**Official eMachines M68xx Thread**

[ChuaChua]

thanks.
I downloaded the Hyperion driver.
I was confused for a while because I couldnt match the m6809's southbridge with the one one the site.

SiSoft Sandra is reporting that the USB controllers are version 1.10. Aren't they supposed to be 2.0?
The controller drivers are dated 2001 i think, needs updating?

Any comments?

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: gnomepunk
memory question........any brands that you guys know of that is not compatiable with a 6809? Im looking to replace both (yes, im aware of the pending headache and voided warranty) sticks.

I'd say go with Crucial...they're known for stability. Get a couple of their ddr333 sodimms and you should be happy

 

[stevenmh]

Does anyone else have an issue with the wi-fi losing connection when the laptop is closed?

I've got the unit sitting about 8 feet from my router, constant 5 bar signal that never wavers. If I set it down and close the lid, when I reopen it I have to wait while it acquires the signal again, and if I've left Outlook open I have errors where it's tried to check email but can't. This is with the unit plugged in, the power routine set to home/desktop, and all the stuff set to never shut off, hibernation disabled.

I dug around in the properties and found an option where the Broadcom adapter can be shut down to save power by Windows, which I disabled. I also found an option under the adapter properties for power saving mode, which I disabled. I thought that would take care of it but it didn't.

 

[Brazen]

Originally posted by: stevenmh
Does anyone else have an issue with the wi-fi losing connection when the laptop is closed?

I've got the unit sitting about 8 feet from my router, constant 5 bar signal that never wavers. If I set it down and close the lid, when I reopen it I have to wait while it acquires the signal again, and if I've left Outlook open I have errors where it's tried to check email but can't. This is with the unit plugged in, the power routine set to home/desktop, and all the stuff set to never shut off, hibernation disabled.

I dug around in the properties and found an option where the Broadcom adapter can be shut down to save power by Windows, which I disabled. I also found an option under the adapter properties for power saving mode, which I disabled. I thought that would take care of it but it didn't.

There is an option in power properties for what to do when the lid is closed. By default it is set to go to sleep, did you set that to "do nothing"?

 

[mudboy]

Has anyone actually tried contacting eMachines about the cracking hinge issue? Have they outright declined to address the issue? I've just got to believe that with the number of people here who are having this issue that we could bring quite a bit of pressure to bear on them...perhaps even a class-action lawsuit?

Pete

 

[ShellGuy]

Pete the ablitliy to file class action lawsute agenst them for this problem prob will never happen. If they stand by and say it is cosmetic then they have no real reason to fix it. Just get the BBY warranty or where ever you purchase urs from and you will be fine.


Will

 

[mudboy]

Yeah, problem is, I was being cheap and didn't get the BB warranty -- the laptop sees light use around our house and I wasn't too concerned about catastrophic loss. I bought it a month ago, can I still get the warranty for it from BB?

Pete

 

[Brazen]

Originally posted by: mudboy
Yeah, problem is, I was being cheap and didn't get the BB warranty -- the laptop sees light use around our house and I wasn't too concerned about catastrophic loss. I bought it a month ago, can I still get the warranty for it from BB?

Pete

Unfortunately, I think you have to purchase the warrantee within 14 days of purchasing the laptop.

 

[ChuaChua]

Anyone know where I can get new USB drivers for the m6809? VIA's site?
SiSoft Sandra is reporting that the USB controllers are version 1.10, is that the same as USB1.1? I checked the drivers and they are dated 2001 I think.

I am getting conflicting information about the CD/DVD-RW drive. What is the manufacturer? I think it is Lite-on but I heard that it is LG or something. Does anyone know? I'm trying to upgrade the drivers.

One last thing, Is it possible to run nVidia's Dawn demo on the m6809, or is the 64MB vid ram not enough?

 

[brokejumper]

I do not own one yet and contacted them about the problem. This was there response.... It seems there has been a rash of people holding their notebook with one hand recently.

Thank you for contacting eMachines.

I see that you would like some information whether there are known issues
associated with our notebook computers.

