take the time to take that very minor step so that it's customers can install the latest catalyst drivers on their notebooks. The 64bit version does not support notebooks at all. I have recently installed the latest Omega drivers which include Catalyst 5.4 and work great on these laptops. It may be possible to install the non-notebook version of ATi Catalyst or even the 64bit version but I've never tried it. You can use third party enablers to get the screen resolutions you like such as ATUNER, but I don't know if that will work well in 64bit.

Bottom line: There is no official 64bit support for this laptop but you may experiment and be the one to tell the rest of us! There isn't a significant advantage at this time for running 64bit so it's not a big deal. In fact, many applications run slower under 64bit WinXP.

 

[Haywire]

Originally posted by: Woody

Originally posted by: Woody
I'm familiar with WereSHARKS's web site documenting the dismantling of the M6805 but I'm having trouble with mine.

I can't figure out how to get the keyboard out and see behind it like in the first screenshot he posted. I've removed all the screws from underneath but the problem seems to be the keyboard is screwed to the base of the chassis while clipped to the top of the chassis and there is no way to access the screws that hold the keyboard down. I'm able to lift the front of the top case half barely enough to see screws in there that I can't access.

I spent about an hour poking around and just figured I'd ask here and try again later. Anyone know what i'm missing here?

**BUMP**

I hate to quote my own post but I was hoping some of you hardcore M68XX users may be able to help me here. Primarily I simply want to be able to get in there to clean out any dust to make sure this thing doesn't start overheating. I overclock my laptop quite a bit and want to make sure it stays as cool as possible.
____________________________________________________________________

On the 64bit Windows topic: I don't know that all the drivers are available but the first post of this thread has a FAQ list with links to driver sites that may yeild results. ATi now officially supports 64bit Windows and includes a 64bit version of Catalyst on their website. ATi also supports all mobile chips but unfortunately, ATi requires the OEM to officially support the installation of the new drivers or the installer will refuse to run on your notebook. Guess what? eMachines has not and probably will never take the time to take that very minor step so that it's customers can install the latest catalyst drivers on their notebooks. The 64bit version does not support notebooks at all. I have recently installed the latest Omega drivers which include Catalyst 5.4 and work great on these laptops. It may be possible to install the non-notebook version of ATi Catalyst or even the 64bit version but I've never tried it. You can use third party enablers to get the screen resolutions you like such as ATUNER, but I don't know if that will work well in 64bit.

Bottom line: There is no official 64bit support for this laptop but you may experiment and be the one to tell the rest of us! There isn't a significant advantage at this time for running 64bit so it's not a big deal. In fact, many applications run slower under 64bit WinXP.

Try this site: http://emachines.fizi.ca/guides.php?ID=3

 

[AVSpec]

What is the current best deal for upgrading to a DVD/RW drive in the 6805 model?

Also any good deals on the memory upgrades?

I was thinking about getting a new laptop but when I went looking I was not that impressed and still like my 6805 and can overclock it and if I really want could swap out the CPU so.....

 

[AVSpec]

Since Pink Floyd got back together for Live8 I thought I would ask:

Is there anybody out there??????

 

[Mermaidman]

He's dead, Jim.

 

[ChuaChua]

Anyone know if the new BIOS update from Bigfix fixes the 800MHz lock on the m6809?

 

[Edgy]

Anyone know of a way to pop in a Turion processor on a m6805? Will it work without probs? Thx.

 

[fbrdphreak]

It probably will, but no guarantee about problems. eMachine's have limited BIOS support; if you try it, make sure you can get rid of the CPU if it doesn't work....

What chipset is in the M6805?

 

[icarus4586]

VIA K8T800