eMachines T2460 (2400 line) isn't compatible with any GeForce4 Video card

[Sher]

:rant: :argh: :bonk: :rant:

Feb. 16 we purchased a new computer ... eMachines ... and then found out that the onboard video wasn't sufficient for C&C: Generals (hubby/son wanted to play). So we purchased a GeForce4 Vcard to upgrade ... nearly 1 week, 4 long distance phone calls, 3 BIOS flashes, and 2 migraines later (isn't that a song?) ... we are told they are not compatable! ARGH!!! I am so :rant: We finally fixed the problem by returning the card (for the second time ... first time thought defective card was the problem) and getting the more expensive Radion (sp?).

Anyone wanting more details, let me know ... otherwise I'll leave it as a "poor service by customer support who doesn't publish their toll-free number and doesn't list incompats in their literature nor their website" rant.

... BTW, for anyone who has an eMachine, the Tech toll free number is 1-877-566-3463, press 2, then 2 again ... the message says customer support but you are connected with Tech support ... such as it is.

I do NOT recommend eMachines as they do not support their product well at all, IMO. IBM, our last computer that became outdated, OTOH, were wonderful in their support. We purchased that machine open-box and they still sent us all the missing software, a replacement mouse, and all the books FOR FREE! That, IMO, is customer support.

Since we purchased this eMachines: our keyboard suddenly quit working 45 days of use brought a complete shutdown of windows XP because it was not activated ... and because the factory was ghosting the hard drives, the product key didn't match the installation key and therefore we hade to wipe the hard drive... something totally unnecessary if their restore disk was not also ghosting software and therefore we couldn't pull windows out by itself and restore it over the previous installation ... I lost so much that I couldn't back up then the whole Vcard fiasco!

Anyway, thanks for "listening" ... I feel much better now! :smile:

[simchat_torah]

eMachines are well reknown for their cheapo parts...

I'd never waste my money on one.... lol, then again, I build all my own computers, so... eh.

:smile:
-Yafet.

[Sher]

Yesterday @ 06:49 AM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=57805#post57805)
simchat_torah:

eMachines are well reknown for their cheapo parts...

I'd never waste my money on one....Yeah ... live and learn. Never again ... lol, then again, I build all my own computersThat is what I am going to do for our second computer. This one was a surprise from my hubby ... so I am trying not to complain too much because it was so sweet of him to just bring it home for me ... our other was several years old and we home educate, so this was a God-send in one way :angel: ... and the devil straight from hell in another :yippee: (not that I have that wonderful red banana or anything :frown: )

[yxboom]

You flashed your BIOS twice :eek: that is a brave move just to play a game.

[$cirisme]

Ouch. Hpaq(or whatever Compaq/HP is called now) is another one to avoid.

Too proprietary.

[yxboom]

That goes for all the big names like Sony, Dell, Gateway, try upgrading those bad boys :bonk:

[simchat_torah]

Dell, granted, is not the easiest to upgrade, but if I were to point someone to a prefab machine.... it would definately be dell. They are known in the computer industry as top in quality... bar none.

peace,
Yafet.

[Sher]

Yesterday @ 04:30 PM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=59406#post59406)
yxboom:

You flashed your BIOS twice :eek: that is a brave move just to play a game. Not just to play a game ... I had already had to wipe the hard drive because of the whole unactivated windows xp dealie-o ... and I figured what the heck. There was no way to software disable the onboard video because the eMachines yo-yos had crippled the BIOS! It really stunk but it all seems to have worked out okay ... but now the emachines monitor button broke! I am so ready to tell them to take it back and build my own... unfortunately I can't afford to lose all the money we paid for it. :bawl:

[Sher]

Yesterday @ 05:17 PM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=59463#post59463)
cirisme:

Too proprietary. Yeah ... lesson learned... I am definately going to build my own from now on ... I know that can bring it's own headaches ... but at least it will more than likely be problems of MY own making

[yxboom]

You can get pre-fabbed comps for like $400 that are very good at www.pricewatch.com that are built completely with aftermarket parts so you can always change out or upgrade with no problems.

[simchat_torah]

One has to be cautious while using pricewatch.

You have to research specifically the site that you'll be buying from, and keep in mind, it's totally unrelated to pricewatch. Pricewatch merely has a database of hundreds of online stores.

Some of these online stores are shady... some are pretty good. Just know what you are getting into before dropping the wad of dough.

-Yafet.

[$cirisme]

Yesterday @ 10:53 PM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=59960#post59960)
yxboom:

You can get pre-fabbed comps for like $400 that are very good at www.pricewatch.com that are built completely with aftermarket parts so you can always change out or upgrade with no problems.

That's what I did. :yipee: I was planning on building my own, but found a deal I couldn't pass up. :yipee:

[One Bad Pig]

04-09-2003 @ 08:53 AM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=60268#post60268)
simchat_torah:

One has to be cautious while using pricewatch.

You have to research specifically the site that you'll be buying from, and keep in mind, it's totally unrelated to pricewatch. Pricewatch merely has a database of hundreds of online stores.

Some of these online stores are shady... some are pretty good. Just know what you are getting into before dropping the wad of dough.

-Yafet.

One also has to be careful at computer shows. I got a computer at one with a Slot A processor. I found out about the vendor's lack of support when I tried to add RAM and started getting memory errors all over the place. The email link on the vendor's webpage was broken. Strategic placement of the RAM helped (slot 1 was defective on the mobo), but I eventually had to return to using one stick of RAM. When the motherboard started to cause further problems recently, I opted to get a new one (still a Slot A), along with a slight processor upgrade. This being the first time I had replaced a mobo, I neglected to move any of the mounting posts. :doh: Predictably, the mobo was shorted to the case. Once I got that solved, I ran into another problem; the cpu heatsink would not stay attached. After numerous attempts failed to permanently solve the problem, I just got another mobo, cpu (Athlon XP 2200+), RAM(since my old RAM would be incompatible), and power supply(I was told that P4/Athlon XP motherboards required a different PS). As it turns out, I didn't need any of the special connectors on the PS. My computer's finally back up and running smoothly, though, so I can't complain too much. I wanted to install Windows (98SE) on a SCSI drive, but ended up having to remove the SCSI adapter card for the install program to work. :hrm:

[Penguin]

eMachines are junk. I have a pc repair buddy of mine who said one time a dummy brought one in that was broken. He took one look and it and turned down the job. He said some of the parts in there, like the RAM, where just glued to the motherboard. Crazy computer company.

I was sort of suprised that Dell ended up doing better than Gateway. Both are relatively descent manufacturers. Of course there are much better options, like putting together your own!

I'm a satisfied Gateway owner myself. But I'm definitely building my own next time around.