I appreciate your effort in seeing through our side of the topic you would
want to clear.

Honestly, I have also been hearing feedback about the said reports, however,
as a Technical Support agent, never have I encountered myself such issue
about cracks. Not even once, that is to say.

According to our research, over a million of eMachines notebook that was
being sold every year, only 1% has this issue with our notebook. However,
the given information is already escalated to the right department and will
discuss this issue for possible resolution.

There are many possible causes of this issue.

- Twisting the notebook screen on its hinges
- Closing the lid on a pencil or pen left on the keyboard
- Closing the lid down with great amount of pressure
- Holding the notebook by its screen and not holding it with two hands

To allow eMachines to ensure customer satisfaction, computers are not out in
the market until they have been through rigorous testing. In case like
this, we render repairs if it is a factory defect or for parts replacements
and the system is under warranty.

 

[Mermaidman]

Originally posted by: brokejumper
I do not own one yet and contacted them about the problem. This was there response.... It seems there has been a rash of people holding their notebook with one hand recently.

Thank you for contacting eMachines.

I see that you would like some information whether there are known issues
associated with our notebook computers.

I appreciate your effort in seeing through our side of the topic you would
want to clear.

Honestly, I have also been hearing feedback about the said reports, however,
as a Technical Support agent, never have I encountered myself such issue
about cracks. Not even once, that is to say.

According to our research, over a million of eMachines notebook that was
being sold every year, only 1% has this issue with our notebook. However,
the given information is already escalated to the right department and will
discuss this issue for possible resolution.

There are many possible causes of this issue.

- Twisting the notebook screen on its hinges
- Closing the lid on a pencil or pen left on the keyboard
- Closing the lid down with great amount of pressure
- Holding the notebook by its screen and not holding it with two hands

To allow eMachines to ensure customer satisfaction, computers are not out in
the market until they have been through rigorous testing. In case like
this, we render repairs if it is a factory defect or for parts replacements
and the system is under warranty.

That's BS. I treat all my belongings with care, and I've babied my laptops (Dells, Toshibas). I made MANY business trips with the Dells and Toshibas and except for one catastrophic car incident, no damage apparent to those laptops. Are the M680x so fragile that they need extra lovin'?

 

[mudboy]

I agree, complete BS. Other than one trip to the table on my deck (and it was closed during transport), my notebook has either sat on my desk or on the kitchen table.

When it boils down to it, the crack does appear to be completely cosmetic, but it bothers me nonetheless. Not that it exists, but that it has appeared on a 1 month old laptop that has seen nothing more than light use.

Pete

 

[Brazen]

Originally posted by: mudboy
I agree, complete BS. Other than one trip to the table on my deck (and it was closed during transport), my notebook has either sat on my desk or on the kitchen table.

When it boils down to it, the crack does appear to be completely cosmetic, but it bothers me nonetheless. Not that it exists, but that it has appeared on a 1 month old laptop that has seen nothing more than light use.

Pete

I had the crack within 10 days of taking home my notebook. I could take it back to best buy but I've already wiped and reinstalled the OS and my programs and moved over my documents and such. Too much hassle to do that again so I guess I'll just deal with it, maybe put a little super glue on it to make sure the crack doesn't get worse.

 

[MDE]

Originally posted by: Brazen

Originally posted by: mudboy
I agree, complete BS. Other than one trip to the table on my deck (and it was closed during transport), my notebook has either sat on my desk or on the kitchen table.

When it boils down to it, the crack does appear to be completely cosmetic, but it bothers me nonetheless. Not that it exists, but that it has appeared on a 1 month old laptop that has seen nothing more than light use.

Pete

I had the crack within 10 days of taking home my notebook. I could take it back to best buy but I've already wiped and reinstalled the OS and my programs and moved over my documents and such. Too much hassle to do that again so I guess I'll just deal with it, maybe put a little super glue on it to make sure the crack doesn't get worse.

Take it to BB and just have them swap the drives.

 

[Kaido]

Can someone post a picture of the crack? I want to see what it looks like...

 

[jcwagers]

There is a thread about it over at notebookforums. You may have to register to view the pictures but you can check it out and see what the cracks look like. Check under Emachines/Gateway and I think there is a topic just for pictures and it's in there.

jc

 

[mudboy]

Originally posted by: Brazen

Originally posted by: mudboy
Yeah, problem is, I was being cheap and didn't get the BB warranty -- the laptop sees light use around our house and I wasn't too concerned about catastrophic loss. I bought it a month ago, can I still get the warranty for it from BB?

Pete

Unfortunately, I think you have to purchase the warrantee within 14 days of purchasing the laptop.

Heh. Bought my 6805 on 6/3/2004, called the guy who sold me the laptop today and he told me to bring it in with the receipt. I waited patiently for him to finish a sale (wow, I could NEVER work computer retail, people are morons), at which point it was 5 minutes after closing. Salesguy got his manager, he looked at the lappy and the receipt (the 6805 is in perfect condition, other than the hinge crack that they didn't notice), said "Yeah, OK, do it" so they let me get the extended protection.

Pete

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: jcwagers
There is a thread about it over at notebookforums. You may have to register to view the pictures but you can check it out and see what the cracks look like. Check under Emachines/Gateway and I think there is a topic just for pictures and it's in there.

jc

Yeah, I'm registered there, and I took a look - thanks! Linky for those interested. Register here.

 

[MDE]

Some of those cracks are hideous. If you register, look at curtisdr's pic. Mine looked exactly like that. I'm SOOOOO glad I paid for the extended warranty on this thing.

 

[ceyko]

Greetings,
I see people saying they have updated the bios and so forth. Where is everyone receiving updated drivers and so forth? I have a 6809 and use Omega drivers, got some other drive updates via windows update, but could not find any drivers listed on e4me.com's website. Is there an official driver download area for the emachines?

Thank you,
Ceyko

 

[MDE]

Originally posted by: ceyko
Greetings,
I see people saying they have updated the bios and so forth. Where is everyone receiving updated drivers and so forth? I have a 6809 and use Omega drivers, got some other drive updates via windows update, but could not find any drivers listed on e4me.com's website. Is there an official driver download area for the emachines?

Thank you,
Ceyko

I don't think eMachines has posted any drivers on their website for these models. I'd rather try my luck and use the drivers straight from the chipmakers (ATI, VIA, AMD, etc.) and deal with the slim chance they won't work. Take a look at the first post in the thread and there's links to most of the drivers there.

Does anyone know how to get the thing to not stretch non-widescreen resolutions to fit the screen? In other words, get black bars on the sides when I run 1024x768. Playing games is a bit more challenging when you have to compensate for a distorted screen.

 

[ChuaChua]

Anyone know which brand the dvd-rw of the m6809 is?
I heard LG something and I think it is liteon, anyone knows?

I want to update the drivers of the DVD-RW drive because I have been receiving many errors while installing applications. (Half-life, Battlefield 1942, game demos, etc.) Something about CRC errors, corrupted *.cab files, and corrupted disks.

Thanks

 

[MDE]

Originally posted by: ChuaChua
Anyone know which brand the dvd-rw of the m6809 is?
I heard LG something and I think it is liteon, anyone knows?

I want to update the drivers of the DVD-RW drive because I have been receiving many errors while installing applications. (Half-life, Battlefield 1942, game demos, etc.) Something about CRC errors, corrupted *.cab files, and corrupted disks.

Thanks

Try a lens cleaning disc, as well as cleaning the discs if you haven't already.

 

[ChuaChua]

I'll try that lens cleaning disk.

Is it "disk" or "disc"? hehe

 

[gweilo8888]

Originally posted by: ChuaChua
I'll try that lens cleaning disk.

Is it "disk" or "disc"? hehe

Disk is short for diskette, which means a disc that's enclosed in a cartridge or housing of some kind (remember floppy disks?). A CD or DVD has no such housing, so it is spelled disc.